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.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Man arrested with Rs 2.54-crore heroin in Mumbai
Mumbai (PTI): Police have arrested a man and seized over 500 grams of heroin worth Rs 2.54 crore in the illicit market from him in Mumbai, officials said on Friday.
The police's Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC) made the drug seizure in Santacruz in the western suburbs. The operation was conducted by the Kandivali unit of the ANC on Thursday as part of a special crackdown against drug trafficking in the area, they said.
Acting on specific inputs, an ANC team conducted a raid in Santacruz (East) and intercepted a man. During a search, the team recovered 508 grams of high-grade heroin from his possession, an official said.
The seized contraband, a highly addictive, opioid drug derived from morphine, is estimated to be worth Rs 2.54 crore in the international market, he informed.
Following the seizure, a case was registered against the man under relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, and he was formally placed under arrest in the early hours of Friday.
The police are currently investigating the source of the drug and trying to identify the intended recipients of the consignment, he said.
