DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A SMART VOICE RECOGNITION AND OBSTACLE AVOIDANCE WHEELCHAIR

Abstract

The vision of the "Smart Voice Recognition and Obstacle Avoidance Wheelchair" project will be empowering physically challenged persons with more mobility and independence through its integration with state-of-the-art technologies. This wheelchair system shall integrate voice recognition-based user commands with obstacle detection, hence becoming very intuitive and an efficient mode of transportation. At the very core of the system lies a robust voice recognition module that recognizes and executes predefined voice commands by the user. The response on the interface of voice control is responsive and accurate enough to ensure reliable operation even in noisy environments. The wheelchair's basic features, such as moving forward, backward, turning, and stopping, are all voice commanded and hence controlled by the user. These wheelchairs have implanted sensor networks, which include ultrasonic, infrared, and LIDAR sensors, possibly sweeping continuously an environment for obstacles and computing in real-time paths safe from collision. This information obtained from these sensors is then processed through the onboard microcontroller, dynamically adjusting the path and speed of the wheelchair for silky-smooth navigation. All these technologies are integrated to a central control unit, which synchronizes the voice commands and sensor data. Advanced algorithms for path planning and decision making at this unit ensure a seamless user experience. Also inbuilt in the system is a fail-safe mechanism wherein the wheelchair stops automatically in case of malfunction or failure of obstacle detection to avoid accidents. The scope of the project is by no means only about practical issues arising in the life of a person with reduced mobility; it is an area that has huge potential for combinations between voice recognition and sensor technologies within assistive devices. This smart wheelchair enables state-of-the-art technology for users, hence increasing their autonomy, safety, and quality of life by opening the pathway to future developments of assistive mobility solutions