Sensor activation for wheelchair driving in confined spaces with a tongue controlled oral interface

Research output: Contribution to book/anthology/report/conference proceedingArticle in proceedingResearchpeer-review

Abstract

A tongue controlled oral interface for assistive devices has been designed with air-core inductive sensors in printed circuit board technology. The oral interface provided the functionality of a full character set keyboard in keyboard mode, as well as the functionality of a proportional mouse similar to that of a joystick, with control buttons, in wheelchair mode. A keypad of ten sensors and a mousepad of eight sensors were encapsulated with driving electronics in a mouthpiece. An activation unit made of soft ferromagnetic material has been attached to the tongue as the upper ball of a piercing. Gliding the activation unit at the surface of the one of the two pads ensured optimal activation of sensors. Sensor performance with respect to optimal activation has been analyzed while a healthy subject drove three times a powered wheelchair controlled by the oral interface along one linear track of 8.34 m and two triangular tracks of 7.2 m in both directions. The search time defined as the ratio between the time with no sensor activation and the total test time in percentage was of 18.3%, 25.8%, 10.9%, 4.55%, and of 7.2% from the total driving time on triangular tracks (both directions) and on the linear track respectively. Analysis of the search time associated with the sensor activation vector may improve the user and application dependent design of the pointing device.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationProceedings of the International Convention on Rehabilitation Engineering & Assistive Technology. i-CREATe 2016, 25-28 July 2016, Bangkok, Thailand
Number of pages4
PublisherSingapore Therapeutic, Assistive & Rehabilitative Technologies (START)
Publication date2016
Article number15
Publication statusPublished - 2016
EventInternational Convention on Rehabilitation Engineering & Assistive Technology, i-CREATe - Bangkok, Thailand
Duration: 25 Jul 201628 Jul 2016
Conference number: 10

Conference

ConferenceInternational Convention on Rehabilitation Engineering & Assistive Technology, i-CREATe
Number10
Country/TerritoryThailand
CityBangkok
Period25/07/201628/07/2016

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