Autonomous transport made more inclusive by Purdue

April 12, 2023 Purdue News

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. —

When Brad Duerstock was 18, a spinal cord injury paralyzed his arms and legs, requiring him to use what control he had left in his hands to operate a power wheelchair.

Throughout the more than 30 years since, Duerstock has seen smartphones, tablets and other types of technology get developed but not become usable for him or others with disabilities until years later. “It’s always been a retroactive accommodation,” he said.

Duerstock, a professor of practice in industrial engineering and biomedical engineering at Purdue University, is working to change that for autonomous vehicles while the technology is still in its early days. The goal is that when these vehicles start to hit the road everywhere, they will be able to accommodate anyone who wants to use them.

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Media contact: Derek Schultz, dcschultz@purdue.edu