Patent ID: 9314928
Filing Date: 2016-04-19
CPC Classification: A61G,B25J,B62D,G05D

Claim Text:
1. A mobile wheelchair-assist robot, comprising: a wheelchair interface component configured to wirelessly exchange control information between the mobile wheelchair-assist robot and a wheelchair controller associated with a wheelchair structured and dimensioned to transport an individual subject; a surveillance component configured to exchange information with the wheelchair controller; a plurality of rotatable members operable to frictionally interface the wheelchair-assist robot to a travel surface and to move the wheelchair-assist robot along the travel surface independent of the wheelchair; and a powered winch assembly mounted on a frame, the powered winch assembly operably coupled to the wheelchair interface component, the powered winch assembly including a winch drum, an anchor assembly, and a pull member configured to couple to the wheelchair and to wind around at least a portion of the winch drum, the winch drum operatively coupled to a drive mechanism to rotate the winch drum, the wheelchair interface component including circuitry configured to generate one or more winch control commands to vary a winch drum turn rate responsive to one or more inputs from the wheelchair interface component to pull the wheelchair toward the anchor assembly via rotation of the winch drum.