DRIVER PERFORMANCE USING SINGLE SWITCH SCANNING WITH A POWERED WHEELCHAIR: ROBOTIC ASSISTED CONTROL VERSUS TRADITIONAL CONTROL

Abstract

Single switch scanning is the access method of last resort for powered wheelchairs, primarily because drift is a significant problem. To correct a drift to the left or the right, the user must stop going forward, wait for the scanning device to get to the arrow for the direction of choice, click to turn the chair, stop turning, wait to scan to forward and then click to move forward again. Robotic assisted control can improve the ease and speed of driving using single switch scanning. Under robotic control, sensors are used to correct the drift problem and to avoid obstacles. The user is only required to give commands to change direction, for example "left " at an intersection.