Human-centered Shared Control of an Intelligent Powered Wheelchair

Exponential growth in the number of older adults (over 65 years) worldwide is expected to occur over the next half century. While physical mobility plays a crucial role in the quality of life and in the ability of independent living, it decreases with natural aging. This research project aims at developing a solution to reduced mobility by providing an assistance system to wheelchair navigation. A novel shared control approach will be designed, which allows a human and an assistance system to collaboratively steer a wheelchair. The involved institutions are the Universite de Sherbrooke and Karlsruhe Institute of Technology. Both institutions possess expertise in human-centered control, with the former having detailed knowledge in the practical development of intelligent powered wheelchairs and the latter owning expertise in shared control and identification of human two-player and stochastic behaviour. Both institutions are expected to benefit through the thematically closely-linked collaboration which will be a foundation for future research collaborations in the field of mobility aids for older adults, cobots or socially assistive robots.

Faculty Supervisor:

Adina Panchea

Student:

Partner:

Karlsruher Institut für Technologie

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Education

University:

Université de Sherbrooke

Program: