There have been several advancements developed in the wheelchair technology sector. Emphasis on improvements concerning independent mobility and the corresponding safety mechanisms is essential. One of the overriding justification for usage of smart wheelchairs has to do with its capability to maneuver in confined or smaller spaces. The upper body strength needed to push a manual wheelchair up the hill might not be readily available for the aged thereby making smart wheelchair essential for the elderly. This work developed a smart wheelchair with hand gesture control. The model developed is characterized by the usage of two Arduino microcontrollers working synchronously with other components such as an accelerometer sensor, ultrasonic sensor, and wireless radio frequency transceivers. The system developed was programmed to recognize specific hand gestures provided by the user which are used to effect movements of the wheelchair corresponding to the specific hand gesture. The user’s hand gesture is detected by a sensor using acceleration technology and is transmitted wirelessly as signals from a unit termed ‘Gesture Transmitter’ to another unit termed ‘Wheelchair Receiver’, which then interprets the gesture data and enacts a corresponding response in respect to the motion of the wheelchair. Furthermore, an obstacle detection feature, using ultrasonic technology, was incorporated into the wheelchair to provide additional control and safety mechanisms for the wheelchair setup. A major performance metric of the developed smart wheelchair is the collision avoidance protocols which increases user safety and prevent obstacle collision up to a distance of 20cm. The model developed has relevance in providing a base upon which hand gesture control can be deployed for commercial use to combat the problem of mobility-impaired individuals.
Key words: Wheelchair, Hand Gesture, Accelerometer, Transceivers, Sensor
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