Embedded system based auto navigation platform for paralyzed people

The stroke and spinal cord injury patients, elders and physically challenged who are affected by higher degree of disability such as quadriplegia, are not able to extensively use the powered wheelchairs for long periods of time. The major reason is that they are not able to provide the continuous physical effort required to guide the powered wheelchair which has joystick control mechanism as a standard control interface. An automated powered wheelchair can solve several problems. In this proposed automated system, the user does not have to continuously provide input. This substantially reduces the physical effort to guide the wheelchair and will be quite beneficial for quadriplegics. In addition the system does not use GPS, or any other wireless devices to determine the position of the wheelchair. This way, the system's cost can be reduced without compromising in accuracy. The reduced cost can increase the popularity of this system among individuals who belong to middle class families, especially in developing countries like India.