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A Curtin PhD student has been recognised on the national stage for developing an AI-powered wheelchair technology designed to help people navigate their surroundings more safely and independently.
PhD student Shanelle Tennekoon recently received a Merit Award in the Not-for-Profit and Community category at the Australian Information Industry Association (AIIA) iAwards, Australia’s longest-running and most prestigious technology innovation awards.
The award recognises SmartWheel, the world’s first semi-autonomous hazard-perception system for wheelchairs, developed through Shanelle’s PhD research.
Designed to retrofit to any wheelchair, SmartWheel uses edge-based artificial intelligence to detect hazards in real time with more than 95 per cent accuracy. The system operates without internet connectivity, cloud services or pre-mapped environments, making it suitable for use in hospitals, homes and remote communities.
By reaching the national stage of the iAwards, SmartWheel was assessed alongside some of Australia’s leading technology innovations and recognised for its real-world impact and potential to improve accessibility and independence for people with mobility impairments.
Read more about the achievement in the AIIA iAwards announcement.
