Abstract: Systems and methods of wheelchair systems having a companion control mode are disclosed. The wheelchair system includes a companion and a wheelchair. The wheelchair includes one or more wheels, at least one actuator coupled to the one or more wheels, a processing device, and a non-transitory, processor-readable storage medium in communication with the processing device. The non-transitory, processor-readable storage medium includes one or more programming instructions that, when executed, cause the processing device to determine the companion, generate a companion profile based on the determined companion, determine a movement of the companion, and actuate the at least one actuator to drive the one or more wheels to follow the movement of the companion. The actuation of the at least one actuator to drive the one or more wheels to follow the movement of the companion is an autonomous control.

Abstract: A support device includes a base portion structurally configured to support a user, one or more engagement members coupled to the base portion and engagable with a surface, a distance sensor, a power source electrically coupled to one or more electrical stimulation electrodes, and a controller communicatively coupled to the distance sensor and the power source, the controller including a processor and a non-transitory, processor-readable storage medium including a computer readable and executable instruction set, which, when executed, causes the processor to receive a signal from the distance sensor indicative of a detected distance traveled by the support device, and send a signal to the power source to engage the one or more electrical stimulation electrodes based at least in part on the detected distance traveled by the support device.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein are directed to a wheelchair system that includes a wheelchair and an exoskeleton. The wheelchair includes a frame, a pair of armrests coupled to the frame, and a control unit. The pair of armrests movable between an attached position and a detached position. When in the attached position, each one of the pair of armrests are coupled to the frame and when in the detached position, each one of the pair of armrests is removed from the frame. The exoskeleton is communicatively coupled to the control unit via a cable extending between the exoskeleton and the control unit. The exoskeleton being releasably coupled to at least a portion of the frame of the wheelchair. The wheelchair system is translatable between a wheelchair mode and an exoskeleton mode such that, when in the exoskeleton mode, the control unit provides electrical power and control signals to the exoskeleton.

Abstract: Systems and methods of wheelchair systems enabling fine manual motion control are disclosed. In one embodiment, a wheelchair system includes a wheelchair. The wheelchair includes one or more wheels, at least one actuator coupled to the one or more wheels, a processing device, and a non-transitory, processor-readable storage medium in communication with the processing device. The non-transitory, processor-readable storage medium includes one or more programming instructions that, when executed, cause the processing device to determine a wheel torque on the one or more wheels, determine a compensation value, and actuate the at least one actuator applying the compensation value to the one or more wheels to remove at least a portion of the wheel torque such that less external force is required to physically move the powered wheelchair than when the compensation value is not applied.

Abstract: A powered wheelchair includes a seat, a first leg, a second leg, and a control unit. The first leg includes a first inertial measurement unit configured to determine a position of the first leg and a first leg actuator configured to adjust a position of the first leg. The second leg includes a second inertial measurement unit configured to determine a position of the second leg and a second leg actuator configured to adjust a position of the second leg. The control unit is operable to determine a global orientation of the powered wheelchair by averaging the position of first leg and the position of the second leg, and automatically adjusting the position of the first leg with a first leg actuator and the position of the second leg with the second leg actuator based on the global orientation to maintain the seat in a pre-selected position.

Abstract: The systems and methods of automatically cleaning a wheel are disclosed herein. The systems and methods include a foreign matter detector arranged adjacent to the wheel, a cleaning device arranged adjacent to the wheel, one or more processors communicatively coupled to the foreign matter detector and the cleaning device; and a non-transitory, processor-readable storage medium communicatively coupled to the one or more processors. The non-transitory, processor-readable storage medium includes one or more programming instructions stored thereon that, when executed, cause the one or more processors to: receive a signal from the foreign matter detector, the signal being indicative of possible foreign matter present on a surface of the wheel, determine from the signal, whether foreign matter is present on the wheel, and direct the cleaning device to remove the foreign matter from the wheel.

Abstract: Systems and methods of wheelchair systems having a companion control mode are disclosed. The wheelchair system includes a companion and a wheelchair. The wheelchair includes one or more wheels, at least one actuator coupled to the one or more wheels, a processing device, and a non-transitory, processor-readable storage medium in communication with the processing device. The non-transitory, processor-readable storage medium includes one or more programming instructions that, when executed, cause the processing device to determine the companion, generate a companion profile based on the determined companion, determine a movement of the companion, and actuate the at least one actuator to drive the one or more wheels to follow the movement of the companion. The actuation of the at least one actuator to drive the one or more wheels to follow the movement of the companion is an autonomous control.

Abstract: A support device includes a base portion, a leg coupled to the base portion, the leg including an upper segment, a central segment pivotally coupled to the upper segment at a front wheel, a lower segment pivotally coupled to the central segment, a rear wheel coupled to the lower segment, and an engagement member coupled to the lower segment, where the engagement member is positionable between a disengaged position, in which at least a portion of the engagement member is positioned above the rear wheel, and an engaged position, in which at least a portion of the engagement member is positioned at or below the rear wheel.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein are directed to a wheelchair system that includes a wheelchair and an exoskeleton. The wheelchair includes a frame, a pair of armrests coupled to the frame, and a control unit. The pair of armrests movable between an attached position and a detached position. When in the attached position, each one of the pair of armrests are coupled to the frame and when in the detached position, each one of the pair of armrests is removed from the frame. The exoskeleton is communicatively coupled to the control unit via a cable extending between the exoskeleton and the control unit. The exoskeleton being releasably coupled to at least a portion of the frame of the wheelchair. The wheelchair system is translatable between a wheelchair mode and an exoskeleton mode such that, when in the exoskeleton mode, the control unit provides electrical power and control signals to the exoskeleton.

Abstract: A powered wheelchair includes a seat, a first leg, a second leg, and a control unit. The first leg includes a first inertial measurement unit configured to determine a position of the first leg and a first leg actuator configured to adjust a position of the first leg. The second leg includes a second inertial measurement unit configured to determine a position of the second leg and a second leg actuator configured to adjust a position of the second leg. The control unit is operable to determine a global orientation of the powered wheelchair by averaging the position of first leg and the position of the second leg, and automatically adjusting the position of the first leg with a first leg actuator and the position of the second leg with the second leg actuator based on the global orientation to maintain the seat in a pre-selected position.

Abstract: A support device includes a base portion structurally configured to support a user, one or more engagement members coupled to the base portion and engagable with a surface, a distance sensor, a power source electrically coupled to one or more electrical stimulation electrodes, and a controller communicatively coupled to the distance sensor and the power source, the controller including a processor and a non-transitory, processor-readable storage medium including a computer readable and executable instruction set, which, when executed, causes the processor to receive a signal from the distance sensor indicative of a detected distance traveled by the support device, and send a signal to the power source to engage the one or more electrical stimulation electrodes based at least in part on the detected distance traveled by the support device.

Abstract: The systems and methods of automatically cleaning a wheel are disclosed herein. The systems and methods include a foreign matter detector arranged adjacent to the wheel, a cleaning device arranged adjacent to the wheel, one or more processors communicatively coupled to the foreign matter detector and the cleaning device; and a non-transitory, processor-readable storage medium communicatively coupled to the one or more processors. The non-transitory, processor-readable storage medium includes one or more programming instructions stored thereon that, when executed, cause the one or more processors to: receive a signal from the foreign matter detector, the signal being indicative of possible foreign matter present on a surface of the wheel, determine from the signal, whether foreign matter is present on the wheel, and direct the cleaning device to remove the foreign matter from the wheel.

Abstract: Systems and methods of wheelchair systems enabling fine manual motion control are disclosed. In one embodiment, a wheelchair system includes a wheelchair. The wheelchair includes one or more wheels, at least one actuator coupled to the one or more wheels, a processing device, and a non-transitory, processor-readable storage medium in communication with the processing device. The non-transitory, processor-readable storage medium includes one or more programming instructions that, when executed, cause the processing device to determine a wheel torque on the one or more wheels, determine a compensation value, and actuate the at least one actuator applying the compensation value to the one or more wheels to remove at least a portion of the wheel torque such that less external force is required to physically move the powered wheelchair than when the compensation value is not applied.