Morgan State University Showcases Innovative Autonomous Wheelchair Technology at BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport
University’s Pilot Program for Mobile App-Based Adaptive Wheelchair Aims to Enhance Mobility Solutions in Public Transportation Spaces
At a special demonstration event held at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI Airport), researchers from Morgan State University’s National Transportation Center (NTC), Safety and Mobility Advancements Regional Transportation and Economics Research (SMARTER) Center, and Center for Equitable Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Systems (CEAMLS) unveiled an innovative autonomous wheelchair technology. This adaptive wheelchair, which was designed to respond to user commands intuitively via a smartphone application, showcased its potential to revolutionize mobility aids in bustling environments like airports.
The demonstration marks the culmination of more than five years of research and development conducted at Morgan State University and in designated areas of BWI Airport. Maryland Lt. Governor Aruna Miller, Assistant Secretary of the Maryland Department of Transportation Juawanna Greene, Maryland Aviation Administration Executive Director and CEO Shannetta Griffin, Maryland Secretary of Disabilities Carol Beatty, and Morgan President David K. Wilson were among those present at the event.
“Today’s demonstration is a significant step towards making public transportation more accessible for everyone,” said President David K. Wilson. “We believe integrating technology into mobility solutions can empower individuals, enabling them to navigate public spaces with ease and confidence. We’re proud of the innovative work being conducted within our research centers to address challenges and offer novel solutions that improve lives.”
The autonomous wheelchair was developed by modifying a conventional powered wheelchair and equipping it with additional instruments that provide perception, navigation, and steering capabilities similar to those used in autonomous vehicles. Researchers installed cameras and LIDAR sensors for perception and a general-purpose single-board computer for processing.
Passengers can summon the autonomous wheelchair through an app by scanning the QR code from the designated areas. They need only to register or log in (if they are already registered) to use the app. The wheelchair will come to their location, and after authentication that the person summoned the wheelchair is the one who summoned it, the passenger can sit on the wheelchair and enter the location that they would like to go. The wheelchair will take them to their destination.
