Eye Controlled Wheelchair for people suffering from

long term paralysis and Quadriplegia

Abstract:
Spinal cord injury (SCI) and Quadriplegia are life threatening conditions that carries a high
risk of morbidity and mortality. Various epidemiological studies have been carried out in
different parts of the world. The incidence of SCI varies from 9.2 to 56.1 per million, which is
influenced by social, economic, geographical, demographic and political characteristics of the
region. Statistics suggest that out of 2716 cases of quadriplegia, 1400 were cervical and
1316 thoracolumbar, with male to female ratio of 4.2:1 and 71% in the age group of 2049
years.

Our project is an attempt to reform the lives of people who suffer from this condition, by
ameliorating the basic wheelchair system to an eye controlled version, thereby increasing its
ease of use and utility. Functionality of the wheelchair depends on the partial eye movements
and head tilts. The wheelchair assembly includes a camera to monitor eye-and-neck
movements. The output signals from the camera are directed to an on-board computer,
which is a microprocessor. The microprocessor then instructs the additionally fitted motors to
change course or direction. Our design is cost effective and thereby affordable and used by
patients over a wide economy range.