System for automating wheelchair user ingress, egress, and securement on a vehicle
A system allowing a wheelchair bound user to embark and disembark a vehicle without assistance. The user requests entry into the vehicle. The vehicle is manually or autonomously driven into a safe position for ingress. The vehicle checks if the area is clear to open the door. The vehicle autonomously opens the door. The vehicle verifies the person is wheelchair bound. If the passenger is wheelchair bound, then: the vehicle verifies if the area is clear to deploy an inclined ramp or lift. The vehicle deploys the inclined ramp or lift. The vehicle waits until the user is on top of the lift and starts lifting the wheelchair bound person. The vehicle waits until the user at the correct height and transitions from the lift/ramp into the securement station inside of the vehicle. The vehicle verifies that the wheelchair is properly positioned for securement. The vehicle secures the wheel chair.
1. A system for automating the embarkation and disembarkation of wheelchair users from a vehicle, the system is composed of:
a ramp used for bridging the support surface outside of the vehicle to the inner floor of the vehicle;
a wheelchair securement mechanism mounted to the vehicle;
a sensor for verifying the safety of the movement of the ramp used for bridging the support surface outside of the vehicle to the inner floor of the vehicle; and
a sensor for verifying a wheelchair securement mechanism mounted to the vehicle; and/or
providing instructions to the user for verifying the safety of the movement of the ramp used for bridging the support surface outside of the vehicle to the inner floor of the vehicle and verifying a wheelchair securement mechanism mounted to the vehicle; and a
passenger harness mounted to the vehicle.
2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising
a motorized system for opening and closing the door.
3. The system of claim 1 , further comprising
a sensor or algorithm that automatically detects whether a person is wheelchair-bound or not, and initiates ramp deployment and securement procedures if the user is wheelchair bound.
4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising
a sensor such as a camera, ladar, radar, acoustic, or touch that verifies or applies
vehicle safety brakes while the process of embarkation or disembarkation are under way.
5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising
a speaker that guides the user to the next step in the embarkation or disembarkation sequence.
6. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a button outside of the vehicle that will initiate the embarkation sequence and or inside of the vehicle that will initiate the disembarkation sequence.
7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a wireless receiver on the vehicle that is triggered by a smart phone or button in the wheelchair for initiating the embarkation and disembarkation procedures.
8. The system of claim 1 , further comprising
a microphone outside of the vehicle and/or inside of the vehicle that receives commands from a user to start, pause, interrupt, or abort the embarkation or disembarkation procedures.
9. The system of claim 1 , further comprising
multiple securement mechanisms, so as to allow for multiple wheelchair users to use the vehicle simultaneously.
10. The system of claim 1 , wherein
the securement mechanism is placed in such a way as to allow the user to reach the vehicle controls and manually or autonomously drive the vehicle.
11. The system of claim 1 , wherein
the vehicle is autonomously driven.
12. The system of claim 1 , wherein
the vehicle is equipped with multiple doors and with multiple ramps.
13. The system of claim 1 , wherein
the sensors notify the human or autonomous driver to reposition the vehicle when the area for ramp deployment is not clear.
14. The system of claim 1 , wherein
the sensors are not only used to figure out if the deployment of the ramp and door are clear, but there is also enough room for the wheelchair user to maneuver into and outside of the ramp.
15. The system of claim 1 , further comprising
a sensor that classifies the terrain of the ramp landing as to avoid puddles, mud, sand, or other challenging terrain.
16. The system of claim 1 , further comprising
a mechanism that alerts surrounding traffic of the embarkation or disembarkation maneuver taking place has to direct traffic around the vehicle or to stop traffic while the procedure is ongoing (for example, turn on blinkers or engage a stop sign).
17. The system of claim 1 , further comprising
an algorithm that determines which exit door is more convenient for the user; and
the algorithm includes measures of distance between the securement mechanism of the door and/or might look for blockages inside of the vehicle.
18. The system of claim 1 , further comprising
an emergency or panic button located within reach of the user to alert driver or some other someone else of possible dangerous situation or medical emergency.
19. The system of claim 1 , wherein
the ramp is not attached to the vehicle, but is attached to the vehicle stopping area or bus stop.
20. The system of claim 19 , wherein
a sensor is located at the bus stop to verify mating between the ramp and vehicle.
21. The system of claim 1 , wherein
the ramp is not necessary or not deployed because the floor of the vehicle and the ground are at the same level.
22. The system of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle is a boat, ship, train, airplane, car, bus, van, or truck, recreational vehicle or any other moving vehicle.
23. The system of claim 1 , wherein
an empty wheelchair is lowered by the lift ramp, allowing an elderly person or mobility challenged person to sit in the wheelchair at ground level; and
the system is used for bringing the mobility challenged person into the car and automatically secures the wheelchair and person.
24. The system of claim 1 , further comprising
a charging mechanism that charges the wheelchair while secured.
25. The system of claim 1 , further comprising
an interface that allows a motorized wheelchair to be automatically controlled by the vehicle to perform the maneuvers of moving into the ramp and positioning prior to initiating the fastening procedure.
26. The system of claim 1 , further comprising
an interface that automatically connects a vital sign system in the wheelchair to the vehicle network and allows the driver or intelligent vehicle to monitor the user.
27. The system of claim 1 , wherein
verbally guides the user into the wheel chair securement mechanism; and
indicates distance and direction.
28. The system of claim 1 , further comprising
a transmitter for diagnostics and status data to a remote monitoring station or user device, such as a smart phone application or webpage.
29. The system of claim 1 , further comprising
a visual display to guide the user through the embarkation and disembarkation process.
30. The system of claim 1 , further comprising
an on-demand reservation system for scheduling a pickup and drop-off that meet accessibility needs.
31. The system of claim 1 , further comprising
an on-demand scheduling system for optimizing the schedule of a fleet of vehicles to match accessibility needs.
32. The system of claim 1 , further comprising
a manual or automated passenger harness.