Hands-free control of an electric wheelchair using face behaviors

In this paper, the hands-free control of an electrical wheelchair proposed with processing of face images. This wheelchair can help the severely disabled move easier. Facing detection is a potential method to detect behaviors and movements of human face to control the motion of the wheelchair. In practice, the movements of head (or face - inclination) is utilized to control directions of the wheelchair such as “left”, “right” and “center”. While the shape of mouth is used to control two states of “stop” and “forward” of the wheelchair. The Haar-like features are applied to detect face and a Principle Component Analysis (PCA) method is employed to verify states of mouth such as “open” and “close”. A Labview program was created to connect to the electric wheelchair, user and the face behavior program. The experimental results obtained in the indoor environment for the control of the hands-free wheelchair for supporting disabled people are reliable.