Voice Controlled Wheel Chair

Abstract

This study focuses on the development of a voice-controlled wheelchair integrated with an obstacle detection system, designed to improve mobility, safety, and independence for people with physical disabilities. The system allows users to operate the wheelchair using voice commands, eliminating the need for manual control and providing a practical solution for individuals with limited hand or arm movement. Voice commands are processed and converted into appropriate directional actions, offering a simple and intuitive interface. For enhanced safety, ultrasonic sensors continuously monitor the surrounding area for obstacles. Upon detecting an obstruction, the wheelchair either stops or changes direction to prevent collisions, depending on the obstacle’s distance. This real-time detection system significantly lowers the risk of accidents. By combining voice control with automated obstacle avoidance, the wheelchair offers a reliable and efficient assistive mobility solution, supporting safer and more independent navigation in different environments.

Introduction

The study focuses on developing a voice-controlled, motorized wheelchair to enhance mobility and independence for individuals with physical disabilities, especially those with limited hand or arm function. Traditional manual wheelchairs can be difficult to operate, so this system uses voice commands to enable hands-free, intuitive control.

The proposed wheelchair integrates mechanical, electronic, and software components using a mechatronic design approach. Voice commands are captured through an Android smartphone application, transmitted wirelessly via an HC-05 Bluetooth module, and processed by an ATmega328-based Arduino Uno microcontroller. Based on these commands, the controller operates DC motors through an L293D motor driver to move the wheelchair in multiple directions. An ultrasonic sensor is included to detect obstacles and improve user safety by preventing collisions.

Literature reviewed shows that similar systems using Arduino, Bluetooth, and speech recognition are feasible, cost-effective, and reliable, supporting the relevance of this approach. Hardware implementation includes key components such as the Arduino Uno, motor driver, Bluetooth module, ultrasonic sensor, and a rechargeable battery. Software requirements include the Arduino IDE and a Bluetooth-based Android voice control application.

The expected results demonstrate accurate voice command recognition, smooth and stable movement, effective obstacle detection, reliable wireless operation, and enhanced user safety. Overall, the system highlights the importance of interdisciplinary engineering in assistive technology and shows strong potential to improve independent mobility and quality of life for people with physical disabilities.

Conclusion

Mobility is crucial for maintaining independence and participating in daily activities for individuals with physical disabilities. Conventional wheelchairs usually rely on manual controls, which can be difficult or impractical for those with limited hand or arm function. Consequently, assistive mobility technologies are increasingly focusing on intelligent, user-friendly solutions that minimize physical effort while promoting autonomy. Voice-controlled wheelchairs offer an effective solution by enabling hands-free operation through natural voice commands.

References

[1] VOICE CONTROLLED WHEELCHAIR USING AURDINO UNO Dr. Sandeep Awachar, Sanika Kale, Shruti Nagdeote, Nital Badratiye, Amisha Jaiswal [2] Smart Electronic Wheelchair Using Arduino and Bluetooth Module Deepak Kumar Lodhi1,Prakshi Vats , Addala Varun , Prashant Solanki , Ritakshi Gupta , Manoj Kumar Pandey , Rajat Butola [3] Design and Implementation of Voice Controlled Wheelchair using MATLAB Kaushal Balu Karande, Jagruti Dilip Zope, Sakshi Somani, Balu Bhusari [4] Development of Voice Controlled Wheelchair for Persons with Physical Disabilities Sumet Umchid,Veeraaphab sutthipibul,Arisara Vorapantrakool,Ponpalat vipattipumiprates,Thidarat Wangkham [5] Voice and Hand Controlled Wheelchair System Fida Hussain,Sayed Mazhar Ali Shah, Asif Ali , Imran Ali , Haresh Kuma [6] Arduino based voice controlled wheelchair Tan Kian Hou et al 2020 [7] Voice Controlled Wheelchair M. S. Arsha, A. Remya Raj , S. R. Pooja , Rugma Manoj, S. A. Sabitha , Shimi Mohan

Copyright

Copyright © 2025 Pradeep Bharade, Rahul Kumar, Sachin Mulge, Dr. Rakesh Huded. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.