"Interactive Wheel Chair"

                 The main purpose of designing such system is to build a non-complex,non-expensive system that can be added to a normal power wheel chair to augment the navigation ability of the user and ensuring a safe journey.It enables a disable person to move around independently,using a touch panel and a voice recognition application which is interfaced with motors.The prototype of the wheelchair is built using a micro-controller, chosen for it's low cost,in addition to it's versatility and performance.A camera mounted on the chair for real time obstacle avoidance.The system has been designed and implemented in a cost effective way so that if our project is commercialized the needy users in developing countries will benefit from it.

Touch panel:Use of touch panel is very much user friendly and requires very less muscles movement from the user.It uses infra-red touch panel technology which is based upon infra-red light.In this technology it uses an array of photo-diodes with corresponding photo sensors on the opposite edges.These diode pair establish an optical grid across the screen.Any object that touches the screen breaks the optical grid lines that cross the touch point,causing drops in the corresponding photo sensors output signals.these drops indicate the touch point co-ordinates.Rather than simultaneously establishing all grid lines, I-R screen controller typically scan through the array.

Working of touch panel:The touch screen is used as input device so to monitor the vehicle the user should press the proper place of touch panel.After that the data can be send to micro-controller and it process and give instruction to motor to move in different directions.By using this embedded technique they can control the movement of their wheel chair which was previously controlled by a person.Now the patient can control the vehicle by touching on the touch panel.During operation the user introduces visible location destinations using a touch panel that display a real time re-construction of scenario in front of the wheel chair(user interface).The user commands are then converted into intermediate goals for the autonomous navigation technology.                                                              

Wheel Chair mechanism:The wheel chair used in this project is a rare wheel drive system powered by two permanent magnet DC motors.Rare wheel drive is traditional and most popular power wheel chair style.They are generally faster than front wheel models.The wheel chair used in this project is a low-end power model which has a light frame that is suitable for indoor use.

circuit diagram of interacting wheelchair project

Applications:

• The main aim of this project is to design wheel chair for patients which is operated through touch screen.
• The device helps the disables to reach their destinations through pre-defined path in the indoor system.
• According to this project we can implement a system in which a vehicle direction can be controlled with respect to the commands given by the user through touch panel.
• Use of touch panel enables less muscles movement and less muscular pressure than the self propelled wheel chairs which are being used from ages.

Ergonomics:It is the  science in which the posture on the chair decides the behavior of the person.This chair is ergonomically designed.The design of the chair is concealed taking into cognizance.Ergonomics is concerned with the 'fit' between the user,equipment and their environment. 

This project has been submitted by Neha Dwivedi and  Preeti Singh  as their academic project in 2013. For more details about this project visit MCSGOC workshop.