The PMK is an add-on for commercial electric wheelchairs that uses robotic technology to provide two new functionalities:
- autonomous driving, where the user only has to select her goal and the PMK drives the wheelchair safely to destination;
- assisted driving, where the user is in charge of driving and the PMK only intervenes to ensure safety (e.g., slowing down to avoid a collision with a child jumping in front of the wheelchair) or provide help in difficult maneuvers (e.g., while approaching doorways).
The PMK has been developed with the collaboration of disabled people. Its design and implementation are focused on the principle of shared autonomy: the robotic part of the wheelchair only intervenes when this actually makes the user feel more empowered by this intervention, augmenting the user’s autonomy and independence.
Contact: Matteo Matteucci