The safe control of a powered wheelchair requires a significant skill level, attention, judgement, and appropriate behaviour. It not only requires the driver to have the ability to control the wheelchair, but also to be constantly aware of his/her surroundings in order to not crash into surrounding people, objects, and walls. There have been many reported incidents of older adults being injured as a result of a powered wheelchair being driven into them, or into their cane or walker, resulting in a fall to occur. As a result, many care institutions (e.g. hospitals, long-term care facilities, etc.) have implemented policies that restrict driving for reasons of safety, especially for residents with cognitive impairment.

Reduced mobility results in reduced quality of life. The combination of social isolation, limited life space and choice, learned dependence (e.g. requiring someone to push a manual wheelchair), frustration, and limited autonomy likely contributes to symptoms of depression and exacerbation of cognitive impairment and undesirable behaviours. It should also be noted that this chain reaction of symptoms resulting from reduced mobility are also observed in other patient groups beyond older adults (e.g. disabled children, adults with traumatic brain injury, etc.), thus broadening the scope of these problems and requirements from potential solutions. If we can provide these users with some level of independence, irrespective of ability, without placing the person or others at unreasonable risk, then it may be possible to reverse some symptoms of depression and cognitive impairment and improve quality of life. The goal of this project is the application of 3D sensor systems to adapt a powered wheelchair, specifically, the Nimble Rocket (TM) so that it can be driven safely by users with cognitive and other complex impairments. This will be accomplished through the design and development of an intelligent collision avoidance system.