#DRIVERS JOYSTICK TECH MOBILITY REVIEW FULL#

While the concept of self-driving wheelchairs has been active for quite some time, the current project truly got off the ground about two years ago, according to University of Toronto professor and principal investigator Jonathan Kelly. They say it has the potential to reduce user fatigue and even address secondary disabilities, but should not be viewed as a solution to the broader social issue of ensuring spaces are accessible for all. Wheelchair users say they're cautiously optimistic about the development of such technology.

#DRIVERS JOYSTICK TECH MOBILITY REVIEW FULL#

The technology is still a work in progress, as it still struggles to operate in full sunlight and is currently intended for indoor use, but developers say they hope to make it commercially available in the near future. They say previous autonomous wheelchair designs could cost the user upwards of $30,000, but say the product they've developed will have a total cost of between $300 and $700.

Toronto-based Cyberworks Robotics and the University of Toronto have applied the same principles at work in self-driving cars, saying using similar types of sensors on motorized wheelchairs can allow the mobility aids to dodge obstacles and travel routes without assistance from the user.

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Drivers joystick tech mobility review