Design and Development of Voice and Keypad Controlled Smart Wheelchair

Many difficulties confront elderly and physically challenged people, who must rely on the assistance of a third party to move from one location to another. Furthermore, deaf and dumb people need to communicate with others using sign language is also difficult. In order to satisfy either disabilities or a single disability, persons who can move independently using proposed wheelchair equipped with two control modes such voice as well as a keypad. The voice control is only available to physically challenged people, whereas the keypad control is available to both deaf and dumb. The movement of a wheelchair in the desired direction can be made much easier using voice commands using the Voice recognition module HM2007L, which is interfaced with the microcontroller. The proposed keypad control mechanism, which is linked to the voice module, not only controls the movement of the wheelchair, but it also has pre-programmed sentences that are used for day-to-day conversation, allowing it to easily interact with normal people. In addition to the automated wheelchair, the health parameters of the person are also monitored regularly through heart rate sensors, humidity and temperature sensors. The main aim of this paper is to provide enjoyable, productive and independent living for physically challenged/deaf and dumb people with a weight of up to 100 kg using a single-person, voice-operated wheelchair.