Enhancing Mobility And Accessibility: A Wheelchair With Multi Mode Operation

According to the World Report on Disability by the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 15% of the global population lives with some form of disability, with 2 to 4% experiencing significant difficulties in functioning. Mobility impairment is one of the most common disabilities, often requiring assistive devices such as wheelchairs for independent movement. Over the years, various types of wheelchairs have been developed to enhance accessibility and mobility for individuals with disabilities. These include joystick-controlled wheelchairs, voice recognition-controlled wheelchairs and head gesture-controlled wheelchairs. However, despite advancements in assistive technology, many individuals face challenges in using these devices due to the limitations of unidirectional control systems. Furthermore, the high cost of advanced wheelchairs ranging between ₹80,000 and ₹1,50,000, makes them inaccessible to a significant portion of the disabled population. To address these challenges, a multi-modal control wheelchair system is proposed that enhances usability, accessibility and affordability. The proposed wheelchair integrates three distinct control modes, ensuring flexibility and ease of use based on the user’s preference and physical ability: Gesture-Controlled Mode, Joystick-Controlled Mode, Mobile-Controlled Mode. The implementation of this system is based on a Raspberry Pi 4 microcontroller, which serves as the central processing unit for integrating the three control modes. The Raspberry Pi 4 was chosen due to its high processing capabilities, cost-effectiveness, and compatibility with various sensor modules. The system is designed to be affordable, easy to use and adaptable to diverse user needs, making it a practical solution for individuals with mobility impairments. This paper will provide a detailed analysis of the proposed wheelchair design, the working mechanisms of each control mode and the implementation challenges encountered. Additionally, performance evaluations and user feedback will be presented to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of the system in real-world scenarios. By introducing a multi-modal control system, this research aims to enhance mobility, promote inclusivity, and empower individuals with disabilities to navigate their surroundings with greater ease and independence.