Intel Contributes To The World First Wheelchair Controlled With Facial Expressions

Technology has brought a lot of advancements to our lives, and here comes another one that appeared on International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2018 (IDPD).

A robotic device manufacturer based in the US has cooperated with Intel’s AI prowess, the result is a wheelchair kit allowing any disabled person to control its movement with his or her facial expressions only.

Smart wheelchair using Intel AI

The kit we’re talking about is Wheelie 7 kit, a product from HOBOOX Robotics, takes no more than seven minutes for installation. Wheelie 7 let users select ten of their facial expressions for certain movements such as turning, stopping, and moving forward.

Replacing body sensors, which is pretty invasive, the Wheelie 7 makes use of Intel’s 3D RealSense Depth Camera SR300 attached to the wheelchair, the camera streams data which is then processed by AI algorithms in real time to monitor the wheelchair. With this new approach, users can navigate their wheelchair much more easily.

Wheelchair controlled with facial expressions

Dr. Paulo Pinheiro, HOOBOX robotics CEO and co-founder, said that Wheelie 7 kit is the first product to control a wheelchair with users’ facial expression. He stressed the critical role of precision and accuracy, and Intel is a perfect partner to accomplish this mission. With this Wheelie 7, Pinheiro said the disabled will gain their autonomy.

Intel’s leader of AI for Social Good, Anna Bethke, said on International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2018, it is crucial that we recognize how technology can help people with disability take control of their lives. HOOBOX’s Wheelie 7 kit is a fantastic example of using AI to help people move around using only their natural facial expressions.

The Wheelie 7 poses another critical instance of an AI-driven by computer vision as well as how it can positively affect disabled people across the globe.

IDPD falls on December 3^rd every year, which has been observed since 1992. This year, IDPD was observed under the theme “Empowering persons with disabilities and ensuring inclusiveness and equality.”