HYUNDAI i Motors and Startups Join Forces to Develop 'Autonomous Wheelchair'
Attaching parts to modify wheelchairs... Lowering costs and increasing consumer accessibility
On the 15th of this month, at the Seoul Museum of Art in Seosomun-dong, central Seoul, Song Young-wook, CEO of TUNEIT (from left), Kwon Young-jin, the Zero-One Manager at HYUNDAI MOTOR GROUP, and Park Dong-hyun, CEO of HYCORE, pose with the autonomous wheelchair they developed. (Photo provided by HYUNDAI MOTORS)
Not long ago, I received a call from my mother. She told me she was having difficulty walking while trying to climb the subway stairs. This was unusual, as she usually doesn't have any mobility issues. It made me feel suddenly worried.
The need for a wheelchair can come unexpectedly. Electric wheelchairs, which are powered by electricity, actually have many inconveniences. For some, operating them can be more difficult than expected, and there are often obstacles in the way. What if there were a wheelchair that could take you to your destination on its own?
There is a solution: autonomous driving. “Autonomous driving technology in cars is designed with non-disabled people in mind. We wanted to apply this technology to help people with disabilities and the elderly who struggle with mobility,” explained Kwon Young-jin, the HYUNDAI MOTOR GROUP Manager leading the project. Kwon is working on creating an autonomous wheelchair using the company’s open innovation platform, Zero-One, with the help of Park Dong-hyun, CEO of HYCORE, and Song Young-wook, CEO of TUNEIT.
On the 15th of this month, the team hosted a demonstration of their wheelchair at the Seoul Museum of Art in Seosomun-dong, Seoul.
“I’ll try to block the path, so watch closely,” said Park Dong-hyun, CEO of HYCORE. He walked in front of the wheelchair, blocking its way while it tried to move towards its destination. The wheelchair then navigated around him and found another path.
The secret to the wheelchair's autonomous driving lies in two LiDAR sensors attached to the armrests of the chair. These sensors shoot lasers in all directions to detect obstacles. When an obstacle is detected, the mini-computer installed on the wheelchair automatically adjusts the controls to find an alternative route. It's similar to how autonomous cars operate.
Using the wheelchair is simple. The user can set a destination on the screen attached to the armrest, which looks like a smartphone. The wheelchair will then automatically follow the path on the map. There is also a large display on the back of the wheelchair. Song Young-wook explained, “When the wheelchair is moving without a person sitting in it, we display instructions on the screen so that people around it aren’t confused.”
This isn’t the first time anyone has developed an autonomous wheelchair, but there is something unique about the Zero-One team’s approach. Instead of designing a new frame from scratch, they modified existing wheelchairs by attaching wheels, a computer board, and other modular components to transform them into autonomous vehicles. This means compatibility is key. For those already using low-cost manual wheelchairs, there’s no need to buy an expensive new one.
CEO Park explained, “Last year, we first developed an electric wheelchair by attaching wheels with an integrated motor and transmission system to a foldable manual wheelchair, reducing weight and increasing energy efficiency. By adding autonomous driving components, users can continue using their existing wheelchair.”
Current electric wheelchairs on the market weigh over 100 kg, making them difficult to carry around. These heavy wheelchairs require large batteries, which makes them impossible to transport by air due to aviation regulations.
In contrast, the electric wheelchair developed by the Zero-One team last year weighs only 27 kg, about a quarter of the weight of existing products. This was achieved by using smaller, lighter motors and batteries. The wheelchair uses an all-in-one wheel with a motor and transmission system, which directly transfers the driving force to the wheels, allowing the wheelchair to move using less energy.
In fact, the wheelchair was easy enough for the reporter to lift. A full charge using a slow charger takes 3 hours, and it can travel 50 km. At a speed of 6 km/h, it can run for around 8 hours.
Kwon emphasized, “While autonomous wheelchairs have been developed in countries like Japan, they are often as expensive as a car, making them inaccessible to most people. Our goal is to produce affordable products and expand the market.”
Currently, electric wheelchairs on the market are priced around 2 million KRW, and high-end wheelchairs, such as those from the German company 'OttoBock' that feature advanced comfort and safety functions for people with disabilities, cost over 5 million KRW. Adding autonomous driving functionality would further increase the price. The Zero-One team aims to mass-produce a lightweight, improved electric wheelchair this year and plans to commercialize a low-cost autonomous wheelchair within the next few years.
There are many challenges ahead. In addition to lowering manufacturing costs, one critical task is expanding the areas in which these wheelchairs can be used. For autonomous driving to be possible, not only public roads but also the electronic maps of many buildings where wheelchairs are used are necessary.
Social acceptance of autonomous wheelchairs is also crucial. Even if autonomous driving technology is applied to wheelchairs, they will be useless if buildings have too many steps or people do not move out of the way. In Korea, due to legal restrictions, electric wheelchairs cannot be used on roads, and they are not given much consideration when it comes to sidewalks, making them inconvenient for mobility.
“Just like how drivers now move aside when they see an ambulance, I believe that as autonomous wheelchairs become more widespread, societal attitudes and norms will also change,” Kwon said.
“I like that what we’re doing isn’t about chasing high-tech or trends, but about focusing on people. I hope we can soon provide tangible benefits to those with mobility challenges,” he added. Although they work in the field of information technology (IT), their words carry warmth.
Reporter Park Jong-oh, Hankyoreh
HYUNDAI i Motors and Startups Join Forces to Develop 'Autonomous Wheelchair'
Attaching parts to modify wheelchairs... Lowering costs and increasing consumer accessibility
On the 15th of this month, at the Seoul Museum of Art in Seosomun-dong, central Seoul, Song Young-wook, CEO of TUNEIT (from left), Kwon Young-jin, the Zero-One Manager at HYUNDAI MOTOR GROUP, and Park Dong-hyun, CEO of HYCORE, pose with the autonomous wheelchair they developed. (Photo provided by HYUNDAI MOTORS)
Not long ago, I received a call from my mother. She told me she was having difficulty walking while trying to climb the subway stairs. This was unusual, as she usually doesn't have any mobility issues. It made me feel suddenly worried.
The need for a wheelchair can come unexpectedly. Electric wheelchairs, which are powered by electricity, actually have many inconveniences. For some, operating them can be more difficult than expected, and there are often obstacles in the way. What if there were a wheelchair that could take you to your destination on its own?
There is a solution: autonomous driving. “Autonomous driving technology in cars is designed with non-disabled people in mind. We wanted to apply this technology to help people with disabilities and the elderly who struggle with mobility,” explained Kwon Young-jin, the HYUNDAI MOTOR GROUP Manager leading the project. Kwon is working on creating an autonomous wheelchair using the company’s open innovation platform, Zero-One, with the help of Park Dong-hyun, CEO of HYCORE, and Song Young-wook, CEO of TUNEIT.
On the 15th of this month, the team hosted a demonstration of their wheelchair at the Seoul Museum of Art in Seosomun-dong, Seoul.
“I’ll try to block the path, so watch closely,” said Park Dong-hyun, CEO of HYCORE. He walked in front of the wheelchair, blocking its way while it tried to move towards its destination. The wheelchair then navigated around him and found another path.
The secret to the wheelchair's autonomous driving lies in two LiDAR sensors attached to the armrests of the chair. These sensors shoot lasers in all directions to detect obstacles. When an obstacle is detected, the mini-computer installed on the wheelchair automatically adjusts the controls to find an alternative route. It's similar to how autonomous cars operate.
Using the wheelchair is simple. The user can set a destination on the screen attached to the armrest, which looks like a smartphone. The wheelchair will then automatically follow the path on the map. There is also a large display on the back of the wheelchair. Song Young-wook explained, “When the wheelchair is moving without a person sitting in it, we display instructions on the screen so that people around it aren’t confused.”
This isn’t the first time anyone has developed an autonomous wheelchair, but there is something unique about the Zero-One team’s approach. Instead of designing a new frame from scratch, they modified existing wheelchairs by attaching wheels, a computer board, and other modular components to transform them into autonomous vehicles. This means compatibility is key. For those already using low-cost manual wheelchairs, there’s no need to buy an expensive new one.
CEO Park explained, “Last year, we first developed an electric wheelchair by attaching wheels with an integrated motor and transmission system to a foldable manual wheelchair, reducing weight and increasing energy efficiency. By adding autonomous driving components, users can continue using their existing wheelchair.”
Current electric wheelchairs on the market weigh over 100 kg, making them difficult to carry around. These heavy wheelchairs require large batteries, which makes them impossible to transport by air due to aviation regulations.
In contrast, the electric wheelchair developed by the Zero-One team last year weighs only 27 kg, about a quarter of the weight of existing products. This was achieved by using smaller, lighter motors and batteries. The wheelchair uses an all-in-one wheel with a motor and transmission system, which directly transfers the driving force to the wheels, allowing the wheelchair to move using less energy.
In fact, the wheelchair was easy enough for the reporter to lift. A full charge using a slow charger takes 3 hours, and it can travel 50 km. At a speed of 6 km/h, it can run for around 8 hours.
Kwon emphasized, “While autonomous wheelchairs have been developed in countries like Japan, they are often as expensive as a car, making them inaccessible to most people. Our goal is to produce affordable products and expand the market.”
Currently, electric wheelchairs on the market are priced around 2 million KRW, and high-end wheelchairs, such as those from the German company 'OttoBock' that feature advanced comfort and safety functions for people with disabilities, cost over 5 million KRW. Adding autonomous driving functionality would further increase the price. The Zero-One team aims to mass-produce a lightweight, improved electric wheelchair this year and plans to commercialize a low-cost autonomous wheelchair within the next few years.
There are many challenges ahead. In addition to lowering manufacturing costs, one critical task is expanding the areas in which these wheelchairs can be used. For autonomous driving to be possible, not only public roads but also the electronic maps of many buildings where wheelchairs are used are necessary.
Social acceptance of autonomous wheelchairs is also crucial. Even if autonomous driving technology is applied to wheelchairs, they will be useless if buildings have too many steps or people do not move out of the way. In Korea, due to legal restrictions, electric wheelchairs cannot be used on roads, and they are not given much consideration when it comes to sidewalks, making them inconvenient for mobility.
“Just like how drivers now move aside when they see an ambulance, I believe that as autonomous wheelchairs become more widespread, societal attitudes and norms will also change,” Kwon said.
“I like that what we’re doing isn’t about chasing high-tech or trends, but about focusing on people. I hope we can soon provide tangible benefits to those with mobility challenges,” he added. Although they work in the field of information technology (IT), their words carry warmth.
Reporter Park Jong-oh, Hankyoreh