In a heartwarming stride towards inclusivity and accessibility, a young developer, Kabilan KB, is making waves with his remarkable creation—an autonomous wheelchair. Hailing from the Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences in Coimbatore, India, Kabilan’s innovation is set to transform the lives of people living with disabilities.
Kabilan’s brainchild is no ordinary wheelchair. It’s a marvel of modern technology, seamlessly blending artificial intelligence and robotics. The NVIDIA Jetson platform, a powerhouse in edge AI, forms the beating heart of this extraordinary creation. With Kabilan’s ingenuity, this advanced technology is set to redefine the way people with disabilities experience mobility.
How does it work, you ask? The autonomous wheelchair is equipped with an array of cutting-edge sensors, including depth and lidar sensors, as well as USB cameras. These marvels of technology work in unison to help the wheelchair navigate its environment with grace and precision. By doing so, it charts a path that’s free of obstacles, ensuring a smooth journey for its user.
Kabilan’s innovation doesn’t stop there. He’s thoughtfully designed a user-friendly interface that makes interaction a breeze. Users simply input their desired destination using a straightforward numerical system. For instance, a gentle press of ‘one’ guides the wheelchair to the kitchen, while ‘two’ leads it to the bedroom. It’s a seamless, intuitive experience that puts control right at the fingertips of the user.
The magic truly happens in real-time. Thanks to the incredible processing power of the NVIDIA Jetson Nano Developer Kit, data from the sensors and cameras is swiftly analyzed. This data is then fed into sophisticated deep learning-based computer vision models. Their task? Identifying obstacles in the environment and ensuring a safe passage.
The Jetson Developer Kit isn’t just a component; it’s the very “brain” of this autonomous marvel. It conjures a detailed 2D map of the surroundings, ingeniously plotting a collision-free course to the destination. As the journey unfolds, the Kit continuously sends updated signals to the motorized wheelchair, guaranteeing a safe and obstacle-free passage.
Kabilan KB’s aspirations extend far beyond this incredible creation. Currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in robotics and automation, he dreams of launching his own robotics startup. His vision is clear: to make a meaningful impact on the lives of those who may not have the means to afford electric wheelchairs. Kabilan believes that mobility and independence should be accessible to all, regardless of economic circumstances.
“In India, only upper- and middle-class people can afford them,” Kabilan notes, “so I decided to use the most basic type of motorized wheelchair available and connect it to the Jetson to make it autonomous.”
Kabilan KB’s journey is an inspiring testament to the power of innovation, empathy, and inclusivity. His autonomous wheelchair promises to be a game-changer for countless individuals, opening doors and creating new possibilities for those who need it most.
As Kabilan’s story continues to unfold, one can’t help but be excited for the future. With young minds like his at the helm, the world of accessibility and assistive technology is on the brink of a revolution.
