Autonomous wheelchair

• US 10,052,246 B2
• Filed: 03/01/2017
• Issued: 08/21/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Denso International America Incorporated (DENSO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Denso International America Incorporated (DENSO Corporation)
• Inventors: Lozano, Michael, Arceo, Marc
• Primary Examiner(s): Dager, Jonathan M
• Application Number:
  US15/446,371
• Publication Number:
  US 20170266069A1
• Time in Patent Office: 538 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/14 Joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/16 Touchpads
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/18 by patient's head, eyes, facial muscles or voice
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/22 for automatically guiding movable devices, e.g. stretchers or wheelchairs in a hospital
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/30 characterised by sensor means
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/34 for pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/46 for temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/70 with special adaptations, e.g. for safety or comfort
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2210/70 for cooling
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2210/90 for heating
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/04 motor-driven A61G5/06 takes precedence; motor-operated rests A61G5/12; for vehicles with handlebars, equipped with three or more wheels B62K5/003, B62K5/023
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/045 Rear wheel drive
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/10 Parts, details or accessories
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/1051 Arrangements for steering
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0061 for transition from automatic pilot to manual pilot and vice versa
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0212 with means for defining a desired trajectory involving a plurality of land vehicles G05D1/0287

Abstract

The present teachings provide for wheelchair including a control module, manual drive controls, a camera, biometric sensors, and an antenna. The control module includes an autonomous drive module configured to autonomously pilot the wheelchair. The biometric sensors are configured to measure biometric information of a user of the wheelchair.

Claims

1. A wheelchair comprising:

a control module including an autonomous drive module configured to autonomously pilot the wheelchair;

manual drive controls;

a camera;

biometric sensors configured to measure biometric information of a user of the wheelchair;

an antenna; and

a biometrics detection module and a customization module, wherein;

upon sitting in the wheelchair the biometrics detection module scans biometric parameters of the user to match the user with a user profile stored at the control module or at a remote server; and

the customization module customizes contact information, user medical information, and settings of the wheelchair based on previously stored preferences of the identified user.

2. The wheelchair of claim 1, further comprising a microphone, a touchscreen input device, and a heating, ventilation, and air cooling (HVAC) system.

3. The wheelchair of claim 1, further comprising pedals that propel the wheelchair when actuated.

4. The wheelchair of claim 1, wherein the manual drive controls include a joystick.

5. The wheelchair of claim 1, further comprising a guidance sensor.

6. The wheelchair of claim 1, further comprising a heating, ventilation, and air cooling (HVAC) system including cooling vents, heating vents, and a heated seat.

7. The wheelchair of claim 1, wherein the biometric sensors are configured to measure at least one of the following biometric parameters of a user of the wheelchair:

temperature, heart rate, blood pressure, and pulse.

8. The wheelchair of claim 1, wherein the antenna includes a GPS receiver.

9. The wheelchair of claim 1, further comprising a manual drive module configured to manually pilot the wheelchair.

10. The wheelchair of claim 1, further comprising a fatigue module configured to detect user fatigue and autonomously drive the wheelchair to a predetermined location when user fatigue reaches a predetermined level;

wherein driver fatigue is measured based on eye tracking and face recognition using the camera.

11. The wheelchair of claim 1, further comprising a temperature regulation module configured to monitor a user'"'"'s temperature using the biometric sensors;

wherein when the user'"'"'s temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature, the temperature regulation module activates a heating, ventilation, and air cooling system of the wheelchair to reduce the user'"'"'s temperature to or below the predetermined temperature.

12. The wheelchair of claim 1, further comprising a heart attack detection module;

wherein upon detection of a heart attack based on inputs from the biometric sensors, the heart attack detection module;

pilots the wheelchair to a safe resting area;

requests emergency assistance;

alerts medical personnel;

alerts predetermined persons including family members;

transmits GPS coordinates of the wheelchair to emergency response personnel, medical personnel, and the predetermined persons; and

locates nearest person with medical wheelchair application.

13. The wheelchair of claim 1, further comprising a low energy detection module configured to monitor propulsion energy of the wheelchair available;

wherein upon detecting that propulsion energy of the vehicle has dropped below a predetermined level, the low energy detection module commands the autonomous drive module to pilot the wheelchair to a nearest energy replenishment station, or to a predetermined location.

14. The wheelchair of claim 1, further comprising a navigation module configured to command the autonomous drive module to pilot the wheelchair to a predetermined location when the user generates an input informing the control module that the user is lost.

15. The wheelchair of claim 1, further comprising a navigation module configured to generate a navigation route for the wheelchair to a destination input by the user, and command the autonomous drive module to pilot the wheelchair to the destination when autonomous drive mode is selected.

16. The wheelchair of claim 1, further comprising a communication module configured to inform at least one predetermined person when the user sits in the wheelchair, and to transmit biometric information gathered by the biometric sensors to the at least one predetermined person.

17. The wheelchair of claim 1, further comprising:

a guidance sensor configured to maintain the wheelchair in a selected lane of travel; and

a guidance module configured to guide the wheelchair away from obstacles;

wherein the guidance module is configured to activate brakes of the wheelchair to avoid an obstacle detected by the guidance sensor.

18. The wheelchair of claim 1, further comprising a seat sensor configured to detect when the user has left the wheelchair;

wherein the communications module is configured to generate an alert to predetermined persons informing them that the user has left the wheelchair.

19. The wheelchair of claim 1, further comprising pedals configured for propelling the wheelchair when actuated by the user.

20. A wheelchair comprising:

a control module including an autonomous drive module configured to autonomously pilot the wheelchair;

manual drive controls;

a camera;

biometric sensors configured to measure biometric information of a user of the wheelchair;

an antenna; and

a fatigue module configured to detect user fatigue and autonomously drive the wheelchair to a predetermined location when user fatigue reaches a predetermined level;

wherein driver fatigue is measured based on eye tracking and face recognition using the camera.

21. A wheelchair comprising:

a control module including an autonomous drive module configured to autonomously pilot the wheelchair;

manual drive controls;

a camera;

biometric sensors configured to measure biometric information of a user of the wheelchair;

an antenna; and

a navigation module configured to command the autonomous drive module to pilot the wheelchair to a predetermined location when the user generates an input informing the control module that the user is lost.