By Dr. Joseph F. Coughlin, Director of the MIT AgeLab
Aging is not new to robotics researchers. For example, much of the current love affair around the promise of autonomous vehicles is centered on the assertion that these robotic cars will become safe transportation alternatives for older people. My MIT AgeLab colleagues researching these systems tell me there will be miles of transition before we see the highways switch from human to robot traffic. If driving is macro-mobility, getting around the house or a long-term care facility might be thought of as micro-mobility. In collaboration with our colleagues at the MIT Computer Science Artificial Intelligence Laboratory and the Boston Home, the AgeLab has informed the development of a robotic wheel chair that supports the user’s independence and reduces staff workload.