Currently, there is no wheelchair control system with a sufficiently high level of performance to enable full mobility without the reliance on some form of physical input.Control units such as joysticks require a level of physical input not achievable by older arthritic wheelchair users and some suffering cerebral palsy, muscular disorders, and locked-in-syndrome.
Furthermore, systems in use today such as sip-n-puff or chin stick tend to create a psychological barrier for users when engaging with the general public, particularly where their face is partially covered by equipment making their disability more obvious.
Aviator technology has unique advantage over other control systems available in the market today.
The system requires a single source of input from the user – their brain waves, to control a device and does not rely on any physical input at all.
The system is small and inexpensive to manufacture in comparison to other competing control systems. By exploiting unique algorithms, Aviator is positioning itself as appealing alternative to the more hardware-intensive and obtrusive equipment, as a result of its ability to collect sufficient data from a discreetly placed electrode at the back of a person’s head.
The Aviator technology has been developed into a working prototype to control a wheelchair at UTS labs.
