Design and Implementation of an Automated Wheelchair With Voice and Gesture Control, Obstacle Avoidance, and Real‐Time Location Sharing

ABSTRACT Physically disabled individuals, unable to walk due to injury, illness, or disability, rely on wheelchairs for mobility assistance. However, manual wheelchairs require physical effort to operate, and continuous assistance for mobility is impractical, leading to limitations in daily tasks, social isolation, and reduced independence. This paper presents the design and implementation of an advanced automated wheelchair that integrates both voice and gesture controls to aid individuals with severe mobility impairments. The system leverages dual control modes, allowing users to operate the wheelchair through hand gestures or voice commands, providing flexibility and enhancing accessibility. The wheelchair incorporates obstacle detection and avoidance mechanisms to ensure safe navigation in various environments. Additionally, it includes a real‐time location‐sharing feature, enabling users to send emergency alerts and share their whereabouts with designated contacts, improving overall safety and peace of mind. The core system is powered by an ESP32 microcontroller, which processes inputs from a voice recognition module and an accelerometer for gesture control. A GPS module is utilized for precise location tracking, and an ultrasonic sensor ensures obstacle‐free movement. The system demonstrates high functional reliability under controlled testing conditions, with hand gesture control successfully executing all commands across 50 prototype‐level trials. The voice control system, though slightly less consistent with occasional errors in specific commands, still achieves an accuracy of 94% over 47 trials. This work contributes to the development of more user‐friendly and safe mobility solutions for individuals with disabilities, fostering greater independence and social inclusion.