Journal #4, September 21

http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2008/wheelchair-0919.html
http://web.mit.edu/kvogt/www/wheelchair.html (extra research)

There are millions of Americans that use a wheelchair everyday, well MIT researchers developed a new type of autonomous wheelchair that can learn about locations in a building and then take the person to a certain place in the building in response to a verbal command. The robot wheelchair has a map of the building in it's memory and if the person gave the command to take me to my room or go to the living room the wheelchair will use the map and will drive itself to the room. The robot wheelchair will allow the person in the chair to relax and free from controlling the chair. To gain the maps or the computer system of the chair the person would first give a tour of the place and during the tour the person would identify an important stop or room. The robot wheelchair can even work outside, but when it is outside the chair can use GPS receivers to figure out where it is at. GPS does not work very well inside of a building so that is why the tour is needed for the chair. Right now the wheelchair uses a WiFi system to make maps and navigate through them. Nicholas Roy, the developer, said that the robot wheelchair still has a lot more stuff to put on it. He said that he would like to add a collision avoidance system using detectors to prevent bumping into any obstacles and he like to add a mechanical arm to aid the person by picking up any objects or opening doors.

I really like the idea and the sound of what Nicholas Roy has created. It is what I like to say that is technology that really helps society in a whole. There is a lot of people that are disabled and uses a wheelchair everyday and moving in a building or home can be difficult at times. Sometimes the people using a wheelchair cannot use the arms and legs so to have it to be verbal is awesome, along with after the command the chair goes on it own, so no assistance from a nurse, so I think that will allow the person to free more independent when using the wheelchair. I hope the people at MIT continue working on this project and hopefully it will be out soon.