VA collaborates to improve safety of power wheelchair users

Over 425 participants tuned in over two days to see 19 external health care innovators, entrepreneurs and start-ups pitch their early-stage solutions for the chance to collaborate at VA’s annual Innovation Experience, a collaboration challenge to find innovative ideas to solve VA’s biggest health care challenges.

Gulf Coast VA completed its collaboration with Braze Mobility to further design and develop an innovative navigating blind sensor system for power wheelchair users.

Key role in development of blind spot sensor system

Ten companies were selected by the VA Innovators Network (iNet) sites to further the design and development of their innovative solutions.

Testing the navigation device

Gulf Coast VA, along with six other VA iNet sites, selected Braze Mobility to play a key part in the development and co-design of their blind spot sensor system for power wheelchair users.

As one of 13 VA facilities that specializes in Blind Rehabilitation Services, Gulf Coast VA subject matter experts provided a wealth of co-design feedback from involved specialized health care providers and Veterans in successfully contributing to the development of a functional prototype in early 2022.

Gulf Coast VA provided support in co-designing the product to improve health care for not only our Veterans, but also the private sector. This November, three Gulf Coast Veterans conducted in-person testing of the navigation device and provided valuable user feedback to assist in the design of a second iteration model of the navigation device.

Sensor will detect change in elevation

The second iteration model will be able to detect when a power wheelchair comes close to a change in elevation, for example, a sidewalk curb.

Braze Mobility’s mission in collaboration with VA is to become a solution to provide peace of mind and confidence to wheelchair users. The blind spot sensors enable Veterans to avoid the embarrassment, damage or injury that can occur when moving around via a wheelchair.

The product automatically detects obstacles and provides audio, visual and vibration alerts to the wheelchair driver to assist with the location of an object and the proximity, while staying fully in control.

How innovation is saving Veterans’ lives

Every October, the VA Innovation Ecosystem hosts a national conference, known as the Innovation Experience (iEX), to provide Veterans and the public a unique opportunity to experience and celebrate how VA innovation, collaboration and technology are breaking boundaries—and how it changes and saves Veterans’ lives.