Abstract
Travelling is one of the common activities in a person’s daily routine. However, this can be a challenging proposition for persons with disabilities and can be a limiting factor for their aspirations in life, as there is certain level of dependence on others. Emerging technologies in autonomous vehicle domain can be a viable solution. This is due to the fact that the level of skills and physical abilities required to use an autonomous vehicle are considerably less than that of a conventional vehicle, which needs a human at the steering wheel. However, are the systems that are being designed by OEMs in Autonomous vehicles universal in design, allowing persons with disabilities to use the vehicle easily? Or are there any systems additionally required, that the OEMs should consider incorporating in autonomous vehicles that will help persons with disabilities? This paper will discuss the activities that are involved in the usage of an autonomous vehicle and considerations for OEMs while designing the vehicle to meet the needs of persons with disabilities.