Wheelchair control for disabled patients using EMG/EOG based human machine interface: a review

Abstract

The human-machine interface (HMI) and bio-signals have been used to control rehabilitation equipment and improve the lives of people with severe disabilities. This research depicts a review of electromyogram (EMG) or electrooculogram (EOG) signal-based control system for driving the wheelchair for disabled. For a paralysed person, EOG is one of the most useful signals that help to successfully communicate with the environment by using eye movements. In the case of amputation, the selection of muscles according to the distribution of power and frequency highly contributes to the specific motion of a wheelchair. Taking into account the day-to-day activities of persons with disabilities, both technologies are being used to design EMG or EOG based wheelchairs. This review paper examines a total of 70 EMG studies and 25 EOG studies published from 2000 to 2019. In addition, this paper covers current technologies used in wheelchair systems for signal capture, filtering, characterisation, and classification, including control commands such as left and right turns, forward and reverse motion, acceleration, deceleration, and wheelchair stop.

Keywords:

• Electromyogram (EMG)
• electrooculography (EOG)
• wheelchair
• human machine interface

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).