Kerala students develop low-cost self-driving wheelchair with Robotic OS
Coimbatore, July 4: Student researchers from the Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham here, have developed a low-cost self-driving wheelchair that works on Robotic Operating System (ROS) and can be navigated using a smartphone app.
Named "Self-E", the revolutionary wheelchair uses ROS to create a map of the surrounding space, along with static and dynamic obstacles, using a laser sensor and displays it through a smartphone app.
The user can then touch any point on the generated map and the wheelchair will drive to that place automatically without user intervention.
"The unique Self-E self-driving wheelchair now needs to be tested in different environments like hospitals and airports with patients and wheelchair users. We hope to commercialize the product," said Rajesh Kannan Megalingam, Assistant Professor at the varsity.
Self-E works by mapping the surrounding environment, including dynamic and static obstacles such as people, walls, pillars, tables, chairs, etc. using a laser sensor called LiDAR.
The map is automatically loaded onto an Android smartphone or tablet through a specially developed app.
Self-E's autonomous operation allows users to relax and sip a cup of coffee, read a newspaper or chat with friends as the wheelchair takes them to the desired destination point on its own.
"Users can have complete control over the wheelchair without anyone's help. On the other hand, if some patients have a problem in using a smartphone, a friend or family member or assistant can use the Android app to transport them without the need to physically push the wheelchair." said Chinta Ravi Teja, a student at the varsity.
Teja, along with Sarath Sreekanth and Akhil Raj have developed the Self-E wheelchair.
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Breathing techniques help Yoga teacher to save her life as she fakes death during attack
Chikkaballapura (PTI): A 34-year-old Yoga teacher faked her death using breathing techniques and saved herself after allegedly being assaulted, strangled and then buried by a group of people who assumed she was dead, police said on Friday.
Five people, including a woman identified as Bindu and her friend named Satish Reddy who runs a detective agency in Bengaluru, have been arrested in connection with the incident, they said.
"Bindu suspected her husband of having an affair with the Yoga teacher and asked Reddy to keep a tab on the woman and her proximity to him. As part of the plan, Reddy allegedly befriended the victim some three months ago on the pretext of taking Yoga classes from her and during this period, he managed to gain her confidence," a police official said.
In her complaint, the victim alleged that on the pretext of showing some places around the city on October 23, he came to her house near Dibburahalli and took her in a car in which three other men were also present.
She alleged that they took her to a secluded spot on the outskirts of the city and allegedly stripped and assaulted her.
According to her, she was thrashed, threatened and strangled using a cable. She claimed that she played along, pretended to be unconscious and faked her death using breathing techniques.
"Assuming the woman died, the accused allegedly dug a pit and covered her body with thin layers of soil because they were in a hurry and feared to be caught. But before leaving, they took away all her gold jewellery," a senior police officer said.
She claimed that she later managed to wriggle out of the pit and with the help of some villagers, got clothes and managed to reach the police station to file a complaint, he said.
The woman was sent for a medical examination as per procedure and admitted to a hospital.
"Based on the complaint, we registered a case under sections of kidnapping, attempt to murder and other appropriate sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Based on the investigation, we arrested five people, including Reddy and Bindu, on November 6," the officer said.
The vehicle in which the victim was kidnapped was allegedly stolen from Bengaluru, police said, adding, the victim's jewellery has also been recovered with the arrests.
"We are trying to verify all the claims made by the victim. There were also some online money transactions between Bindu and the associates and we are investigating the money trail also," he added.
