Autonomous wheelchair system

Description

The University of Edinburgh seeks to procure an autonomous wheelchair system to support research in autonomous mobility. The system must be an off-the-shelf, commercially available, and maintainable solution capable of full autonomous navigation, with the following key requirements:
1. Base Wheelchair Requirements
Motorized power wheelchair suitable for both indoor and outdoor environments
Stable and ergonomic design to ensure safe autonomous operation
Compatible with additional hardware/software for autonomous navigation integration
2. Autonomous Navigation System
Sensor Suite:
Odometry system for precise movement tracking
IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit) for motion sensing
Lidar-based environment mapping and real-time obstacle detection
Depth cameras for enhanced spatial awareness and localization
Onboard Computation & Interface:
High-performance computing unit capable of processing sensor data in real-time
User interface (e.g., touchscreen or equivalent) for system interaction and configuration
3. Navigation Software & API Requirements
Autonomous navigation software with the following capabilities:
Mapping & Localization – Ability to autonomously generate and use maps of the environment
Route Teaching & Execution – Manual input of custom paths and automated path following
Obstacle Avoidance & Safety Features – Intelligent real-time navigation ensuring safe maneuverability
Configurable & Extendable API Access – The software must provide a documented API allowing for:
External control via custom-developed applications
Real-time access to navigation and sensor data
Integration with additional robotics frameworks if required
The software must support long-term usability, allowing for custom modifications, additional research integrations, and future feature expansions.
4. Compliance & Maintainability
The system must be a commercially available product, not a prototype or experimental development
Must have long-term support and maintenance available in case of request from us
Hardware and software should be upgradeable to support evolving research needs
5. Additional Considerations
Additional components and consumables such as batteries may be required
Solution must provide detailed technical documentation and demonstrate previous successful deployments