Morgan State University is proving that innovation and leadership go hand in hand—this time with a futuristic mobility solution that could change the travel game for people with disabilities. At Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall (BWI) Airport, the HBCU unveiled its cutting-edge autonomous wheelchair technology, showing off just how far five years of research, grit, and genius can go.

This isn’t your average mobility aid. The adaptive wheelchair, developed by Morgan’s National Transportation Center (NTC), SMARTER Center, and Center for Equitable Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Systems (CEAMLS), is powered by cameras, LIDAR sensors, and AI tech. It can be summoned straight to you with a smartphone app—just scan a QR code, log in, and watch it roll up like your personal chauffeur on wheels. Once you hop on and punch in your destination, it navigates you there—through security, across terminals, or wherever you need to be—at a steady walking pace of 2.5 to 4 mph.

“Today’s demonstration is a significant step towards making public transportation more accessible for everyone,” said Morgan State President David K. Wilson. “We believe integrating technology into mobility solutions can empower individuals, enabling them to navigate public spaces with ease and confidence.”

The event drew prominent names, including Maryland Lt. Governor Aruna Miller, who put it perfectly: “It’s about meeting real needs, removing real barriers, and ensuring that everyone, regardless of ability, age, and background, can move through the world freely and access every space, every opportunity, and every moment with confidence and purpose.”

Right now, the pilot program at BWI is rolling with three operational chairs, which have been upgraded to their fourth iteration for better navigation and reliability. While airports are the first big testing ground, Morgan’s vision is bigger: think hospitals, museums, campuses, even military bases. The project’s co-principal investigators, Dr. Mansoureh Jeihani and Dr. Kofi Nyarko, led teams of researchers and students in merging advanced AI, machine learning, and sleek wheelchair design. “Giving people with disabilities this kind of mobility and independence makes public spaces much more inclusive,” said Dr. Jeihani.

With a pending U.S. patent and ongoing partnerships, Morgan is making it clear: accessibility and innovation aren’t optional—they’re the future. And this wheelchair is proof that when Black brilliance collides on HBCU campuses, they can create something that truly moves the world forward.

Cover photo: Morgan State Engineers Showcase Futuristic Autonomous Wheelchair at BWI Airport/Photo credit: Morgan State University