2025
We-A-Go: Personal Mobility for Aging with Ease
Taanya Gumidelli
This thesis addresses the overlooked mobility challenges faced by elderly travelers in modern airports鈥攅nvironments that often prioritize speed and efficiency over accessibility and comfort. Through user interviews, accessibility audits, and empathy-driven simulations, the research uncovered the emotional and physical barriers that aging travelers experience, from fatigue and confusion to the loss of independence. The resulting design, We-A-Go, reimagines airport mobility as a partnership between traveler and technology鈥攐ne rooted in empathy, autonomy, and dignity.
We-A-Go is a smart companion cart that integrates autonomous navigation, ergonomic
seating, and adaptive digital guidance to help aging travelers move confidently through
airport environments. Designed as both a mobility aid and a supportive companion,
it provides physical stability, cognitive assistance, and emotional reassurance throughout
the journey. By combining user-centered design with inclusive innovation, this project
reframes mobility not as a limitation to accommodate, but as an opportunity to empower
aging travelers to continue exploring the world with independence and ease.
