The AI Smart Chair for the Elderly and Disabled was developed by Huynh Minh Trong and Nguyen Hoang Huy, students from Tra On High School, Vinh Long Province, under the guidance of Mr. Tran Trong Huu, Physics Teacher. The project won First Prize in the Vinh Long Provincial Science and Technology Competition 2025–2026 for its innovative use of artificial intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies to enhance mobility, health monitoring, and safety for vulnerable individuals.
Vietnam’s aging population faces daily challenges related to limited mobility and a high risk of falls, while most smart chair solutions remain expensive and ill-suited to the Vietnamese physique. This project set out to design an affordable, intelligent chair tailored to local needs—helping users live more independently, comfortably, and safely.
HOW DOES IT WORK
The AI Smart Chair combines smart sensors, motorized functions, and AI-assisted control systems to support users in multiple ways:
• Adaptive posture adjustment: The automated backrest allows users to lift or recline the seat for comfort, reducing fatigue and the risk of bedsores.
• Real-time health monitoring: Sensors measure heart rate, blood oxygen (SpO₂), and temperature, transmitting the data via an ESP32 microcontroller to the Firebase Realtime Database. If readings exceed safe limits, the mobile app built with React Native sends instant alerts to caregivers.
• Multiple control options:
• Button control: Quick commands for core actions such as name announcements and power switches.
• Voice control: Integrated with Google Gemini AI and Google Home through IFTTT, allowing hands-free operation.
• Eye and head control: Using CameraX and Google ML Kit, the chair recognizes blinks and head rotations as commands—for example, two blinks to trigger an emergency alert or three blinks to request hygiene support.
IMPACT
The AI Smart Chair demonstrates how young innovators can use technology to promote inclusion and care. By merging AI, IoT, and practical design, the project provides elderly and disabled individuals with greater autonomy while easing the workload of caregivers—a powerful example of how innovation can directly improve lives in Vietnam’s communities.
