Voice controlled wheelchair integration rehabilitation training and posture transformation for people with lower limb motor dysfunction

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Cao, Wujing^{a; b; c; d; e} | Yu, Hongliu^{a; d; *} | Wu, Xinyu^{b; c; e; *} | Li, Sujiao^{a; d} | Meng, Qiaoling^{a; d} | Chen, Chunjie^{b; c; e}

Affiliations: [a] Rehabilitation Engineering and Technology Institute, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai, China | [b] Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of Robotics and Intelligent System, Shenzhen, Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China | [c] CAS Key Laboratory of Human-Machine Intelligence-Synergy Systems, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Shenzhen, China | [d] Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Assistive Devices, Shanghai, China | [e] Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory of Human-Machine Intelligence-Synergy Systems

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding authors: Hongliu Yu, Rehabilitation Engineering and Technology Institute, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, No. 516, Jungong Road, Yangpu District, Shanghai 200093, China. E-mail: [email protected]; Xinyu Wu, Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of Robotics and Intelligent System, Shenzhen, Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China. E-mail: [email protected].

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Stroke and other neurological disorders have an effect on mobility, which has a significant impact on independence and quality of life. The core rehabilitation requirements for patients with lower limb motor dysfunction are gait training, re-stand and mobility. OBJECTIVE: A wheelchair called ReChair was invented that seamlessly integrated mobility, gait training and multi-posture transformation with voice control. METHODS: The mechanical structure and control system of ReChair were designed. The overall evaluation included voice recognition and balance training test to quantitatively verify the performance of ReChair. RESULTS: The average success recognition rate of posture transformation by voice control can reach 91% to 96% in a quiet environment (20–30 DB). The balance training game is easy to operate and the score can be used as a quantified guideline for rehabilitation. CONCLUSION: The proposed rehabilitation wheelchair can realize multi-posture transformation and balance training by the voice control system.

Keywords: Wheelchair, voice control, posture transformation, lower limb rehabilitation training

DOI: 10.3233/THC-202386

Journal: Technology and Health Care, vol. 29, no. 3, pp. 609-614, 2021