ATDev gives update on its journey building autonomous wheelchairs

A company is developing autonomous wheelchairs that pair modern power chairs with robotic arms to help users with mobility issues perform tasks like eating, drinking, opening doors, and retrieving items. The wheelchairs use "shared autonomy," meaning users maintain control while the chair makes micro-adjustments, rather than operating fully independently. Safety is a major challenge since the technology must be reliable enough for people with partial or full paralysis who cannot move out of the way if something goes wrong. The project is funded by a federal health research program and aims to address the needs of millions of powered wheelchair users in the country, though regulatory approval and insurance reimbursement remain outstanding questions.