Patient support apparatuses, such as beds, cots, stretchers, recliners, or the like, include control systems with one or more image, radar, and/or laser sensors to detect objects and determine if a likelihood of collision exists. If so, the control system controls the speed and steering of the patient support apparatus in order to reduce the likelihood of collision. The control system may be adapted to autonomously drive the patient support apparatus, to transmit a message to a remote device indicating whether it is occupied by a patient or not, and/or to transmit its route to the remote device. The remote device may determine an estimate of a time of arrival of the patient support apparatus at a particular destination and/or determine a distance of the patient support apparatus from the particular destination.

Patient support systems and methods for docking, transporting, sterilizing, and storing patient support decks. The patient support system comprises patient support decks that are configured to carry patients, such as in emergency situations or in a healthcare facility. The patient support decks are adapted to be engaged by docking stations and transport devices. Different configurations of docking stations and transport devices are contemplated. Sterilization apparatuses are provided to sterilize the patient support decks after use and storage facilities store the patient support decks for later use once they are sterilized.

A multifunction wheelchair, with fixed or folding frame, is described. The multifunction wheelchair is reconfigurable, by a transformation mechanism, between a normal use, ergonomic configuration and a roll-over-toilet configuration. This transformation involves raising the seat of the wheelchair, as needed, to position the wheelchair over the determined height of a toilet, and opening a seat closure mechanism to expose a cutout in the seat for toilet use. This transformation may be at least partially automated. In examples, the multifunction wheelchair is equipped with electronics (e.g., camera, microcontroller) to determine the toilet seat height for making height and/or steering adjustments. The transformation mechanism may be provided as a retrofit kit.

Provided are a system and a method for providing navigation service for disabled people. The present invention crawls information necessary for free movement for a wheelchair on a road or a sidewalk, generates a database in which relevant road information is reflected, and provides navigation service based on the generated database, thereby enabling a disabled person to safely move to a destination.

A power transfer system comprises a patient support apparatus and a separate power transfer device. The patient support apparatus comprises a support structure having a base and a patient support surface for a patient and wheels coupled to the support structure to facilitate movement of the patient support apparatus over a floor surface. One or more of the wheels includes a power receiver integrated therewith. The power transfer device is energizeable to interact with the wheel to facilitate power transfer between the power transfer device and the power receiver through the wheel.

Load control apparatuses, systems and methods to control a location, orientation, or rotation of a suspended load by imparting thrust vectors to the suspended load or to a structure that holds the load. The load control apparatuses, systems and method may be integrated into a structure that holds a load, such as a rescue litter. The load control apparatuses, systems, and methods may be modular. The modular load control apparatuses, systems, and methods may be secured to a load or to a structure that holds the load.

Systems and methods for robotic mobile platforms are disclosed. In one exemplary implementation, a system for enabling autonomous navigation of a mobile platform is disclosed. The system may include a memory having computer readable instructions stored thereon and at least one processor configured to execute the computer readable instructions. The execution of the computer readable instructions causes the system to: receive a first set of coordinates corresponding to a first location of a user; determine a different second location for the mobile platform; navigate the mobile platform between the second location and the first location; and receive a different second set of coordinates. Methods, apparatus and computer-readable mediums are also disclosed.

A user control device for a transporter. The user control device can communicate with the transporter via electrical interface(s) that can facilitate communication and data processing among the user interface device and controllers that can control the movement of the transporter. The user control device can perform automated actions based on the environment in which the transporter operates and the user's desired movement of the transporter. External applications can enable monitoring and control of the transporter.

The disclosure relates to a method and an apparatus to automatically maneuver a wheelchair relative to a vehicle. The vehicle has a first sensor arrangement comprising at least one sensor, and the wheelchair has a second sensor arrangement comprising at least one sensor. The automatic maneuver is carried out both on the basis of sensor signals from the first sensor arrangement and on the basis of sensor signals from the second sensor arrangement.

A power transfer system comprises a patient support apparatus and a separate power transfer device. The patient support apparatus comprises a support structure having a base and a patient support surface for a patient and wheels coupled to the support structure to facilitate movement of the patient support apparatus over a floor surface. One or more of the wheels includes a power receiver integrated therewith. The power transfer device is energizeable to interact with the wheel to facilitate power transfer between the power transfer device and the power receiver through the wheel.