ATDev gives update on its journey building autonomous wheelchairs

The Robotic Assistive Mobility and Manipulation Platform pairs a modern power wheelchair with a coordinated robotic arm on an open software platform. | Source: ATDev

There are millions of powered wheelchair users in the U.S. today. Assistive Technology Development Inc., or ATDev, aims to use robotics to give these users more independence and freedom in their lives.

“I’ve been a power wheelchair user for over 30 years, my whole life really,” Owen Kent, founder and chief marketing officer at ATDev, told The Robot Report . “I’ve been continually frustrated by seeing technology advance in so many fields except for wheelchair technology and assistive technology. Every phone that you’ve ever had has more computing power than any wheelchair has ever had.”

ATDev part of the Robotic Assistive Mobility and Manipulation Platform ( RAMMP ). As part of the program, the company is developing a modern power wheelchair with a coordinated robotic arm. The chair can take on reaching and lifting tasks that the user can’t handle on their own.

“We’re aiming to turn the wheelchair into something that can support people during their daytime,” said Kent. “That means helping them with eating and drinking, using the robotic arm on the wheelchair to open doors and turn on lights.”

“Beyond that, we’re also looking at adding some teleoperation features,” he added. “So, if you’re in bed, you can use the chair to go around and get your drink from the refrigerator.”

RAMMP is an Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) funded program led by the University of Pittsburgh. It aims to use robotics, AI, and smart mobility to empower people with mobility issues to live more independently.

Orange, Calif.-based ATDev is an industry partner in the RAMMP consortium that’s focusing specifically on creating autonomous wheelchairs.

“This is an extremely stable mobile robotic base with a human in it. You have large wheels planted nice and evenly on the ground, and a sensorized base with a robotic arm,” explained Todd Roberts, co-founder and CEO of ATDev.

“The complex seating side of the current wheelchair industry is impressive modern tech, he said. “It’s making complex molds of people’s backs so you can support them. That has leveled up.”

Other than the seating, however, ATDev plans to redesign the wheelchair from scratch. Currently, most of the medical device wheelchair industry relies on outdated power electronics.

“ We’re really starting from the ground and rebuilding a lot of the electronics and software architecture that haven’t allowed for innovation in this space, ” Kent said.