Smart Wheelchair Study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Shared Control of Wheelchair Interfaces
IRAS ID
216404
Contact name
Tom Carlson
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University College London
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Z6364106/2016/06/41 , Data Protection ID
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
This is a research designing accessible interfaces for powered wheelchair control in order to improve the mobility and quality of life of people with severe mobility impairment who otherwise cannot benefit from existing solutions.
The general idea behind the research is to take into account wheelchair user’s perspectives at each stage of the design process. The research begins with observing, and quantifying wheelchair user’s performance and preferences when they drive a wheelchair with different interfaces. Sensors are then incrementally added onto a powered wheelchair to compensate for inadequate driving performance and finally significant improvement in driving performance is tested for.
The end result we hope will shed light on user-centred smart wheelchair design techniques, which is vital in-order to bring to the market better assistive technologies for mobility.
REC name
London - Camden & Kings Cross Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/LO/0856
Date of REC Opinion
5 Jun 2017
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion