High-level hands-free control of wheelchair – a review

Abstract

A vital perception in designing human-machine interfaces for people with disabilities is hands-free control. It is important in setting up communication among a machine and the part of human body. Nowadays, hands-free control is extensively used to help disabled people to control the wheelchair. The hands-free control functions are not only helpful to elderly and disabled, but also useful for normal people who might require using their hands for other tasks at the same time. As a result, normal people are capable of manipulating multiple tasks at the same time. The wheelchair is manoeuvred using brainwaves, eyes and facial muscles movements, voice, tongue, gesture. The mobility using a powered wheelchair improves the quality of life of the aged people and the people with mobility impairments significantly. These powered wheelchairs can be actuated using various high-level control interfaces. In this review, the use of natural biological signals and non-biological signal to do the hands-free control of powered wheelchair is presented in this article.

Current Status, Challenges, and Possible Solutions of EEG-Based Brain-Computer Interface: A Comprehensive Review

“…Nonetheless, people who are suffering from locked-in syndrome do not have the aforementioned options for interaction. Patients with locked-in syndrome could not interact or express themselves, although they are well-cognizant of things around them (Ashok, 2017). Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), cerebral palsy, brain stem stroke, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, and spinal cord injury are the main causes of locked-in syndrome (Holz et al, 2013).…”

A Brain-Controlled and User-Centered Intelligent Wheelchair: A Feasibility Study

“…Indonesian and Japanese scholars used visual sensors to capture dynamic data information from the user's eyes and eyelids, enabling control of the intelligent wheelchair [28]. Japanese scholars achieved control of an intelligent wheelchair combining electromyography and eye-tracking EEG [29], further expanding the range of human-machine interaction utilizing EMG signals. The RIKEN Brain Science Institute (BSI) and Toyota Collaboration Center in Japan subsequently developed intelligent wheelchairs controlled via BCI [30][31][32].…”

Electroencephalogram based brain-computer interface: Applications, challenges, and opportunities

“…BCI is a boon for those where communication is not possible, i.e., locked-in syndrome, spinal cord injury, brain stroke, cerebral palsy, etc. Due to these disabilities, one cannot communicate with others while they are well aware of things around them [ 23 , 127 ]. BCI provides basic communication abilities by interfacing the human brain and the device.…”