Adding Eye Control To Wheelchairs for Quadriplegics (hackaday.com)

szczys writes: The inventor of the Eyedriveomatic has ALS. This prevents him from controlling his electric wheelchair, but it didn't prevent him from teaming up with two other people (one also a quadriplegic) to design a way around the limitation. Eyegaze hardware is what lets people speak through a computer using only their eyes. Eyedrivomatic is an open source project that uses common materials to connect the Eyegaze to the joystick of the wheelchair without altering the chair (which is rented equipment in most cases). A 3D-printed gimbal is strapped over the existing joystick, but does not prevent it from still being used normally by caregivers. The gimbal's servo motors actuate the joystick with commands from the Eyegaze.

Comments

Re:With all the articles posted here....

[wonkey_monkey]

when it won't be long

I'm not sure what gave you that impression.

Re:3D Printed Gimbal

[necro81]

In other words, the most complicated way yet devised of sending an electrical signal about 10cm.

Perhaps, although this method has some advantages to it:

1. it does not require invasive retrofitting of the existing wheelchair joystick. As shown in the video, attaching the gimbal requires able-hands only about 10 seconds. I would guess that an attendant would still be able to use that joystick to drive the chair, even with the gimbal attached (although usually for such patients, a second, more easily accessible attendant joystick is part of the controls)
2. The communications between the joystick (usually called the user control panel, or UCP) and the motor drives on the chair are often CANbus-based, but not always, and the protocol varies by manufacturer. The details of the communications are generally not public, meaning that they'd need to be reverse-engineered for each make and model of chair - which is a tremendous hurdle to development and widespread adoption. The eyedrivomatic avoids these electrical differences. there may still be some manufacturer-specific changes for properly mounting the gimbal on different chairs, but most folks are generally more adept at mechanical hacking than electrical and software.
3. As one who works on embedded electronics all the time, I can't tell you how gratifying it is to see the workings of the software realized out in meatspace. That is, when the eyedrivomatic is working, you can see it working. Silent and hidden electronic signals provide little indication that they are working, or in what way they are not working.

Considering that the developer is not an engineer by training, and has done most of this on his own, I applaud what he has been able to pull off.

Re:3D Printed Gimbal

[Xolotl]

Complicated yes, but works with every type of powered wheelchair regardless of its internal protocols and without having to take it apart and interface wiring. So it can be fitted by someone not skilled in electronics and without voiding warranties or rental agreements for the chair.