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Evaluation of a Smartphone Platform as a Wireless Interface between Tongue Drive System and Electric-Powered Wheelchairs

Abstract:

Tongue drive system (TDS) is a wireless and wearable assistive technology (AT) for

individuals with high-level paralysis. It allows them to use their unrestricted tongue motion to

control many devices in their environments. For driving an electric powered wheelchair (PWC),

for instance, sip-and-puff is one of the most popular ATs. It is affordable and simple. However, it

offers only a limited number of commands and requires diaphragm control which may not be

possible in some patients. Researchers have come up with alternatives such as eye controller

based on electrooculography to navigate wheelchairs. Other eye trackers based on pupil

movement and infrared reflections have also been used to control a computer or a remote vehicle

driving control. There are brain computer interfaces (BCI) based on electroencephalography that

are under development to access computers and more recently have been applied to PWCs as

well. Electromyography has also been utilized to access a computer or navigate a PWC. Tongue-

operated ATs have also been reported for computer or PWC applications.

Existing System:

There are various ATs, such as sip-and-puff, eye trackers, head arrays, electromyography

switches, and voice recognition systems already available. These devices allow people with high-

level spinal cord injuries (SCI) or other causes of upper limb paralysis gain some independence

in their daily lives.

Proposed System:

Tongue drive system (TDS) is a new wireless assistive technology (AT) for the mobility

impaired population. It provides users with the ability to drive powered wheelchairs (PWC)

using their unconstrained tongue motion. Here, tongue drive system uses a sensor to detect the

tongue movement. According to the tongue movement the wheelchair is controlled. Android

based application stores wheel chair movement and also the user can able to control the wheel

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PIC16F877AMicro

Controller

Power Supply

Tongue Position Sensor

LCD

Motor Driver

Motor Driver

WheelRobot

Mechanism

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chair from the mobile through touch screen. The communication between the wheel chair and the

mobile will be through Bluetooth.

Block diagram:

Vehicle Unit:

Mobile Unit:

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Hardware Used:

PIC16F877A Microcontroller unit

Tongue Position Sensor

Bluetooth Module

LCD

Motor Driver

Android Mobile

Wheel Chair Mechanism

Software Used:

MPLAB Compiler

Embedded C

Android Application

Advantages:

These devices allow people with high-level spinal cord injuries to control wheel chair.

It allows them to use their unrestricted tongue motion to control many devices in their environments.

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