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Robot wheelchair finds its own way
MIT researchers are developing a new kind of autonomous wheelchair that can learn all about the locations in a given building, and then take its occupant to a given place in response to a verbal command.
Just by saying "take me to the cafeteria" or "go to my room," the wheelchair user would be able to avoid the need for controlling every twist and turn of the route and could simply sit back and relax as the chair moves from one place to another based on a map stored in its memory.
"It's a system that can learn and adapt to the user," says Nicholas Roy, assistant professor of aeronautics and astronautics and co-developer of the wheelchair. "People have different preferences and different ways of referring" to places and objects, he says, and the aim is to have each wheelchair personalized for its user and the user's environment.
Unlike other attempts to program wheelchairs or other mobile devices, which rely on an intensive process of manually capturing a detailed map of a building, the MIT system can learn about its environment in much the same way as a person would: By being taken around once on a guided tour, with important places identified along the way. For example, as the wheelchair is pushed around a nursing home for the first time, the patient or a caregiver would say: "this is my room" or "here we are in the foyer" or "nurse's station."
For now, the wheelchair prototype relies on a WiFi system to make its maps and then navigate through them, which requires setting up a network of WiFi nodes around the facility in advance. After months of preliminary tests on campus, they have begun trials in a real nursing home environment with real patients, at the Boston Home in Dorchester, a facility where all of the nearly 100 patients have partial or substantial loss of muscle control and use wheelchairs.
As the research progresses, Roy says he'd like to add a collision-avoidance system using detectors to prevent the chair from bumping into other wheelchairs, walls or other obstacles. In addition,Teller says he hopes to add mechanical arms to the chairs, to aid the patients further by picking up and manipulating objects -- everything from flipping a light switch to picking up a cup and bringing it to the person's lips.
The research has been funded by Nokia and Microsoft. MIT researchers are developing a new kind of autonomous wheelchair that can learn all about the locations in a given building, and the... more -
STREET CARNAGE FILMS PRESENTS “SOPHIE CAN WALK”
Gavin McInnes just finished a two-year documentary about his daughter that he's submitting to festivals. Hope you like it!
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Beijing more wheelchair friendly
Even in modern China, Vancouver Mayor Sam Sullivan gets a stark reminder that handicapped accessibility requires an adjustment in attitude Even in modern China, Vancouver Mayor Sam Sullivan gets a stark reminder that handicapped accessibility requires an adjustment in atti... more
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Michael Jackson goes shopping in pyjamas, wheelchair, rasta wig
Michael Jackson has been photographed wearing pyjamas and in a wheelchair while out shopping. His bizarre appearance at a book and toy shop near his Las Vegas home sparked new fears for his health.
Jackson, who was disguised with dark glasses, a surgical mask and rasta wig, spent about two hours inside the Barnes and Noble store. Michael Jackson has been photographed wearing pyjamas and in a wheelchair while out shopping. His bizarre appearance at a book and toy... more -
Paralyzed Boy Still Plays Piano
Christopher Rodriguez, 11, was shot by a stray bullet during a piano lesson. Paralyzed as a result, he continues to find the motivation to continue playing the piano. What a kid! Even though he is being treated like a superstar, and even something like a young Ray Charles, he doesn't like the attention. Though is the attention good for him? Christopher Rodriguez, 11, was shot by a stray bullet during a piano lesson. Paralyzed as a result, he continues to find the motivati... more
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New Wheels on the Block - handicapped boy band
I don't want to spoil it for you, but you MUST watch this, and wait till they start singing in English.
You will not regret it.
It's amazing. I don't want to spoil it for you, but you MUST watch this, and wait till they start singing in English. ... more -
Fotheringham flips over wheelchair 'hard-core sitting' craze
Kid pulls a backflip in a wheelchair ... true "sport"
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Toyota unveils two new robots
One is an off-road wheel chair, the other is a violin playing robot
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AWAIT THE FREIGHT (preview)
Any questions please contact us at <b>intermodemedia@gmail.com</b>
Check out my blog at <b>www.intermode.blogspot.com</b>
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Take a look at the sneak peak of AWAIT THE FREIGHT. See what happens when the two daring travelers embark on the journey of a lifetime.
Along the way they encounter countless difficulties and obstacles that come rolling with the wheelchair and living life off the beaten track. Come along for the ride and see how they meet adversity and beat overwhelming odds.
Mitchy St.Pierre, who is diagnosed with Osteogenesis Imperfecta (a brittle bone disorder), sets out on this dangerous expedition in a wheelchair. He faces unbelievable barriers when attempting freight train hops in the constraints of his chair. Accompanied by his best friend Skot Sanderson, the two document their story as they face the unknown in Await the Freight.
For the full 21 minute version contact intermodemedia@gmail.com
VISIT INTERMODEMEDIA AT www.intermodemedia.com Any questions please contact us at <b>intermodemedia@gmail.com</b> ... more
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