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This paper presents new prototype powered wheelchair systems that are easy to use and safe. The systems use simple ultrasonic sensor systems to assist users in steering their powered wheelchairs. The new systems could improve the chances of some disabled children learning that behaviour and interaction with the environment can be controlled. An overview of the benefits to be offered by an automated wheelchair is included. Some results, problems and difficulties are described along with an assessment of the current position and the way forward.

Time taken to complete a tele-operated task with a mobile-robot partly depends on how a human operator interacts with the mobile-robot. Current tele-operated systems tend to rely heavily on visual feedback and experienced operators and this paper investigates how to make their tasks easier using an expert system to interpret joystick and sensor data. Simple expert systems improve that interaction for a tele-operated mobile-robot using ultrasonic sensors. Systems identify potentially hazardous situations and recommend safe courses of action. Results are presented from a series of timed tasks completed by tele-operators using a joystick to control a mobile-robot via an umbilical cable and watching the robot while operating it or sitting at a computer and viewing the area ahead of the robot. Tele-operators completed tests both with and without sensors and using the recently published systems to compare results. The new systems described here consistently performed tasks more quickly than some recently published systems. The paper also suggests that the amount of sensor support should be varied depending on circumstances.

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The effect on failure rates of the way tele-operators interact with mobile robots is investigated. Human tele-operators attempted to move a robot through progressively more complicated environments with reducing gaps, as quickly as possible. Tele-operators used a joystick and either watched robots, while operating them, or used a computer screen to view scenes remotely. Cameras were either mounted on the robot to view the space ahead of the robot or mounted remotely so that they viewed both the environment and robot. Tele-operators completed tests both with and without sensors. Both an umbilical cable and a radio link were used.

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