International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET)
e-ISSN: 2395 -0056
Volume: 04 Issue: 04 | April -2017
p-ISSN: 2395-0072
www.irjet.net
Head Orientation Controlled Wheelchair Rishi Prasad Sajeevan1, Fasil Yousaf2, Basil James3, Jisha Kuruvilla P4 123Students,
Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, M.A. College of Engineering, Kothamangalam, Kerala, India 4Assistant Professor, Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, M.A. College of Engineering, Kothamangalam, Kerala, India ---------------------------------------------------------------------***---------------------------------------------------------------------
Abstract - In this fast moving, avaricious world, people need
Rehabilitation engineering is the systematic application of engineering sciences to design, develop, adapt, test, evaluate, apply, and distribute technological solutions to problems confronted by individuals with disabilities. These individuals may have experienced brain trauma caused from things such as PTSD, shock, near death experiences, drug induced brain alteration, panic anxiety, or other chemical imbalances. Functional areas addressed through rehabilitation engineering may include mobility, communications, hearing, vision, and cognition, and activities associated with employment, independent living, education, and integration into the community. The wheelchair control is based on the movement of head.
to update and develop themselves. The world populace is increasing at a rapid rate and the people with disabilities are also increasing. Tetraplegia, also known as quadriplegia, is paralysis caused by illness or injury that results in the partial or total loss of use of all four limbs and torso; paraplegia is similar but does not affect the arms. The loss is usually sensory and motor, which means that both sensation and control are lost. This type of users suffering from quadriplegia requires special wheelchairs instead of using traditional ones that are controlled by joystick, since they are paralysed below their neck. In this paper, an innovative head orientation controlled wheelchair is proposed. The system use two head orientation detection units (Ultrasonic Sensors). Each unit includes ultrasonic transmitter and receiver which are combined together. The system uses a powerful microcontroller which detects the head position via the ultrasonic sensors and controls the motor rotation connected to the two wheels, thereby controlling the motion of wheelchair according to the movement of the head. An additional collision detection system is installed to improve the performance of the wheelchair system. This self-sufficient navigation ensures safety, suppleness, mobility and obstacle avoidance.
Quadriplegic patients can move their head easily. So, a head orientation controlled wheelchair can be used to help quadriplegic patients use a wheelchair to move around. The main reason behind the implementation of this project is to give a helping hand for these physically challenged people. Powered wheelchairs play a crucial role in bringing freedom to the mobility impaired and allow people to get on with their activities of daily living. Many people who suffer from mobility impairments rely on powered wheelchairs to get out and about.
Key Words: Head Movement, Navigation, Quadriplegia, Collision Detection, Orientation Detection, Ultrasonic.
There are two types of medical devices that enable independent movement to a person suffering from paraplegia. Those are exoscelets and wheelchairs. Both of these contain electronic systems to enable and improve person’s movement ability both in outdoor and indoor conditions. Electronic systems, such as sensors, actuators, communication modules and signal processing units, are used to recognize the activity that the patient is trying to perform and help him carry it out in coordination with the commands given. The application of the two mentioned devices are different. Wheelchair operation is based on navigation, which, in this case, is defined as safe transport from the starting point to a given destination. The wheelchair, comparing to the exoscelet, are a more general medical device and a much simpler one. Thus, the wheelchairs are used more often. Nevertheless, only patients with healthy upper extremities (paraplegics) can successfully operate standard electric wheelchairs. The patients who cannot use any of their extremities (quadriplegics) cannot operate these. In such cases, when the patient is not able to use the standard control interface, other approaches are used. In this project, a microcontroller
1.INTRODUCTION In this fast moving, avaricious world, people need to update and develop themselves. The world populace is increasing at a rapid rate and the people with disabilities are also increasing. They face many problems and need a support system for most of their activities. The most commonly available assistive system for people with disability in moving around, is a wheelchair. There are over 3.3 million people seeking the help of wheelchairs in the world. Quadriplegics however are not capable of using normal wheelchairs. The reasons quadriplegia can be different: stroke, arthritis, high blood pressure, degenerative diseases of bones and joints and cases of paralysis and birth defects. Also, quadriplegia can occur as a consequence of accidents or age. Quadriplegic patients are not able to perform their everyday actions, such as: feeding, toilet usage and movement. A quadriplegic patient cannot however use any of the existing wheelchair systems for moving around.
Š 2017, IRJET
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