NewzVille Desk
IIT Mandi is developing a wheelchair that requires neither manual pushing nor any form of voice command or remote control. This wheelchair will begin to move the moment the user simply thinks about it. Work on this wheelchair is being carried out by a team led by Amit Shukla and his trainees, under the guidance of IIT Director Professor Laxmidhar Behera.
Dubbed the “Autonomous Wheelchair,” a prototype of the device has already been completed, although further work remains to be done on it.
Providing details, IIT student Siddharth Tiwari explained that existing wheelchairs typically require either the assistance of another person to operate or the issuance of specific commands.
The new wheelchair is equipped with cameras and sensors; these sensors detect the gestures and expressions of the person seated in the chair, enabling it to move autonomously.
While individuals who are physically challenged but still capable of using their hands or issuing voice commands will be able to operate it in the conventional manner, for those who are completely incapacitated—including those unable to speak—this wheelchair will prove to be nothing short of a boon.
Although specific programming will be required to map out its routes, the wheelchair is capable of independently detecting and maneuvering around obstacles encountered along the way.
It can be utilized in various settings, including private homes, airports, and hospitals.
