Brain-controlled driving aid for electric wheelchairs

Abstract

The Brain-computer interface (BCI) is an engaging field which could find applications in numerous fields like industrial, biomedical and engineering. In this paper a BCI based electric wheelchair driving aid design that utilizes mental concentration (EEG signals) and eye blinks (EMG signals) of the user, is presented. The design incorporates a safety controller with peripheral safety sensors that override the user command and stop the wheelchair when it detects an obstacle in its path. The wheelchair driving aid design is cost-effective (estimated cost less than $200) as it utilizes off-the-shelf BCI headset and electronics. Four experiments were conducted to validate the performance and reliability of the design.