Sonar navigation for the visually impaired Mumbai Mirror | Nov 18, 2014, 12.00 AM IST
Research students have created a small watch-sized device that costs Rs 3,700 and can use sonar to help the blind navigate their environment along with other aids like a cane or a dog. When a biologist who studies bats and a computer scientist cross paths, amazingly cool things can happen. Cool things such as a sonar device to assist the visually impaired. The idea came from biology professor William Conner, who for decades has been studying echolocation in bats and moths to learn more about the evolution of animal communication. Along with Paul Pauca, a professor of computer science, Conner assembled an interdisciplinary team of students to figure out how animals and plants can inspire the design of new technologies. "The sonar device for assisting the visually impaired is a perfect example of how my class works," Conner said. "We were inspired by bat sonar, we learned about it, and then we used it to develop a new product. The students took the idea and made it happen." Students Jack Janes, Dominic Prado and Ran Chang began brainstorming the project early this year. They didn't waste any time. They joke that they started by tying strings and duct tape together, but clarified their approach when online research uncovered a sonar distance sensor. "We questioned how we could use this in a creative way to help blind people navigate better," Janes said. "We each had different ideas." They eventually focused on developing a device that could be worn like a watch by a visually-impaired person as a supplement to other aids like a cane or dog. "We decided on the watch because it's small," said Prado, who came up with a clever name for it: HELP, the Human Echo Location Partner. "We all think this a really cool device that could help a lot of people." How it works The prototype is made up of several components. It is powered by an Arduino Lilypad microprocessor, runs JAVA-like code written by Janes, and is combined with the sonar distance sensors and two cellphone vibrating motors. It measures the distance of objects and provides feedback via vibrations to the user. The frequency of vibrations is proportional to the distance from the detected object, allowing the user to accurately discern an obstacle's proximity; they get faster as it draws near. Pauca said he's been impressed with this team from the get-go. Two weeks after their first meeting, they had their designs and knew what parts they needed. "They had the idea of the vibrator vibrating at a high frequency and within two to three weeks it was working." To test their device, the team turned to Kathryn Webster, a blind student who navigates campus with her guide dog, Enzo. "I've never heard of any of this kind of technology before, and I was eager to come in and test it," she said. One of Webster's difficulties on campus is dealing with whether doors into buildings or classrooms are open or closed. She tested the device without Enzo and found that it vibrated as she approached a closed door and stopped when it was opened. "Of course, I was hesitant, but it was really cool," she said. What's next? Next steps include fine-tuning the device to make it smaller and more aesthetically pleasing. And they want to keep it affordable - all of their parts and materials cost less than $60 (Rs 3,700 approximately). They are also trying to figure out ways to minimise the amount of power it uses because they would like to make it run off a watch battery. Chang, a student from Beijing, China, suggested that a small solar panel like ones used on calculators could be added to supplement the battery power. Prado and Janes agreed that was a good option to explore. Source : http://www.mumbaimirror.com/others/sci-tech/Sonar-navigation-for-the-visuall y-impaired/articleshow/45181937.cms Regards, Nilesh Clean India Campaign: Let us also chip in! Register at the dedicated AccessIndia list for discussing accessibility of mobile phones / Tabs on: http://mail.accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/mobile.accessindia_accessindia.org.in Search for old postings at: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ To unsubscribe send a message to [email protected] with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in Disclaimer: 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of the person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails sent through this mailing list..
