Study of omnidirectional mobile electric wheelchair for handicapped children's early movement experience

-3rd Report : The function to follow a person and travel side by side with one –

Abstract

Children with impaired motor function may be difficult to move on their own. Our research group prototypes an Omni-directional mobile electric wheelchair that has high degree of freedom and can move close to the movement of healthy people and offers it to children with disabilities. However, we must consider that there are individual differences in the operating abilities of children. Therefore, in order to compensate for individual differences and to further enhance the mobile experience, we are working on the development of “operation support function” that supports children’s operation.

In this research, we focus on the fact that children respond to the reactions of surrounding caregivers and enjoy movement experience, and we have worked on the development of a “human following system” that enable a pleasant movement experience to children.