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This study aimed to explore the requirements for accessible Autonomous Vehicles (AVs) and AV services from a consumer perspective, focusing on people with disabilities (PwDs) and older adults. Two national surveys were conducted, capturing current transportation trends and AV priorities. Participants (n = 922) with disabilities and older adults were included in the analysis. Transportation choices exhibited significant divergence based on the underlying causes of disabilities, showcasing distinct inclinations and impediments within each category. AV services, encompassing family conveyance and package delivery, proved integral, but their specific desirability fluctuated in accordance with the nature of disabilities. Notably, medical appointments emerged as the foremost AV utilisation requirement, particularly pronounced among individuals with hearing impairments. Preferences for orchestrating AV rides and the preferred vehicle types displayed disparities linked to the various disability classifications. The employment of mobile applications, websites, and text messages were preferred mediums for arranging rides. Features such as automated route guidance and collision prevention garnered unanimous precedence among AV attributes. Key priorities, spanning wheelchair accessibility, user profiles, and seamless communication with AVs, were universally emphasised across all participant clusters. The study indicated a moderate comfort level with AV deployment, implying the potential for favourable reception within the population of PwDs and older adults. The study highlights the significance of considering diverse needs in accessible AV development of vehicle and infrastructure and policies. The findings inform evidence-based interventions and programmes that prioritise accessibility needs, promoting social inclusion and equitable transportation solutions. Continued research and advocacy are essential for successful autonomous vehicle integration, catering to the needs of all individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite advances in wearable robots across various fields, there is no consensus definition or design framework for the application of this technology in rehabilitation or musculoskeletal (MSK) injury prevention. This paper aims to define wearable robots and explore their applications and challenges for military rehabilitation and force protection for MSK injury prevention. We conducted a modified Delphi method, including a steering group and 14 panelists with 10+ years of expertise in wearable robots. Panelists presented current wearable robots currently in use or in development for rehabilitation or assistance use in the military workforce and healthcare. The steering group and panelists met to obtain a consensus on the wearable robot definition applicable for rehabilitation or primary injury prevention. Panelists unanimously agreed that wearable robots can be grouped into three main applications, as follows: (1) primary and secondary MSK injury prevention, (2) enhancement of military activities and tasks, and (3) rehabilitation and reintegration. Each application was presented within the context of its target population and state-of-the-art technology currently in use or under development. Capturing expert opinions, this study defines wearable robots for military rehabilitation and MSK injury prevention, identifies health outcomes and assessment tools, and outlines design requirements for future advancements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Existing automated vehicle transportation guidelines and regulations have minimal guidance to address the specific needs of people with disabilities. Accessibility should be at the forefront to increase autonomy and independence for people with disabilities. The purpose of this research is to better understand potential facilitators and barriers to using accessible autonomous transportation. Focus groups were conducted with key stakeholders derived from people with disabilities (n = 5), travel companions/caregivers (n = 5), and transportation experts or designers (n = 11). The themes include describing stakeholder perceptions across all three groups by identified themes: autonomous vehicle assistive technology, autonomy vs automation, cost, infrastructure, safety & liability, design challenges, and potential impact. Specific gaps and needs were identified regarding barriers and facilitators for transportation accessibility and evidence-based guidance. These specific gaps can help to formulate design criteria for the communication between, the interior and exterior of accessible autonomous vehicles. Accessible and affordable autonomous transportation may increase mobility and the autonomy of people with disabilities to travel spontaneously. Autonomous vehicles and services should be designed to accommodate various types of disabilities such as multimodal and multilingual device communication. Safety and liability regulatory protocols need to be developed for incidents and emergencies. Wheelchair user, especially people who use powered devices, would need systems for ingress/egress, docking, and occupant restraints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wheelchair users often face architectural barriers such as curbs, limiting their accessibility, mobility, and participation in their communities. The mobility enhancement robotic (MEBot) wheelchair was developed to navigate over such architectural barriers. Its application allows wheelchair users to negotiate curbs automatically while the user remains in control. The application was optimized from a manual to a semiautomated process based on wheelchair users' feedback. The optimized application was evaluated by experienced wheelchair users who navigated over curbs of different heights. Participants evaluated MEBot in terms of effectiveness, workload demand, and usability. Ten participants successfully ascended and descended curbs of different heights at an average completion time of 55.7 ± 19.5 and 30.3 ± 9.1 s, respectively. MEBot maintained stability during the process, while participants reported low levels of effort, frustration, and overall cognitive demand to operate MEBot. Furthermore, participants were satisfied with the ease of learning and using the MEBot curb negotiation application to overcome the curbs but suggested less wheel adjustment for comfort and a faster pace to overcome curbs during real-world conditions.

Route planning is an important tool to reach points of interest. The current technology offers options for public transportation and pedestrians on the road and sidewalks, respectively. However, for people who use electric powered wheelchairs (EPW) as their primary means of mobility, the level of accessibility and EPW battery consumption are important during route planning. This paper introduces the concept of an accessible route navigation application to reduce EPW battery consumption. The application, called eNav, uses five layers of information including OpenStreetMaps (OSM), airborne laser scanner (ALS), Point-of-Interests (POIs), public transportation, and crowdsourcing. eNav collects these layers of information to provide the shortest, most accessible, and most comfortable routes that consume the least amount of EPW battery. Additionally, the paper presents the Mobility Enhancement roBot (MEBot), a legged-wheeled power wheelchair, to drive over architectural barriers and less accessible environments. The paper proposes the use of MEBot as a sixth layer of information to inform eNav and road authorities about sidewalk/route conditions, to improve road accessibility, and to provide an energy efficient route planning for non-MEBot users.