Take your average wheelchair then apply motion sensors, a camera and viola! Here comes the newest prototype from Saitama University’s Human-Robot Interaction Center.
The Japanese engineers behind this marvel wanted a wheelchair that removes the need for a human companion to push it around. Instead the chair now does all the grunt work and more. According to the official press release, the built-in motion sensors allow it to track its human companion or any moving subject who would otherwise be pushing it, and avoid obstacles while keeping its passenger in the utmost comfort.
To further improve its performance in public spaces, the wheelchair can navigate its way past clusters of people and not lose its focus in the most crowded environments.
Though its design still hasn’t removed the need for a human counterpart to aid its rider, this wheelchair will certainly improve the lot of the disabled in our society, as well as those assigned to be their companions.
via CrunchGear