Mobility X
| Reference number | |
| Coordinator | Mobility Labs |
| Funding from Vinnova | SEK 1 460 000 |
| Project duration | November 2019 - October 2021 |
| Status | Completed |
| Venture | Digital health |
Purpose and goal
What would you do if you woke up paralyzed? You risk becoming isolated or completely dependent on caregivers. The Mobility X sensor platform was created to let people with decreased neuromotor function control their power chairs. We leverage the physiology that works, to compensate for what doesn’t work. Specifically, our prototype system allows steering by eye, muscle signals and a wide variety of commercial sensors.
Expected results and effects
The Mobility X sensor platform consists of an Arduino shield with capacity to input a wide range of commercial sensors as well as two purpose-built sensor systems: control by gaze and muscle activity. Both tactile and GUI user feedback are available. The Mobility X system prototype is mounted on a Permobil and has been successfully tested indoors, outside on both street and off-road terrain, and runs entirely on local processing without the need for wifi or cellphone reception.
Planned approach and implementation
RISE and KTH have worked closely with the NGO non-profit Mobility Labs in order to deliver the functional prototype. The pandemic had huge effects on both the project timeline and mode of collaboration: the team was forced to deliver and retrieve user feedback at distance. But the team pushed ahead and even created control and signal processing at distance, novel features to be explored in future projects. Mobility Labs are very grateful to Openlab and ITRL for generously hosting their hardware lab.