A desktop virtual environment to train motorized wheelchair driving

One of the most useful devices that give the disabled the self-locomotion opportunity is wheelchair. The motorized wheelchair is designed for disabled with severe disability. Since there is no controller on the traditional and cheap motorized wheelchairs, a collision-free navigation in an indoor environment is somewhat difficult. Improving user´s driving skill is achieved by practicing in different risk-free environments. Building a virtual environment to train motorized wheelchair driving is a cost-effective and safe solution. In this paper, we developed a desktop-VR system that uses a cost-effective platform to receive user´s wheelchair motion and feedback environment impulses to the wheelchair. The impulse feedback makes the VE more realistic.