Human-Machine Interface for a Smart Wheelchair

The paper describes the integration of hardware and software with sensor technology and computer processing to develop the next generation intelligent wheelchair. The focus is a computer cluster design to test high performance computing for smart wheelchair operation and human interaction. The LabVIEW cluster is developed for real-time autonomous path planning and sensor data processing. Four small form factor computers are connected over a Gigabit Ethernet local area network to form the computer cluster. Autonomous programs are distributed across the cluster for increased task parallelism to improve processing time performance. The distributed programs operating frequency for path planning and motion control is 50Hz and 12.3Hz for 0.3 megapixel robot vision system. To monitor the operation and control of the distributed LabVIEW code, network automation is integrated into the cluster software along with a performance monitor. A link between the computer motion control program and the wheelchair joystick control of the drive train is developed for the computer control interface. A perception sensor array and control circuitry is integrated with the computer system to detect and resp