Wheelchair Eye Tracking Control System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing eye-control systems for wheelchairs require users to wear special equipment like helmets or focus on a display, limiting their view and requiring heads-down solutions, which are not efficient for controlling wheelchairs and other devices.
Innovation Solution
An eye-control system with an eye tracking device mounted on the wheelchair and a feedback device with a separate feedback area, allowing users to control the wheelchair by focusing on distinct input areas without needing special head-worn devices or looking at a display, using visual, haptic, or audio feedback to guide movements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If eye control systems use helmets or goggles, then control functionality is achieved, but user comfort and ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the eye tracking functionality from the head-worn device (helmet/goggles) and relocates it to the wheelchair itself. The eye tracking device is mounted on the wheelchair to track the user's eye movements, eliminating the need for users to wear special equipment while maintaining control functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary feedback device that provides visual feedback in the user's peripheral vision. This feedback device acts as a mediator between the eye tracking device and the user, allowing the user to receive control feedback without needing to look down at a display or wear additional equipment.
2Ease of operation
If eye control systems use displays, then control functionality is achieved, but user's field of view deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent moves the feedback display from the traditional horizontal plane (requiring user to look down) to the vertical periphery space. The feedback device is positioned in the user's peripheral vision field, utilizing the vertical dimension and peripheral visual space to provide feedback without blocking the user's forward view.
3Device complexity
If input area and feedback area are combined, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the visual field into distinct functional areas: an input area where the user focuses to provide control commands, and a separate feedback area in the periphery where control feedback is displayed. This spatial segmentation allows the eye tracking device to precisely distinguish between user input actions and feedback reception, improving measurement precision while maintaining relatively simple device architecture.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure relates to methods and apparatus for control of a wheelchair and a wheelchair. Method for controlling a wheelchair with an eye control system comprising an eye tracking device mounted on the wheelchair, and a feedback device with a feedback area is described, wherein the method comprises obtaining eye tracking data of a user of the wheelchair with the eye tracking device; determining a wheelchair control signal and a feedback control signal based on the eye tracking data, wherein determining a wheelchair control signal and a feedback control signal based on the eye tracking data comprises determining if the eye tracking data fulfils an input criterion, wherein the input criterion is fulfilled if the eye tracking data are indicative of the user focusing on an input area, wherein the input area is separate from the feedback area; moving the wheelchair according to the wheelchair control signal; and providing feedback to the user in the feedback area according to the feedback control signal.