Speech and sensor in guiding an electric wheelchair

Many people with disabilities do not have the dexterity necessary to control a joystick on an electric wheelchair. Moreover, they have difficulty to avoid obstacles. The aim of this work is to implement a multi-modal system to control the movement of an electric wheelchair using small vocabulary word recognition system and a set of sensors to detect and avoid obstacles. The methodology adopted is based on grouping a microcontroller with a speech recognition development kit for isolated word from a dependent speaker and the set of sensors. The resulting design is used to control a wheelchair for a handicapped person based on the vocal command. In order to gain in time design, tests have shown that it would be better to choose a speech recognition kit and to adapt it to the application. The input of the system is a set of ten words used to control the movement of an AGV (automated guided vehicle) and information on the environment given by the sensors; the output is a corresponding command avoiding obstacles and planning collision-free paths. The system is developed in order to be installed on the wheelchair. Therefore it should be easy to carry, no bulky, with low power consumption, and easy in operation