Wheelchair Project

The MIT Intelligent wheelchairs Project
Developing a voice-commandable robotic wheelchair

Vision: Designing Smart Wheelchairs of the Future
New engineering developments offer opportunities to develop smart wheelchair assistive technology that can improve the lives of many people who use wheelchairs. In our work, we are designing tomorrow's intelligent wheelchairs: we are developing a voice-commandable intelligent wheelchair that is aware of its surroundings so that it can assist its user in a variety of tasks.

The goal of this smart wheelchair project is to enhance an ordinary powered wheelchair using sensors to perceive the wheelchair's surroundings, a speech interface to interpret commands, a wireless device for room-level location determination, and motor-control software to effect the wheelchair's motion.

The robotic wheelchair learns the layout of its environment (hospital, rehabilitation center, home, etc.) through a narrated, guided tour given by the user or the user's caregivers. Subsequently, the wheelchair can move to any previously-named location under voice command (e.g., "Take me to the cafeteria"). This technology is appropriate for people who have lost mobility due to brain injury or the loss of limbs, but who retain speech. The technology can also enhance safety for users who use ordinary joystick-controlled powered wheelchairs, by preventing collisions with walls, fixed objects, furniture and other people.

We envision that a voice-commandable wheelchair could improve the quality of life and safety of tens of thousands of users. Moreover, considerable health improvements and cost savings could accrue through the reduction or elimination of collision-induced injuries such as wounds and broken limbs. We are currently working closely with at The Boston Home, a specialized-care residence for adults with multiple sclerosis and other progressive neurological conditions. Our efforts are inspired and motivated by the insights, feedback, and needs of The Boston Home's residents, staff, and family members.

Our team of faculty, students, and researchers come from several departments (Aeronautics and Astronautics; Electrical Engineering and Computer Science; Engineering Systems Division) and laboratories (the Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) and the MIT AgeLab) from across MIT. Our efforts in developing this intelligent wheelchair span multiple domains, including robotics, artificial intelligence, machine learning, human computer interaction and user interface design, speech recognition systems, and the role of technology for people with disabilities and people who are getting older.

Wheelchair Project

Wheelchair basketball

wheelchairs basketball is basketball played by people in wheelchairs and is  considered one of the major disabled sports practiced. The International Wheelchair Basketball Federation (IWBF) is the governing body for this sport. It is recognized by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) as the sole competent authority in wheelchair basketball world wide. FIBA has recognized IWBF under Article 53 of its General Statutes.Wheelchair Basketball was originally developed by World War II veterans in the USA in 1945/1946. At the same time, Sir Ludwig Guttmann developed a similar sport named Wheelchair Netball at the Spinal Rehabilitation Hospital at Stoke Mandeville, Great Britain, to aid the rehabilitation of war veterans. When the US  Wheelchair Basketball team, the Pan Am Jets, competed for the first time at the International Stoke Mandeville Games in 1955, there were no backboards owing to the British sport being Netball. This was amended for the following year's Games. National Wheelchair Basketball Association (NWBA) is composed of 181 wheelchair basketball teams within twenty-two conferences. Founded in 1949 by Tim Nugent, the NWBA today consists of men's, women's, intercollegiate, and youth teams throughout the United States of America and Canada.

Wheelchair basketball

wheelchair lift

A wheelchairs lift, also known as a platform lift, is a powered device designed to raise a wheelchairs and its occupant in order to overcome a step or similar vertical barrier. There are two main categories of wheelchairs lifts: Wheelchairs lifts for vehicles, such as cars, vans or buses, these are discussed first.
Wheelchairs lifts for houses and other buildings. These are discussed further below, to jump there now click on Home Wheelchairs Lifts.


Advantages of inside wheelchairs lifts

• When the wheelchairs comes inside, it is protected from weather
• This type of wheelchairs lift does not cause the vehicle to be longer, so it does not change how the vehicle drives.
• Some more expensive inside wheelchairs lifts are built so that the wheelchair user can stay in the wheelchairs during the transfer

Disadvantages of inside wheelchairs lifts

• Most of these wheelchairs lifts will take up space inside the vehicle or in its trunk, either from the wheelchairs lift, the wheelchair or both.
• They often require expensive installation or modifications of the vehicle, such as removal of seats.
• Some vehicle modifications may change vehicle guarantees.

Advantages of outside wheelchairs lifts

• Little modification of vehicle required.
• Installation is usually easy and inexpensive.
• Does not take up space inside of the vehicle.

Disadvantages of outside wheelchairs lifts

• Wheelchairs is out in the weather and can be damaged by rain, wind or road debris
• The wheelchairs lift sticks out in back, making the vehicle longer and requiring caution when driving.
• The longer a vehicle is the more likely it will ‘bottom out’ on driveways or bumps. Many people report problems with this.
• A longer vehicle requires extra space when parking and can make parallel parking more difficult.

wheelchair lift

Regular wheelchair

Wheelchairs are the mobility aids for aged people, persons with disabilities, and sick individuals.
Today, a few different types of wheelchairs are available in the market. You can either choose an electric power chair or a manual one. The type of mobility aid you choose is best determined by a physician but, irrespective of the type, These disability products are excellent means for transporting aged and the disabled.

There are many types of wheelchairs.One of them is wheelchair regular model.It is made by E.R.W. Tubes 22.22 mm 18 G.It has cushion seat.Its rear wheel diameter is 24 x 1.5 and castore wkeel(front wheel) is 4".It has foot rest which is made up of E.R.W. Tubes / M.S. Sheet.This model come up in different colours like white,black or any other as per customer's requirement.

Regular wheelchair

Regular wheelchair

Dogs Wheelchairs

Dogs can lose the use of their back legs for a number of reasons – accident, old age, slipped disc, cancer or a degenerative condition such as hip dysplasia or degenerative myelopathy. For many dog owners there seems to be only one answer, and it’s not one they want to choose. We understand this situation as we have been there and the Walkin’ Wheels or Walkin’ Wheels Mini dog Wheelchairs can be the solution - enabling your dog to run and play, get the exercise they need and live a happy life.

When a dog is struck by a vehicle or receives another serious injury, the owner is faced with a very difficult decision. Caring for a dog that has been injured is a big responsibility that can also be very expensive. For years, there have been several wheelchairs available for dogs, but they have generally been pretty pricey. They can easily cost more than $1,000, which makes them completely un-affordable for many people.

Dogs Wheelchairs