For their latest life-changing invention, University of Illinois researchers took inspiration from Star Wars. They've developed a hands-free wheelchair, that could eventually operate like a self-driving car.
"You know BB-8 had just come out in Star Wars and we were thinking ‘hey, that's a real robot, can we convert that robot to being this wheelchair’," said Elizabeth Hsiao-Wecksler, professor of mechanical science and engineering.During a test run, he was able to hold his wife's hand, sip a cup of coffee and roll, for the very first time.
The chair, nicknamed PURE for Personalized Unique Rolling Experience, uses what's called "ballbot" technology. It is operated like a Segway, where the rider leans in a desired direction. When PURE is available for consumers, the expectation is that it will be able to run all day with self-docking and charging capabilities, and come with a self-driving feature.
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