Advanced Mobility for People with Disabilities: Autonomous Wheelchair Pilot Deployment at the BWI Airport - Phase 3

Morgan State University’s autonomous wheelchair (AW) pilot program is designed to allow travelers with disabilities to comfortably navigate a busy transportation hub without the need for an attendant. To effectively implement and launch the autonomous wheelchair in a dynamic, real-world setting, researchers from Morgan State University are engaging in a phased series of testing and validation exercises at Baltimore/Washington International Airport to critically evaluate reliability and success. The autonomous wheelchair was created by modifying a conventional powered wheelchair with additional instruments that provide perception, navigation, and steering capabilities similar to technologies used in autonomous vehicles. Researchers installed cameras and LIDAR sensors for perception, and a general-purpose, single-board computer for processing. The autonomous wheelchair is in its fourth iteration, representing a culmination of more than five years of research and development conducted by technicians from a variety of backgrounds. Currently, the wheelchair is designed only to operate on a guided path, which ensures reliability. A future iteration, which is currently in development, will be able to navigate the facility with or without the use of the guided path for maximum flexibility in deployment. The goal is to facilitate autonomous travel in large buildings such as airports, hospitals, museums, college campuses, and military bases. The pilot program started with one wheelchair and has expanded to three operational wheelchairs. During the early phases of testing, wheelchair passengers are limited to researchers only.

• Record URL:
  • https://smartercenter.org/about-2/projects/advanced-mobility-for-people-with-disabilities-autonomous-wheelchair-pilot-deployment-at-the-bwi-airport-phase-3/

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $130,000.00
• Sponsor Organizations:

  Maryland Department of Transportation

  State Highway Administration, Office of Policy and Research
  707 North Calvert Street
  Baltimore, MD  United States  21202

  Sustainable Mobility and Accessibility Regional Transportation Equity Research Center

  Morgan State University
  Baltimore, MD  United States 

  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

  University Transportation Centers Program
  Department of Transportation
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Performing Organizations:

  Morgan State University

  1700 E. Cold Spring Lane
  Baltimore, MD 21251, Maryland  United States  21251
• Principal Investigators:

  Jeihani, Mansoureh

  Nyarko, Kofi

• Start Date: 20240601
• Expected Completion Date: 20251130
• Actual Completion Date: 0
• USDOT Program: University Transportation Centers

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Airports; Autonomous vehicles; Mobility; Persons with disabilities; Pilot studies; Wheelchairs
• Subject Areas: Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Terminals and Facilities; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01948581
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Sustainable Mobility and Accessibility Regional Transportation Equity Research Center
• Files: UTC, RIP, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Mar 17 2025 1:22PM