Munevo: A Novel Way To Operate An Electric Wheelchair Using Google Smart Glasses

When one thinks of a wheelchair user, one of the first things that understandably comes to mind is a person without adequate use of their legs for ambulation.

However, it’s easy to forget about the many thousands of people around the world who, additionally, have severely limited upper limb function.

This can result from a range of diseases and conditions such as spinal cord injuries above the C5/C6 vertebrae, ALS (motor neuron disease), Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, stroke, Spinal Muscular Atrophy and Spina Bifida to name but a few.

For these patients, operating an electric wheelchair in a conventional manner using a small joystick by the side of their chair is highly problematic due to limited hand movement.

Often, the only options available to these individuals are complete reliance on others, or clunky, cosmetically undesirable and difficult to install and actuate steering systems that are operated using the chin.

Fortunately, Munevo, a Munich-based startup has come up with an innovative solution for addressing this problem using the latest smart technology.

The Munevo Drive system uses the movement sensors – gyroscopes and accelerometers present in Google Glass (Google’s smart glasses) to allow users to steer and control their wheelchair with delicate head movements that are tracked by the glasses.

The glasses communicate wirelessly via Bluetooth to an adapter installed in the wheelchair’s drive unit, allowing the Munevo system to open new horizons in independent mobility for those living with upper limb impairments.

Currently available for full medical insurance reimbursement in several countries across the European Union, including Germany, France, the Netherlands, Norway, Austria and Switzerland — Munevo, which launched last year, already has several strings to its bow.

Firstly, there is the versatility of the software. Munevo’s custom app designed to work within Google Glass is highly configurable and user-friendly. It enables users, even those with very limited mobility, to independently calibrate the steering system that best suits their needs.

The calibration system is navigable via head movements and audio instructions, enabling users to assign whichever type of head movement they want to use to a corresponding action on the wheelchair.

The company has also been quick to connect with the three main global manufacturers of wheelchair electronic systems, namely Pride Mobility, Invacare and Curtis-Wright.

Users are, therefore, able to have the system installed on their existing mobility device, without having to worry about compatibility, or having to consider buying a new wheelchair.

Understanding the needs of the disability community

Claudiu Leverenz is the founder and CEO of Munevo and was featured on the Forbes 30 Under 30 List in 2017, as well as being a panel member for the World Economic Forum in Davos this past year.

Leverenz dreamt up the innovative mobility concept while studying for a Masters in Information Technology at the Technical University in Munich back in 2015.

He fondly remembers those early days trying to gauge whether his system, which has since received funding from the German government, would gain support and traction within the disability community.

“Here in Munich, we have a specialist care facility for people with disabilities,” says Leverenz.

“At first people didn’t really understand what we were trying to do because, at the time, it sounded so crazy,” he continues.

“So, we had to go there in person and show them the smart glasses. We explained the detail of what we wanted to do and slowly but steadily they began to understand the possibilities that would open up to them by having this type of solution.

“At the same time, that inspired us because as soon as they got it, they said, ‘yes, we need this. This is amazing and what else can you do with it?’ So, we really connected with our users from day one and went on our journey together.”

It is this steadfast engagement with the disability community that has inspired Munevo to launch a range of other hands-free products powered by smart glasses.

“While we were introducing Munevo Drive, people kept asking us, ‘can you control this? Can you control that?’ Slowly, we began to understand what other help people might require for completing daily tasks.”

The full Munevo range now includes Munevo Computer, Munevo Phone and Munevo Home for home automation. All controllable exclusively through the glasses.

There is also Munevo Robot, a robot arm that can help those with upper limb impairments complete tasks independently, such s lifting up a cup or pressing the buttons on an elevator.

Future horizons

Munevo is now compatible with other smart glasses on the market, such as those manufactured by Vuzix and Epsom.

The company, also, sensibly, has more than one eye on further pipeline products from Big Tech, such as the upcoming Apple smart glasses and Amazon smart glasses.

Leverenz has his long-term sights for Munevo set higher still.

“We are not just looking at smart glasses,” he says. “We are exploring eye-tracking technologies, where you can just look with your eyes and drive the wheelchair or control other hardware,” says Leverenz.

“We are also doing a lot of research into brain-computer interfaces and that is really what we feel will become the most important technology for people with disabilities in the decades to come.”

Over the shorter term, the company's aim will be consolidation within the mobility market, so it can continue to be a cornerstone and springboard for new and exciting projects.

“In the next few years, we want to be available in all European countries, as well as the U.S. and Japan.

“We will be one of the industry leaders in innovation in the space for people with disabilities, especially the wheelchair industry,” he asserts confidently.

“The industry needs a wake-up call that there is new technology out there that can be used. Our goal is to have lots of happy users who we have helped to be more independent, so they no longer need 24/7 support from caregivers.”