Upper Body-Based Power Wheelchair Control Interface for Individuals with Tetraplegia

This research introduces a new way for people with limited arm movement to control power wheelchairs using small shoulder movements. The system, called a body-machine interface (BMI), uses sensors to detect shoulder movements and translate them into commands for the wheelchair. The study found that participants could learn to control the wheelchair safely and accurately using this interface, and with practice, their control became similar to using a standard joystick.

• 1
  Participants with spinal cord injuries were able to use small shoulder movements to safely and accurately control a power wheelchair using the BMI.
• 2
  After training, participants achieved smoothness in wheelchair control with the BMI that was similar to their smoothness with a traditional joystick.
• 3
  Users were able to generalize training from controlling a computer interface to driving a power wheelchair, employing similar control strategies for both tasks.