A better wheelchair?(mobility and more)

A robotic wheelchair in development at the Human Engineering Research Laboratories (HERL) in Pittsburgh is giving wheelchairs "arms."

Hongwu Wang and Garrett Grindle, doctoral students at the University of Pittsburgh, created the chair, which has four computers, sensors, and computer-driven arms and hands. It's scheduled to undergo human testing in about four months, reports David Templeton in the July 9 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

According to the article, the chair's robotic arms can open doors, retrieve food, and do other chores. It's controlled by eye motion, voice prompts, or joystick. Caregivers will be able to control it via the Internet when help is needed.

HERL's primary focus is wheelchair improvements, but its staff is also developing a better prosthetic foot for the U.S. military. In other work, two doctoral students are trying to figure out the best head and hip maneuver when people transfer from their wheelchairs. The lab also creates wheelchair components, including a computerized caster that compiles mileage, among other data.

Contact: rcooper@pitt.edu.