Individuals with spinal cord injuries, neuromuscular disorders, or stroke-related impairments often struggle with traditional powered wheelchair controls. A new study developed a lightweight surface electromyography (sEMG)-based system that allows intuitive wheelchair navigation by utilizing muscle activity in the neck and shoulders. The system uses three electrodes placed on the trapezius and sternocleidomastoid muscles, processing signals in real-time with an ESP32 microcontroller, which eliminates the need for additional hardware.

The study involved 20 participants, half with disabilities and half healthy. Healthy participants achieved 100% accuracy in executing commands, while those with disabilities had a 96.75% accuracy rate. The average response time for both groups was around 3.14 to 3.20 seconds, with information transfer rates of 44.40 bits per minute for healthy participants and 38.59 bits per minute for those with disabilities. All participants found the system safe, comfortable, and user-friendly. This sEMG-based control system offers a practical, cost-effective solution for individuals with mobility limitations, featuring low computational complexity and adaptive fatigue compensation, making it suitable for everyday use.