OU students develop affordable assistive tech for paralysed patients

HYDERABAD: A group of final-year biomedical engineering students from Osmania University has developed a low-cost prototype aimed at helping people with full-body paralysis regain independence in daily tasks.

Students create assistive tech for paralysed patients

The device, called the Integrated Assistive Technology System, allows users to control a wheelchair, seek emergency help, and operate home appliances using facial movements.

The project won first prize at the Hack-A-Board Hackathon finale, where the team demonstrated the system’s use of facial recognition software, Internet of Things (IoT) technology, and an externally attached screen.

Operates through facial movement tracking

Explaining the innovation, student K Harika said, “The only options for patients who have lost muscle function from the neck down are to hire a full-time caregiver or rely entirely on family members. We wanted to help such patients and designed a product that can be attached to any wheelchair or even a bed.”

The system tracks the movement of the user’s nose tip to perform various actions, including moving the wheelchair. “When the user moves their head or face and pauses for about three seconds, that particular command is selected,” Harika said, adding that it can also call pre-saved numbers to request assistance.

Affordable and multilingual

Team member M Venkata Jaideep Datta said the prototype supports communication in nine Indian languages, in addition to English. “It can be operated with basic training and may be priced between ₹8,000 and ₹10,000, making it an affordable alternative to existing imported systems,” he said.

The students believe their innovation can significantly reduce patients’ dependence on caregivers and improve accessibility for those with severe physical disabilities.