Adaptive Robotic Arm System for Wheelchair Assistance in Autonomous Vehicles

As we move towards the era of autonomous vehicles, it is critical to consider the impact of automation on individuals with mobility impairment who are dependent on human assistance to make effective use of transportation. We consider the problem of designing accessible autonomous transportation for people on wheelchair. We present the design of a robotic arm that can be installed on a vehicle to assist such people. We discuss the use cases, design challenges, and a prototype modeling framework for this design. We show simulation results demonstrating its viability and effectiveness.