Patient invents eye controlled wheelchair

“The Eyedrivomatic technology”, was created in collaboration with Steve Evans and David Hopkinson, and facilitates unprecedented eye-controlled wheelchair movement.

This technology enables wheelchair users who have lost movement in their arms to control their chairs with eye movements.

The 3D printed device connects electric wheelchairs to an Eyegaze device.

Eyegaze is a computing tool for disabled people which allows users to operate a computer using only eye movements. Currently, the technology is only designed to allow users to perform basic computational tasks, which do not include controlling a wheelchair. Joyce’s Eyedrivomatic device, which he designed in collaboration with film maker David Hopkinson and friend and fellow MND sufferer Steve Evans, uses an Arduino to connect the Eyegaze technology to an electric wheelchair. Users can then use the established eye-recognition technology to send a signal to the Eyedrivomatic 3D printed “hand”, which grasps the wheelchair’s joystick and can thus control the chair’s movement.

“Steve and I both have MND,” Joyce explained. “We both have electric wheelchairs, but while I still have some movement in my fingers and am just able to operate mine, Steve only has his eyes left and, until Eyedriveomatic, had to rely on his carer to operate his. We both also have Eyegaze equipment, which is becoming increasingly available. At the moment, it is not possible to operate one with the other. Eyegaze technology is only intended for operating a computer, not the wheelchair.”

Although Joyce does not expect the Eyedrivomatic technology to be taken to production, he hopes that wheelchair users may be able to adopt the principles behind the technology to create their own similar devices. "I doubt Eyedrivomatic will be commercially available,” he admitted. “There are liability issues that would probably prevent it happening - but I designed it to be easy to build at home.”

Makers can build their own 3D printed Eyedrivomatic device using the files and instructions on Hackaday. Sincere congratulations must go to the team for their winning of the Hackaday Prize and for their invaluable contribution to the disabled community. 3D printing technology could hardly be used in a more worthwhile manner.

More info: https://hackaday.io/project/5426-eye-controlled-wheelchair

Adapted from: http://bit.ly/1Njh79B

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