Mobility assistance for older people

  • Authors:

  • Daniel Eck;Klaus Schilling;Ahmad Abdul-Majeed;Jörn Thielecke;Phillipp Richter;Javier Gutiérrez Boronat;Irina Schens;Bernd Thomas;Bettina Williger;Frieder R. Lang

  • Affiliations:

  • Computer Science VII, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany;Computer Science VII, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany;Department of Electrical, Electronic and Communication Engineering, LIKE, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany;Department of Electrical, Electronic and Communication Engineering, LIKE, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany;Power Efficient Systems Department, Fraunhofer Institute IIS, Nuremberg, Germany;Power Efficient Systems Department, Fraunhofer Institute IIS, Nuremberg, Germany;R&D Pre-Development, NAVIGON AG, Wüürzburg, Germany;R&D Pre-Development, NAVIGON AG, Wüürzburg, Germany;Institute of Psychogerontology, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany;Institute of Psychogerontology, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany

  • Venue:
  • Applied Bionics and Biomechanics - Assistive and Rehabilitation Robotics II
  • Year:
  • 2012

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Abstract

This paper describes the development of a scooter supporting the mobility of older people. The scooter is equipped with a drive assistance system and a special scooter navigation system. The drive assistance system consists of a velocity controller, a steering controller, and a collision avoidance system. In this paper it is demonstrated how the challenging control and steering tasks are modified to increase safety for older people. A special scooter navigation system is presented, to support elderly people in navigating on a safe route through the city using sidewalks, pedestrian lights and crosswalks. For extended positioning requirements a hybrid positioning system was developed combining GPS, WLAN, and inertial sensor data. By combination of these technical improvements it is demonstrated how older people are able to preserve their self-determined and independent life. Usability research was done with focus groups in order to become familiar with global user demands and expectations towards a mobility assistance system. Results show that the system components are expected to assist the user in navigation, steering and speed control rather than to take complete control on the driving situation.