Design and Development of Gesture- and Voice-Controlled Smart Wheelchair for Mobility-I...

Objective: To engineer a robust wheelchair system enabling mobility control via gesture recognition and voice commands for differently-abled persons.

Real-world Problem: India faces significant challenges in providing independent mobility solutions for persons with severe physical disabilities, such as paralysis, cerebral palsy, or muscular dystrophy. Conventional wheelchairs often require manual operation or joystick control, which many users cannot perform due to limited limb movement or speech impairment.

Proposed Engineering Solution: This project involves designing and fabricating an intelligent wheelchair prototype equipped with embedded electronics, capable of interpreting hand gestures (using wearable IMU sensors) and voice commands (via on-board microphones and speech recognition modules) to control direction and speed. The system integrates safety features, obstacle detection, and user feedback for practical usability.

Key Features & Deliverables: The working model includes a microcontroller-based control unit, gesture sensor gloves, a voice interface using the Google Speech API, motor driver circuits, and ultrasonic sensors for collision avoidance. Students demonstrate live navigation, multi-modal control switching, and safety functionalities. Documentation includes circuit design, firmware, cost analysis, and validation against real user scenarios.

Industry & Societal Impact: The prototype offers scalable, inclusive assistive technology for hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and home care. It addresses accessibility gaps in India's healthcare sector, with potential for mass production and customization. The project promotes affordable, user-centric design and aligns with 'Make in India' and accessibility standards.