With HOOBOX Robotics’ Wheelie 7 kit powered by Intel artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, people can control their motorized wheelchairs with simple facial expressions.

Taking minutes to install, the Wheelie 7 kit allows users to pick from 10 facial expressions to control their motorized wheelchair – moving forward, turning and stopping. Instead of invasive body sensors, the Wheelie 7 uses a 3D Intel RealSense Depth Camera SR300 mounted on the wheelchair to stream data that AI algorithms process in real time to control the chair. Given the importance of immediate responsiveness, HOOBOX uses Intel Core processors and the Intel Distribution of OpenVINO Toolkit to accelerate the inferencing of facial recognition software.

The prototype is currently being tested by more than 60 people in the US, most of whom have quadriplegia, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or have age-related disabilities. According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center, there are around 280,000 people in the US with spinal injuries, and 17,700 new cases every year.