LUCI Gives Wheelchairs Smart Driving Capabilities to Help Avoid Collisions and Falls

Approximately 1% of the world’s population – over 75 million people – use a wheelchair on a daily basis¹. For those with mobility challenges, wheelchairs are considered a personal space, and represent freedom and independence in day-to- day life². But wheelchairs can be dangerous, with collisions, tip overs and falls commonplace, oftentimes resulting in serious injury. A case-control study found that in a three year period, 87% of wheelchair riders reported a tip or fall³. Another study reported that in the last year that data was tracked, hospitals reported 175,000 emergency room visits from wheelchair accidents, 30,000 of which were serious enough to warrant admission.⁴

Until now, there has been almost zero technology on power wheelchairs. Indeed most appliances, such as a toaster or coffee machine, contain more smart technology. LUCI uses similar technology found in autonomous vehicles, and while universities and research institutions are trying to build autonomous wheelchairs, LUCI’s experience with many riders is that they are not interested in being “driven” autonomously. Instead, wheelchair users want confidence, freedom and independence to safely operate their wheelchair on their own.

To help ensure the safety of the riders, LUCI wanted to create a connected solution that could send notifications to the wheelchair user or designated members of their support team for any potential hazardous threats or situations requiring assistance