Real-time video streaming with multi-camera for a telepresence wheelchair

© 2016 IEEE. This paper presents a new approach for telepresence wheelchairs equipped with multiple cameras. The aim of this system is to provide effective assistance for the elderly and people with disabilities. The work explores the integration of the Internet of Things, such as multimedia, wireless Internet communication, and automation control techniques into a powered wheelchair system. In particular, multiple videos are streamed in real-time from an array of cameras mounted on the wheelchair, allowing wide visualization surrounding the wheelchair. By using video communication and interaction, remote users can assist to navigate a wheelchair via the Internet through wireless connections in a distant location. The experimental results show that video streaming can achieve high-quality video with the streaming rate up to 30 frames per second (fps) in real-time. The average round-trip time is under 27 milliseconds (ms). The results confirmed the effectiveness of the proposed system for tele-monitoring and remote control to achieve safer navigation tasks for wheelchair users