Feature determination from powered wheelchair user joystick input characteristics for adapting driving assistance

Background: Many powered wheelchair users find their medical condition and

their independent mobility, the powered chair will require adjustment over time

required. These limited resources can result in the user having to wait weeks

consequently affecting their quality of life and that of their family and carers. In

to be identified which are suitable for initial system setup and can automatically

Methods: A questionnaire was designed to collect information from powered

time. Another group of volunteer participants were asked to drive a test platform

space as quickly as possible. Two of those participants were also monitored

to be suitable, were examined using pattern recognition classifiers to determine

Results: The results are not designed to provide absolute insight into the

determined, they do nevertheless demonstrate the utility of the measured

driving a powered wheelchair.

provides the initial step towards developing an adaptable assistive technology

been learned by a smart pattern recognition system