Obstacle Avoidance Method for Electric Wheelchairs Based on a Multi-Layered Non-Contact Impedance Model

• Main Authors: Haruna Kokubo, Taro Shibanoki, Takaaki Chin, Toshio Tsuji
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Atlantis Press 2017-05-01
• Series: Journal of Robotics, Networking and Artificial Life (JRNAL)
• Subjects: obstacle avoidance; non-contact impedance; electric wheelchairs; people with disabilities
• Online Access: https://www.atlantis-press.com/article/25878341.pdf

This paper proposes an obstacle avoidance method based on a multi-layered non-contact impedance model for control of the biosignal-based electric wheelchair. The proposed system can calculate a virtual repulsive force before the collision by multi-layered impedance fields covered around it. This system therefore regulates desired path to avoid obstacles in a variety of situations. In the experiments, the mobile robot passed through obstacles smoothly, and could stop emergently to avoid the obstacle in front of the robot owing to virtual forces calculated by the proposed model.