Development of a Wireless Obstacle Detection System (original) (raw)

Ultrasonic and Infrared Sensors Performance in a Wireless Obstacle Detection System

– Ultrasonic (US) and infrared (IR) sensors are broadly used in mobile applications for distance measurements. In this project, an obstacle detection system is built based on these two types of sensors. The system is intended for use by the elderly and people with vision impairment. The prototype developed has been tested to detect obstacles and shows accuracies of 95% to 99% for distance measurements if the sensor circuits are calibrated properly and their output linearized. The system also demonstrates good detection for different obstacle materials (e.g., wood, plastic, mirror, plywood and concretes) and colors. The minimum size of an obstacle that the system can detect is 5 cm x 5 cm.

Designing Smart Shoes for Obstacle Detection: Empowering Visually Challenged Users Through ICT

Human-Computer Interaction – INTERACT 2017

The paper presents a case of Smart Shoes that uses ultrasonic sensors to detect the obstacle in front of the user. Additionally, this shoe signals a user by tapping at the foot arch. An evaluative study of the Smart Shoes was conducted with (n = 31) users; (17) blind people, (9) low vision and (5) non-disabled users. The study was conducted to judge reliability of the Smart Shoes by evaluating it from (a) ratio of obstacles identified to total obstacles encountered, (b) distance of obstacle apprehension and (c) response time. The study was conducted in a controlled and definite environment. The results from the study illustrate this footwear to be 89.5% effective in detecting obstacles such as vehicles, people, furniture, footpaths, poles, and miscellaneous obstacles with a mean response time of 3.08 s. Users average distance of obstacle apprehension was 108 cm in regular mode and 50 cm in the crowd mode. The future research & evaluative studies will be conducted in actual operational/moving environments.

A Multidimensional Walking Aid for Visually Impaired Using Ultrasonic Sensors Network with Voice Guidance

International Journal of Intelligent Systems and Applications, 2014

The application of engineering practices in medicine has immensely contributed to the recent findings in biomedical research areas. One of the products of this application is the development of sophisticated aids for physically challenged people. In this paper, visually impaired walking aid is designed and implemented using a network of ultrasonic sensors, thereby capable of detecting the direction and position of obstacle(s). The performance and functionality are also improved by the addition of alert light, and voice guidance signal which is relayed to a miniature headset. The recorded voice alerts the user of the presence and direction of the obstacle(s). The prototype of the multidimensional walking aid was able to detect obstacles within the range of 0m to 1m at the left, right and front of the stick with an appropriate voice alert. The test results of the prototype showed that the stick can efficiently guide its user.

Obstacle and range detection for cane using ultrasonic and gyroscopic sensor

At least once in our life, almost all of us have experienced the suffocation of not able to navigate due to power cut at night time even in the places which is well known to us. Visually challenged people have to face the suffocation on daily basis. The most useful tool for navigation in these circumstances seems to be a cane but even with the help of a normal cane is a difficult task for a visually challenged person as the cane can only detect obstacles within a range of about a meter. Obstacle and range detection for Cane Using ultrasonic & gyroscopic sensor can liberate the visually challenged a better walking experience. This paper reports on a research and study that helps visually-impaired people to walk more confidently. The aim of the paper is to address the design and work of a cane that could communicate with the users through vibration and yet be budget friendly. The work involves coding and instrumental installation. A number of tests and surveys have been carried out on this cane and the results are discussed. This survey found that the obstacle and range detection for Cane Using ultrasonic & gyroscopic sensor functions well as observed, in alerting users about the obstacles in front and range detection.

A Smart Wearable Obstacle Detection and Warning System for the Visually Impaired

International Journal for Research in Applied Science and Engineering Technology IJRASET, 2020

A pragmatic approach for aiding the Visually Impaired as a wearable, smart device that is meant to help people with a visual disability and navigate their way while causing minimum hindrance to daily activities. The device uses sensors to detect presence and proximity of objects, obstacles and humans around the wearer. Through appropriate feedback mechanisms, it also gives out indication of any obstacle or step in the path that the person is walking through. This paper aims to make the solution scalable, safe, economical, power-efficient and easy to use. In addition to all this, the well-being of the wearer can be ensured by notifying the nearby healthcare in case of a mishap. The microcontroller board is worn like a device. This will be equipped with ultrasonic sensors, consisting of a GSM module. Using the sensor, a visually impaired person can detect the objects around them and can travel easily. When the sensor detects any object it will notify the user by a voice playback module. Thus this is an automated device. Hence, this device will be of great use for the visually impaired people and help them travel to different places without any hassles.

The Smart Wearable Obstacle Detection and Warning System for the Visually Impaired

International Journal for Research in Applied Science and Engineering Technology IJRASET, 2020

A pragmatic approach for aiding the Visually Impaired as a wearable, smart device that is meant to help people with a visual disability and navigate their way while causing minimum hindrance to daily activities. The device uses sensors to detect presence and proximity of objects, obstacles and humans around the wearer. Through appropriate feedback mechanisms, it also gives out indication of any obstacle or step in the path that the person is walking through. This paper aims to make the solution scalable, safe, economical, power-efficient and easy to use. In addition to all this, the well-being of the wearer can be ensured by notifying the nearby healthcare in case of a mishap. The microcontroller board is worn like a device. This will be equipped with ultrasonic sensors, consisting of a GSM module. Using the sensor, a visually impaired person can detect the objects around them and can travel easily. When the sensor detects any object it will notify the user by a voice playback module. Thus this is an automated device. Hence, this device will be of great use for the visually impaired people and help them travel to different places without any hassles.

IRJET-Obstacle Detection and Navigation system for Visually Impaired using Smart Shoes

Highly over sighted field of applications for the visually impaired people has put it in despair. Existing solutions prove to be inadequate or highly expensive. Current technological advancements need to benefit, above all, the most disabled. Here we have surveyed the existing solutions meant for autonomous mobility for the visually impaired people. In this paper we have proposed a novel design, Smart Shoes with sensors embedded in them to guide a visually impaired person fluidly and to alert him/her of the obstacles that lay ahead of him in his path. The design is aimed to develop an easy to use Android application to cater to the special needs, used to guide the person coextending the features of the Smart Shoes.

Analysis and Implementation for a Walking Support System for Visually Impaired People

International Journal of Intelligent Mechatronics and Robotics, 2011

Visually impaired people are faced with challenges in detecting information about terrain. This paper presents a new walking support system for the blind to navigate without any assistance from others or using a guide cane. In this research, a belt, wearable around the waist, is equipped with four ultrasonic sensors and one sharp infrared sensor. Based on mathematical models, the specifications of the ultrasonic sensors are selected to identify optimum orientation of the sensors for detecting stairs and holes. These sensors are connected to a microcontroller and laptop for analyzing terrain. An algorithm capable of classifying various types of obstacles is developed. After successful tests using laptop, the microcontroller is used for the walking system, named ‘Belt for Blind’, to navigate their environment. The unit is also equipped with a servo motor and a buzzer to generate outputs that inform the user about the type of obstacle ahead. The device is light, cheap, and consumes les...

Proposal of an obstacle detector with sound response for the visually impaired

Health and Technology, 2020

Aiming at the difficulty that the visually impaired have to move autonomously in different places, a system was developed to aid their locomotion so that the user receives a response regarding the environment where he is, with adequate response time to avoid collisions and with easy learning and understanding signs. An array of ultrasonic sensors was used to translate detected obstacles into sound responses, simulating the existence of an audio source where the obstacle is. To aid the detection of objects in other directions, a glove with an infrared sensor was included as an auxiliary system, returning its response in tactile action. The sampling time was aimed to be short enough for the user to have time to react to the detection and, for this purpose, a simultaneous activation method of ultrasonic sensors was developed, which could be implemented without any damage to data quality. These and other software adjustments have made the ultrasonic sensors suitable for the application, as well as the other components and topologies. The minimum sampling time required was 62 ms, and a sampling time of 80 ms was set for the complete system. A prototype was built and tested, and its application and usability were evaluated and validated by one blind volunteer and two professionals in assistive technology. Despite some need of improvements to make it applicable outdoors, the system received positive evaluations and aroused interest in being used by the blind volunteer.