Mind Controlled Wheelchair

Abstract

This project describes a non-invasive Brain-actuated Wheelchair which acquires the signals from various electrodes placed according to the International 10-20 electrode setup for Electroencephalograph (EEG). The brain signals are processed to determine the direction of the movement of the wheelchair. It has been shown that the patient is able to achieve EEG controlled cursor, limb movement, a prosthesis control and even has successfully communicated by means of a Brain-computer Interface (BCI). The signals are detected to observe the path to estimate the movement of the wheelchair. The work presented here mainly uses simple unipolar electrode to capture EEG from the forehead to build a control for electric wheelchairs through Bluetooth for paralyzed patients. Attention and eye-blinking signals can be collected as the control signals through a Bluetooth interface and an electrical interface is used for the electric wheelchair. Brain-computer interfaces (BCI) do not rely on muscular activity and can therefore provide communication and control for people with devastating neuromuscular disorders such as the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, brainstem stroke, cerebral palsy and spinal cord injury.