Daniel Innala Ahlmark in the Sighted Wheelchair
Visually impaired graduate student, Daniel Innala Ahlmark, has demonstrated a wheelchair that can see for him at the Luleå University of Technology. Using laser scanners, the wheelchair makes a 3D map of its surroundings. The scanning technique employed is called Time-of-flight. In this case, it measures the time that it takes for an object to travel a distance around the chair. In other words, object tracking and prediction. From there a haptic robot gives the wheelchair user can "feel or see" what is happening in the watched area. (See Ahlmark's left hand in the above pictures). The chair is electric and moves via a joystick. Ahlmark said after testing out the chair, " I feel safe when I run it, it is like using a white cane, he said as he avoided various obstacles along the corridor."
The chair was developed by Professor Kalevi Hyyppä and his research team at the LTU division EISLAB. At the moment, the chair can not see object too high or low. The team plans on developing a camera that can create a full 3D map for the wheelchair users. At which point they will start manufacturing. Production models are speculated to be available within 5 years.
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