1 research outputs found
Autonomous wheelchair with a smart driving mode and a Wi-Fi positioning system
Wheelchairs are an important aid that enhances the mobility of people with
several types of disabilities. Therefore, there has been considerable research and
development on wheelchairs to meet the needs of the disabled. Since the early manual
wheelchairs to their more recent electric powered counterparts, advancements have
focused on improving autonomy in mobility. Other developments, such as Internet
advancements, have developed the concept of the Internet of Things (IoT). This is a
promising area that has been studied to enhance the independent operation of the
electrical wheelchairs by enabling autonomous navigation and obstacle avoidance.
This dissertation describes shortly the design of an autonomous wheelchair of the
IPL/IT (Instituto Politécnico de Leiria/Instituto de Telecomunicações) with smart
driving features for persons with visual impairments. The objective is to improve the
prototype of an intelligent wheelchair. The first prototype of the wheelchair was built
to control it by voice, ocular movements, and GPS (Global Positioning System).
Furthermore, the IPL/IT wheelchair acquired a remote control feature which could
prove useful for persons with low levels of visual impairment. This tele-assistance
mode will be helpful to the family of the wheelchair user or, simply, to a health care
assistant. Indoor and outdoor positioning systems, with printed directional Wi-Fi
antennas, have been deployed to enable a precise location of our wheelchair. The
underlying framework for the wheelchair system is the IPL/IT low cost autonomous
wheelchair prototype that is based on IoT technology for improved affordability