CoMoveIT Smart wins an international award!
Electric wheelchairs are usually controlled with a joystick, but for some users this is not physically possible. CoMoveIT's smart wheelchair steering system offers a state-of-the-art solution for this using sensors and artificial intelligence. This invention has now been awarded the international EACD Technology & Innovation Award 2022.
Technology and innovative solutions are increasingly making a difference in our society and in pediatric rehabilitation. The European Academy of Childhood Disability (EACD) stimulates new developments and presents the Technology & Innovation Award annually. At this year's congress in Barcelona, this internationally prestigious award was presented to CoMoveIT for their innovative and high-tech operating system CoMoveIT Smart.
"The smart control system is good news for people with complex movement disorders," explains Sotirios Gakopoulos, CTO of CoMoveIT and co-inventor of the system. "Just think of wheelchair users worldwide with cerebral palsy (cerebral palsy). Because of their condition, they make many involuntary movements, which prevents them from operating a traditional electric wheelchair. They are therefore dependent on the help of others for their movements. Our wheelchair control changes that and creates maximum independent mobility."
Technology developed at KU Leuven, Belgium
The CoMoveIT Smart was evidence-based developed at KU Leuven under the leadership of Professor Elegast Monbaliu, also Chief Clinical Officer of CoMoveIT. "We are honored and proud to win this award. It is an international recognition for our approach and immediately shows the importance of this product for users worldwide. We are using State-of-the-Art technology. Because our head-foot control continuously adapts, even people with complex movement disorders can operate an electric wheelchair. Many of them have great intellectual potential, but their severe motor problems limit their options. Our wheelchair control can help break that motor lock-in. We are addressing the international need of this group of wheelchair users and give them more autonomy, participation and quality of life," says Professor Monbaliu.
For you?
Our solution is developed for people with severe Cerebral Palsy (CP), more specifically severe quadriplegic spasticity, dystonia and/or choreoathetosis. We can significantly improve your daily functioning, societal participation and quality of life.
The CoMoveIT Smart system brings the highest possible independency in personal mobility when you have insufficient control to steer a powered wheelchair with joystick or other conventional navigation systems.
The CoMoveIT system is more reliable and effective in navigation of wheelchairs, reducing stress and frustration of users and increasing their independency and confidence.
This is resulting in: (1) less rehabilitation and care cost for rehab schools, private care centers and state agencies, (2) reduced rehab/care time of clinical staff and (3) increased independency for the end-users.
Adapting to driver . Plug-and-drive . Autocalibration . Smart algorithm . Therapeutic driving . Zero maintenance
The CoMoveIT Smart system is a head-foot steering system that is mounted on the back of the electric-powered wheelchair.
It has a back, left and right pad where you push against with your head. It can have foot pads as well.
Those pads hold the hi-tech! Inside there are sensors that interpret your movement and translate this into a smooth drive control of the wheelchair.
The system automatically calibrates itself to your movements and adapts as you go, over and over again, every second that you drive.
All mechanical adjustments and maintenance that are daily required on other systems are eliminated. Once fitted for you, this relies on top notch technology.
This new technology uses smart software algorithms developed by our CoMoveIT wizards with tremendous help from several experts from the University of Leuven, Belgium (KU Leuven).
Be assured, this system is not hanging together with snags. It is the result of several years of research and evidence-based development, combining rehabilitation sciences, mechatronics and IT sciences. This most advanced steering system finally unlocks people with complex movement disorders.
The CoMoveIT Smart system connects and communicates to the wheelchair via the universal R-Net® protocol. This is the most used system designed to control the speed, direction and many other functions on electric-powered wheelchairs. It is easy in ‘connect & drive’ and future proof.
Configurations
With each configuration you can drive forward, turn left or right and switch from forward to reverse. You can also enter the controller menu (OMNI2). The way how is different per configuration although turning left or right is always done with the left and right head pad.
Drive with right foot
Switch with left foot
In this configuration, you press the right foot pad to move forward, much like a gas pedal. Obviously turning left or right while driving can be done with the head pads at the same time.
With your left foot you can activate the switch, which changes forward to reverse. By pressing the switch a little longer, you enter the controller menu.
When preferred, the left and right foot functions can be swapped.
Drive with back head
Switch with one foot
We also defined a configuration for those who feel more comfortable driving forward by pressing the back head cushion. In this case, there is also a sensor built in at that place. Obviously it can be used with the left and right pad at the same time in order to allow a smooth ride.
One of the feet, this can be left or right, is then used to control the switch, allowing to change from forward to reverse driving. By pressing the switch a little longer, you enter the controller menu.
Drive with one foot
Switch with back head
A last alternative is to drive forward with one foot, either left or right and use the back head cushion to activate the switch to change from forward to reverse or to enter the controller menu by pressing it a bit longer.
The controller menu
When you go from the drive mode to the controller menu (OMNI2), you can scroll through the items using the forward sensor. You can for instance change the driver profile, the speed or adjust the seating.
The left and right head pads are used to increase or decrease a value.
From this menu, you can also go to any other external communication tool which is piloted through the controller.
The best-fit configuration is selected during a professionally guided driving test before final decision of the configuration.
Thanks to FIT
for supporting CoMoveIT with our international business
