Design and Test of a Headset Activation Platform Controlled by Eye Gaze Tracking

For years, eye tracking technology has been making huge improvements and has become very popular in the robotics industry. This paper covers a new concept resulting in the creation of a fully functioning prototype utilising eye tracking technology that can aid with such things as improved visibility or better communication for people in the workplace or at home. The concept involves a portable headset that can track the user’s gaze direction and accurately point an illumination source at the point of eye fixation. Use cases for such a device could include assisting people working in low light conditions by directing a beam of light in the gaze direction or for people living with disabilities that possess substandard verbal communication skills, by acting as an eye-controlled laser pointer. The prototype uses digital servo motors, a 3D printed pan-tilt platform, a microcontroller, an illumination source and off-the-shelf eye-tracking glasses. The result is a responsive and accurate device that could potentially be transformative for many people around the globe.