Eye-Controlled Wheelchair Unveiled

Engineers from the University of Bradford have developed a wheelchair that is controlled by eye movement.

The new wheelchair, named IRIS, could offer increased independence for severely disabled people, who up until now have been unable to move independently, with the possibility of the technology also being used to control household appliances and lights.

New Kind of Independence

The IRIS wheelchair works simply with the user wearing a tracking device worn on the face like a pair of glasses.  A tiny movement of the eye is all that is required to activate the wheelchair, with the user only needing to look in the direction they want to travel in.

Engineers from the University’s school of Engineering, Design and Technology, Prof Fun and Dr Prashant Pillai, released details of their innovative work at the British Festival of Science in Bradford.  Following the development of an eye-controlled robot, which responded too slowly to commands, the team rewrote the software to improve the technology and adapted it for this new purpose.

Commenting on the new wheelchair, Dr Pillai said; “We really had to go back to the beginning to make the technology work for electric wheelchairs.  We’re really excited by how well our prototype is working.”

The new technology, which also includes a wireless headset, will offer new hope for many disabled people who are currently unable to move without assistance.