Children’s robotic wheelchair selected for UK Dyson Award runners up

A small robotic wheelchair designed to give independent mobility to children with disabilities has been selected as one of eight UK Dyson Award runners up that will go forward to the international stage.

Using a combination of sensors and robotic technology, the Assistive Robotic Transport for Youngsters (ARTY) perceives its environment and makes control decisions to avoid crashes. Although the device can be fully autonomous, it also provides a shared control approach to give freedom of mobility to children and allow them to practise driving skills. Built on top of a base wheelchair, ARTY collects the data it receives, such as joystick movement, which could help therapists make better treatment decisions.