This document summarizes a research paper on a voice controlled vehicle chair with drowsiness detection capabilities. The chair can be controlled through voice commands recognized by speech recognition software. It also contains sensors to detect drowsiness through eye blinking and high temperature. The chair is designed to alert drowsy drivers and change posture automatically. A microcontroller controls actuators to move the chair according to voice commands and sensor input. The goal is to provide a more comfortable and ergonomic chair that promotes safety for long-duration drivers.

1. International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Technology (IJMET), ISSN 0976 – 6340(Print),
ISSN 0976 – 6359(Online), Volume 5, Issue 4, April (2014), pp. 243-249 © IAEME
243
ANALYSIS OF VOICE CONTROLLED VEHICLE CHAIR WITH DROWSY
DETECTION
G. Vijay Prakash
Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Vandayar Engineering College,
Nagai Main Road, Thanjavur - 613 501, Tamilnadu, India
ABSTRACT
Voice Controlled Chair is which can be controlled by the user by giving specific voice
commands. The speech recognition software (SDK-Speech Development Kit) running on a PC or
SDK is capable of identifying the voice commands through Mic issued by a particular user. After
processing the speech, the necessary motion instructions are given to the mobile chair by using
pneumatic pump, compressor and solenoid valve.
The speech recognition software is speaker dependant. The special feature of the application
is the ability of the software to train itself for the above voice commands for a particular user. Here
the actuator is used to make desired movements of the chair. It contains mainly an Electric Motor,
Sliding Tube, Solenoid .Also here we are using multiple sensors to sense such as temperature and
drowsiness (Eye-Blink Sensor) and chair responds automatically according to drowsiness and high
temperature. LCD is used to display the status of the unit. The mechanical set up such as actuator and
electric motor controlled by Microcontroller is used to control the postures of chair.
KeyWord: SDK (Speech Development Kit), Actuator, Eye Blink Sensor, LCD (Liquid Crystal
Display), Microcontroller, Mic(Microphone)
INTRODUCTION
Ergonomics (or human factors) is the scientific discipline concerned with the understanding
of interactions among humans and other elements of a system, and the profession that applies theory,
principles, data and methods to design in order to optimize human well-being and overall system
performance.
Ergonomics is about designing for people, wherever they interact with products, systems or
processes. We usually don’t notice good design (unless perhaps, it’s exceptional) because it gives us
no cause to, but we do notice poor design. The emphasis within ergonomics is to ensure that designs
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2. International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Technology (IJMET), ISSN 0976 – 6340(Print),
ISSN 0976 – 6359(Online), Volume 5, Issue 4, April (2014), pp. 243-249 © IAEME
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complement the strengths and abilities of people and minimize the effects of their limitations, rather
than forcing them to adapt. In achieving this aim, it becomes necessary to understand and design for
the variability represented in the population, spanning such attributes as age, size, strength, cognitive
ability, prior experience, cultural expectations and goals. Qualified ergonomists are the only
recognized professionals to have competency in optimizing safety performance and comfort.
When user’s works or drives a vehicle long time sitting on chair to make user feel
comfortable and do work more easier user have to change the posture of chair according to his
complacency. When user continuously changes the posture of chair using his hand he would feel
uncomfortable and tiredness in his muscles. To avoid this we built voice controlled chair which is
controlled by just voice commands (ex:up,down,left,right).Speech Development Kit(SDK) software
is used to recognize the voice and convert it to serial commands to the microcontroller and micro
controller operates pneumatic pump corresponding to predefined program. Sensors such as
temperature and eye blink is used to analyze the status of user human factors such as body
temperature and drowsiness .This chair can be used in vehicles and also working places.
Many people drive while they are drowsy. Some are able to recognize that there is a problem,
but most are unaware that their driving is being affected. Sleepy drivers start yawning, their eyes go
out of focus and they cannot remember driving the last few kilometers. A survey in the US found
that as many as 6 in 10 drivers drive while they are drowsy. The problem is that people are very bad
at knowing whether it is affecting their driving and whether they are too drowsy to drive. Falling
asleep happens quickly and without much warning.
Table 1: Fatal Crashes, Drivers, and Fatalities in Crashes Involving Drowsy Driving, by Year,
2005-2009
Overall Fatal Crashes Fatal Crashes Involving Drowsy Driving
Year Crashes Drivers Fatalities Crashes Drivers Fatalities
2005 39,252 59,220 43,510 1,033 (2.6%) 1,034 (1.7%) 1,194 (2.7%)
2006 38,648 57,846 42,708 995 (2.6%) 995 (1.7%) 1,091 (2.6%)
2007 37,435 56,019 41,259 926 (2.5%) 926 (1.7%) 1,050 (2.5%)
2008 34,172 50,416 37,423 746 (2.2%) 747 (1.5%) 854 (2.3%)
2009 30,797 45,230 33,808 730 (2.4%) 730 (1.6%) 832 (2.5%)
2005-2009 180,304 268,731 198,708 4,430 4,432 5,021
5-Year
Average
36,061 53,746 39,742 886 (2.5%) 886 (1.6%) 1,004 (2.5%)

3. International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Technology (IJMET), ISSN 0976
ISSN 0976 – 6359(Online), Volume 5, Issue
MECHANISM BLOCK DIAGRAM
The lift chair has a chair base. A chair frame is pivotally attached to the chair base for pivotal
movement about a horizontal frame axis. The frame axis is positioned adjacent to a lower forward
portion of the chair frame. A seat pad and backres
actuator is connected to the chair base and to the chair frame for pivoting the chair frame about the
horizontal frame axis between a seat pad lowered position and a seat pad raised position. Left and
right hinge and ratchet assemblies have anchor arms fixed to the chair frame. Adjustable arms are
pivotally attached to the anchor arms by hinge pins for pivotal movement about an arm rest axis.
Each hinge and ratchet assembly includes a pivot
teeth to hold an adjacent arm in a selected position and to limit pivotal movement of an adjustable
arm to a lower position. Bolt lockouts inactivate the bolts to permit pivotal movement of the
adjustable arms to a lowered position. A left arm rest is attached to one of the adjustable arms with
its rear end adjacent to the arm rest axis. A right arm rest is attached to the other adjustable arm with
its rear end adjacent to the other adjustable arm.
The ratchet assemblies permit the arm rests to be pivoted to positions in which they are
horizontal when the seat cushion is in a raised position. The arm rests can be used to provide
assistance in moving to a standing position when the arm rests are in a raised horizontal posit
Fig
Fig-2:
Power Supply
Relay Unit
International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Technology (IJMET), ISSN 0976
6359(Online), Volume 5, Issue 4, April (2014), pp. 243-249 © IAEME
245
MECHANISM BLOCK DIAGRAM
The lift chair has a chair base. A chair frame is pivotally attached to the chair base for pivotal
movement about a horizontal frame axis. The frame axis is positioned adjacent to a lower forward
portion of the chair frame. A seat pad and backrest pad are connected to the chair frame. A linear
actuator is connected to the chair base and to the chair frame for pivoting the chair frame about the
horizontal frame axis between a seat pad lowered position and a seat pad raised position. Left and
hinge and ratchet assemblies have anchor arms fixed to the chair frame. Adjustable arms are
pivotally attached to the anchor arms by hinge pins for pivotal movement about an arm rest axis.
Each hinge and ratchet assembly includes a pivoted bolt that is engageable with a plurality of ratchet
teeth to hold an adjacent arm in a selected position and to limit pivotal movement of an adjustable
arm to a lower position. Bolt lockouts inactivate the bolts to permit pivotal movement of the
ed position. A left arm rest is attached to one of the adjustable arms with
its rear end adjacent to the arm rest axis. A right arm rest is attached to the other adjustable arm with
its rear end adjacent to the other adjustable arm.
permit the arm rests to be pivoted to positions in which they are
horizontal when the seat cushion is in a raised position. The arm rests can be used to provide
assistance in moving to a standing position when the arm rests are in a raised horizontal posit
Fig-1: Block Diagram of Seat
Block Diagram of Seat mechanism
Seat Position
Seat Frame
Actuators /
Motors
International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Technology (IJMET), ISSN 0976 – 6340(Print),
The lift chair has a chair base. A chair frame is pivotally attached to the chair base for pivotal
movement about a horizontal frame axis. The frame axis is positioned adjacent to a lower forward
t pad are connected to the chair frame. A linear
actuator is connected to the chair base and to the chair frame for pivoting the chair frame about the
horizontal frame axis between a seat pad lowered position and a seat pad raised position. Left and
hinge and ratchet assemblies have anchor arms fixed to the chair frame. Adjustable arms are
pivotally attached to the anchor arms by hinge pins for pivotal movement about an arm rest axis.
ble with a plurality of ratchet
teeth to hold an adjacent arm in a selected position and to limit pivotal movement of an adjustable
arm to a lower position. Bolt lockouts inactivate the bolts to permit pivotal movement of the
ed position. A left arm rest is attached to one of the adjustable arms with
its rear end adjacent to the arm rest axis. A right arm rest is attached to the other adjustable arm with
permit the arm rests to be pivoted to positions in which they are
horizontal when the seat cushion is in a raised position. The arm rests can be used to provide
assistance in moving to a standing position when the arm rests are in a raised horizontal position.

4. International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Technology (IJMET), ISSN 0976
ISSN 0976 – 6359(Online), Volume 5, Issue
F
CONTROL SECTION
In control unit microcontroller gets input from voice input and eye blink and temperature
sensors .Microcontroller is programmed to control the actuator by controlling the power supply of
the electric motor of the actuator. The microcontroller is programmed to contro
according to the commands such as up and down commands. The eye blink sensor is used to detect
the drowsiness of the user and gives input to the microcontroller and microcontroller makes jerk
movement to wake up the user while driving .Temp
human body in order to alert user if temperature is too high. The IR sensor is used to trigger the timer
as the driver sit on the seat. If the driver drives the vehicle for 3 hours more, it sets off the al
alerts the user to take rest and get relaxed.
unit is used to provide the required power to whole unit. Alarm unit is activated when user got sleep
or temperature is high.
International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Technology (IJMET), ISSN 0976
6359(Online), Volume 5, Issue 4, April (2014), pp. 243-249 © IAEME
246
Fig-3: Diagram of Power Seat Motor
unit microcontroller gets input from voice input and eye blink and temperature
sensors .Microcontroller is programmed to control the actuator by controlling the power supply of
the electric motor of the actuator. The microcontroller is programmed to contro
according to the commands such as up and down commands. The eye blink sensor is used to detect
the drowsiness of the user and gives input to the microcontroller and microcontroller makes jerk
movement to wake up the user while driving .Temperature sensor is used to sense the temperature of
human body in order to alert user if temperature is too high. The IR sensor is used to trigger the timer
as the driver sit on the seat. If the driver drives the vehicle for 3 hours more, it sets off the al
alerts the user to take rest and get relaxed. LCD is used to display the status of the unit. Power supply
unit is used to provide the required power to whole unit. Alarm unit is activated when user got sleep
International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Technology (IJMET), ISSN 0976 – 6340(Print),
unit microcontroller gets input from voice input and eye blink and temperature
sensors .Microcontroller is programmed to control the actuator by controlling the power supply of
the electric motor of the actuator. The microcontroller is programmed to control the movements
according to the commands such as up and down commands. The eye blink sensor is used to detect
the drowsiness of the user and gives input to the microcontroller and microcontroller makes jerk
erature sensor is used to sense the temperature of
human body in order to alert user if temperature is too high. The IR sensor is used to trigger the timer
as the driver sit on the seat. If the driver drives the vehicle for 3 hours more, it sets off the alarm and
LCD is used to display the status of the unit. Power supply
unit is used to provide the required power to whole unit. Alarm unit is activated when user got sleep

5. International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Technology (IJMET), ISSN 0976 – 6340(Print),
ISSN 0976 – 6359(Online), Volume 5, Issue 4, April (2014), pp. 243-249 © IAEME
247
Fig-4: Eye Blink Sensor
Fig-5: Control Block Diagram
MICRO
CONTROLLER Relay with
Driver
Circuit
Actuator /
Seat
Adjusting
Mechanism
LCD
POWER SUPPLY
Driver
Seat
Eye Blink
Sensor
Temperature
Sensor
Alarm
PC (or) Speech Recognition
Kit
Mic
IR Sensor
(Receiver)
IR Sensor
(Transmitter)

6. International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Technology (IJMET), ISSN 0976 – 6340(Print),
ISSN 0976 – 6359(Online), Volume 5, Issue 4, April (2014), pp. 243-249 © IAEME
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CONCLUSION
This Voice controlled chair is very useful for long drive users. We can use this voice control
chair some other working places .This voice controlled movement control methodology can be used
not only in chair but also some other machines. The communication between mechanical design and
control system using Microcontroller makes movements of chair is more easier. The voice
commands are programmed in microcontroller to control the movements of chair. By controlling the
power supply to the actuator the movements of the chair is controlled. Multi sensors are used to
detect drowsiness and body temperature and IR sensor to trigger the timer and periodically alerts
driver to take rest.
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