Dynamic Obstacle Detection

Abstract

The Smart Cane was designed as an enhancement for the traditional white cane used by the visually impaired for navigation. While the traditional white cane is effective in navigating ground level obstacles such as pits, stairs and so on and so forth, it is significantly inefficient in detecting obstacles above knee height, such as trucks, cars and so on. To solve this shortcoming, a group of students under their post-doctoral guide in Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi created Smart Cane, an add-on for the existing white cane that used ultrasonic ranging to determine the nearest threats to the user and set up an advance warning system for the same. It uses a tactile feedback system to warn the user of approaching obstacles with an effective range of 0.5 – 1.8 / 3 m. It has two modes: short range and long range which correspond to the variable maximum ranges, respectively. It is also significantly cheaper than the alternative walking aid enhancements offered by a variety of companies and boasts of a long battery life (Preliminary tests claim that the aid can last for up to a week with only a single charge of three to four hours). However, the Smart Cane has its own drawback in the sense that it is unable to warn its user of moving vehicles, such as cars, bikes and the like which possess a significant threat to the visually impaired given that they are unable to detect them and are hence at constant danger while navigating crowded roads. The goal of this project is to supplant the existing Smart Cane with an additional IR sensor that makes it capable of detecting moving vehicles coming towards the user and warn the user if it is a threat to the wellbeing of the user. It functions in the “toward” mode, i.e. it only detects the objects coming towards the user and has an effective range of 250 m in optimum conditions. It uses the existing tactile feedback system to warn the user of approaching dangers. It relies on battery slightly more intensively than the ultrasonic sensor, but the usage can be optimized to minimize the battery drain.