Autonomous wheelchair system

2026-11-03

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 RequirementsMotorized power wheelchair suitable for both indoor and outdoor environmentsStable and ergonomic design to ensure safe autonomous operationCompatible with additional hardware/software for autonomous navigation integration2. Autonomous Navigation SystemSensor Suite:Odometry system for precise movement trackingIMU (Inertial Measurement Unit) for motion sensingLidar-based environment mapping and real-time obstacle detectionDepth cameras for enhanced spatial awareness and localizationOnboard Computation & Interface:High-performance computing unit capable of processing sensor data in real-timeUser interface (e.g., touchscreen or equivalent) for system interaction and configuration3. Navigation Software & API RequirementsAutonomous navigation software with the following capabilities:Mapping & Localization – Ability to autonomously generate and use maps of the environmentRoute Teaching & Execution – Manual input of custom paths and automated path followingObstacle Avoidance & Safety Features – Intelligent real-time navigation ensuring safe maneuverabilityConfigurable & Extendable API Access – The software must provide a documented API allowing for:External control via custom-developed applicationsReal-time access to navigation and sensor dataIntegration with additional robotics frameworks if requiredThe software must support long-term usability, allowing for custom modifications, additional research integrations, and future feature expansions.4. Compliance & MaintainabilityThe system must be a commercially available product, not a prototype or experimental developmentMust have long-term support and maintenance available in case of request from usHardware and software should be upgradeable to support evolving research needs5. Additional ConsiderationsAdditional components and consumables such as batteries may be requiredSolution must provide detailed technical documentation and demonstrate previous successful deploymentsCPV: 33193000.

United Kingdom (UK)

2026-04-02