Head movement and facial expression-based human-machine interface for controlling an intelligent wheelchair
by Ericka Janet Rechy-Ramirez; Huosheng Hu
International Journal of Biomechatronics and Biomedical Robotics (IJBBR), Vol. 3, No. 2, 2014

Abstract: This paper presents a human machine interface (HMI) for hands-free control of an electric powered wheelchair (EPW) based on head movements and facial expressions detected by using the gyroscope and 'cognitiv suite' of an Emotiv EPOC device, respectively. The proposed HMI provides two control modes: 1) control mode 1 uses four head movements to display in its graphical user interface the control commands that the user wants to execute and one facial expression to confirm its execution; 2) control mode 2 employs two facial expressions for turning and forward motion, and one head movement for stopping the wheelchair. Therefore, both control modes offer hands-free control of the wheelchair. Two subjects have used the two control modes to operate a wheelchair in an indoor environment. Five facial expressions have been tested in order to determine if the users can employ different facial expressions for executing the commands. The experimental results show that the proposed HMI is reliable for operating the wheelchair safely.

Online publication date: Tue, 30-Sep-2014

The full text of this article is only available to individual subscribers or to users at subscribing institutions.

 
Existing subscribers:
Go to Inderscience Online Journals to access the Full Text of this article.

Pay per view:
If you are not a subscriber and you just want to read the full contents of this article, buy online access here.

Complimentary Subscribers, Editors or Members of the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Biomechatronics and Biomedical Robotics (IJBBR):
Login with your Inderscience username and password:

    Username:        Password:         

Forgotten your password?


Want to subscribe?
A subscription gives you complete access to all articles in the current issue, as well as to all articles in the previous three years (where applicable). See our Orders page to subscribe.

If you still need assistance, please email subs@inderscience.com