In this era of revolutionary technology, enormous projects have been implemented especially for patients and disabled persons. Communication plays a key role in all of these projects and the projects that use several communications like Zigbee, Ethernet, GPRS, etc.

In this article, we have selected some Zigbee communication-based projects, and explained them in a very concise, logical and simple manner considering their usefulness not only for the students but also for patients as well as disabled persons.

1. Touch Screen Based Traversal System for Physically Disabled Persons

The objective of this project is to devise a ‘Touch Screen based Traversal System’ for physically disabled person that will help physically challenged persons and patients to operate their wheelchairs through touch screen panels.

The prime motto of this entire system as a whole is to make them independent and to boost their confidence levels to a certain extent that they will feel comfortable and proudly boast their confidence. Such a system can also be possible with a voice recognition module.

This amazing system uses a microcontroller, a touch screen module, MAX232, a Zigbee module, a motor drive and DC motors. The whole system is fitted to a wheelchair, and allows disabled persons to change the direction of their wheelchair according to their requirement. A touch screen acts as an input device as it is connected to the microcontroller.

The microcontroller is programmed in keil software and continuously monitors the input device. When a user presses the switch, the microcontroller sends control signals, and the driver IC drives the motor. This motor is fixed at the bottom of the chair to drive the wheels.

Here, Zigbee communication is implemented to operate the wheelchair remotely. If the wheelchair is away from its original place, it should come to its original place. In such a scenario, the wireless Zigbee technology operates the chair allowing the chair to move back to its original place with the instructions from the user.

2. 3D Tracking and Sonification for Blind

Blind people always find it difficult to walk on roads, especially when any obstacle comes on their way. Therefore, the prime objective of this project is to devise a system that will help them as a guide allowing them to identify any obstacle on their way by sensing it through ultrasonic sensor.

There is a possibility to improve such a system with a camera, instead of a sensor to guide them. This system detects the obstacles and gives command signals such that the speakers get sound, and instantly blind people can easily recognize the obstacles in their path.

The above system is interfaced with Lab View software through a Zigbee module and programmed in such a way that it tells information about the obstacle’s direction. The Zigbee module sends and receives the information from the microcontroller. The system has a stepper motor that rotates in 180 degrees rotation, and continuously senses the covered area (180 degrees part). If an obstacle is found, the system transfers the corresponding signals from the obstacle to the LabVIEW software through the Zigbee transceiver.

The LabVIEW software is programmed in such a way that it gives the commands to the voice module of the system about the obstacle’s area, whether the obstacle is in front, left, right or back. The Voice module sends the data to the speakers, and the speakers sound to the blind person.

3. Zigbee based Home Appliances Controlling through Spoken Commands Using Handheld Devices

This project is proposed to control the home appliances through voice commands, and intended to make any home an automated one by using Zigbee communication technology. This system is so simple and automated that even patients as well as physically handicapped persons can operate their home appliances and equipments easily by using it.

In this project, a Zigbee receives voice commands as an input signals, and sends the data to the arm controller. The Arm controller converts such data into a specified format, and then sends that data to a microcontroller via Zigbee wherein the equipments are connected. On receiving such data, the microcontroller with the Zigbee receiver translates that data to control signals.

These control signals then switches the appliances connected to the relay driver circuit. The system uses a voice translator software to translate the real analog data into a digital format, arm controller, Zigbee transceiver, microcontroller and other miscellaneous components.

4. Zigbee based Wireless Voice to Text Translator in Airlines/Hospital Assistant System for the Blind

This is a voice to text translator project helpful for the blind as well as the illiterates. This system recognizes a voice and translates it into a text (English in this project), which is then displayed on a LCD display. It uses the voice or speech recognition module, a microcontroller, a Zigbee transceiver module, RS232 interface and other miscellaneous devices.

 When a user announces voice commands, they get translated into specified data by the speech module, and the data is then directed to the microcontroller. The microcontroller is programmed in such a way that it compares this data with the existing data, and then sends the data to the Zigbee transmitter. On receiving the data from the Zigbee receiver, the system alerts the end user and also displays the information on the LCD.

5. Patient Monitoring Using GSM and Zigbee for Hospitals and Old Age Homes

The patients living in the emergency conditions in hospitals always feel the need to alert the doctors to inform doctors about their current health status whenever it goes on changing.

This particular system allows doctors to monitor the health status of patients whenever some changes occur in their health condition. The system uses a Zigbee communication module to monitor the patient’s health status remotely.

The above block diagram demonstrates how this system is arranged to achieve the desired objective. The temperature and heart beat sensors are attached to the patient, which continuously sense the temperature and heart beat pulses of the patient, and then sends the data to the microcontroller circuit. This is also implemented by the RF module for wireless monitoring of health in hospitals.

The microcontroller counts the heart beats & pulses for a fixed base time and compares them with the actual data. If the system detects any deviation from the original beats & pulse rates, then it immediately forwards the data to the Zigbee transmitter, and that, in turn – at the receiver end – alerts the Doctor, who monitors alerts in his PC. Going a step further, this particular system also sends the alarm signals via a GSM modem to the Doctor’s mobile.

These are some of the very special projects, which are immensely useful for patients and also for some disabled persons. As you have spent your valuable time going through this very helpful article, we therefore, want you to get involve more and more with such innovative information time and again.

Therefore, if you have got any doubts, suggestions, comments and feedback about this information or anything else or regarding the projects’ requirement and guidance you can freely write or comment in the comments section given below.

Photo Credits

• Touch Screen Based Traversal System by iashub
• Zigbee based Home Appliance control by sdmmagb
• Patient Monitoring Using GSM and Zigbee by nanocdac