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. 2024 Jul;19(5):1907-1915.
doi: 10.1080/17483107.2023.2253339. Epub 2023 Sep 8.

SWADAPT2: benefits of a collision avoidance assistance for powered wheelchair users in driving difficulty

Bastien Fraudet  1 , Emilie Leblong  1 , Patrice Piette  1 , Benoît Nicolas  1 , Louise Devigne  2 , Marie Babel  2 , François Pasteau  2 , François Routhier  3   4 , Philippe Gallien  1
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SWADAPT2: benefits of a collision avoidance assistance for powered wheelchair users in driving difficulty

Bastien Fraudet et al. Disabil Rehabil Assist Technol. 2024 Jul.

Abstract

Purpose: In France, tens of thousands of people use a wheelchair. Driving powered wheelchairs (PWCs) present risks for users and their families. The risk of collision in PWC driver increases with severity of disability and may reduce their independence to drive. The European ADAPT project has developed a robotic assistance add-on for PWCs to prevent collisions and improve their driving performance.

Materials and methods: The aim of the SWADAPT2 study is to assess the benefit of this robotic assistance add-on arranged on a Standard Quickie Salsa M2 PWC in a population of PWC drivers with neurological disorders and driving difficulties. Eighteen (18) participants tested the system on three circuits of increasing difficulty, with and without the robotic assistance add-on.

Results: The benefit of the robotic assistance add-on was important especially on the more difficult circuits without impacting cognitive load or driving speed. The number of collisions was significantly reduced when using robotic assistance add-on from 2.16 to 0.36 on circuit 2 (p = 0.009) and from 7.3 to 1.33 on circuit 3 (p = 0.0009). Task load demand was not increased with the assistance.

Conclusion: Finally, this system seems to be indicated to assist and improve driving safety for PWC drivers in driving difficulty. Evaluation was performed in controlled environments; therefore, further evaluation in real-world scenarios is needed to reach technology readiness.

Keywords: Smart wheelchair; neurological diseases; rehabilitation.

Plain language summary

•This device is an effective technology to avoid collisions, especially for patients with neurological disorders in difficulty of driving.•Several use cases can be considered:–the equipment of drivers who are losing driving ability due to age evolution of their pathology, or anxiety–the equipment of users in driving training with difficulties, in order to facilitate access to users who are currently unable to drive.

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