Semifinalist Team: AbleLink Smart Living Technologies
Proposal Title: WayFinder ADS – Enabling Independent Use of Autonomous Vehicles by Individuals with Cognitive Disabilities and others with Special Needs
Proposal Summary: The research team will lay the foundation for accessibility to Level 4 & 5 ADS-DVs by developing the WayFinder ADS system, a comprehensive mobile application designed to support independent access to ADS-DVs by individuals with cognitive disabilities and others with special needs. A WayFinder ADS Dashboard will also be developed to allow caregivers to set up secure connections to companies providing reservation access to ADS-DVs. The module will also provide the opportunity to set pre-determined destinations for the user. The overall goal is to provide cognitively accessible interfaces and app navigation features, and to reduce the overall cognitive load associated with interacting with an ADS-DV.
