Advanced Mobility for People with Disabilities: Autonomous Wheelchair Pilot Deployment at the BWI Airport – Phase 3

Morgan State University’s autonomous wheelchair (AW) pilot program is designed to allow travelers with disabilities to comfortably navigate a busy transportation hub without an attendant. To effectively implement and launch the autonomous wheelchair in a dynamic, real-world setting, researchers from Morgan State University are engaging in a phased series of testing and validation exercises at Baltimore/Washington International Airport to evaluate the system’s reliability and effectiveness. The autonomous wheelchair was created by modifying a conventional powered wheelchair with additional instruments that provide perception, navigation, and steering capabilities similar to technologies used in autonomous vehicles. Researchers installed cameras and LIDAR sensors for perception, and a general-purpose, single-board computer for processing.

The autonomous wheelchair is in its fourth iteration, representing a culmination of more than five years of research and development conducted by technicians from a variety of backgrounds. The wheelchair can currently operate on a guided path, though testing of a trackless model is ongoing. The project intends to facilitate autonomous travel in large buildings such as airports, hospitals, museums, college campuses, and military bases. During the early phases of testing, wheelchair passengers are limited to researchers only.