1. Enhanced Navigational Aid For the Visually Impaired Peter Okma (CPE) Abhay Sampath (EE) Katelyn Sapio (EE) 04/28/2010

2. Presentation Outline 1.Project Formulation Peter Okma 2.Design Specifics Abhay Sampath 3.Additional Considerations Katelyn Sapio

3. Problem There is a need for devices to aid the visual impaired with navigation Widely used solutions don’t take advantage of modern technologies – Seeing eye dogs, canes, etc. The few high-tech solutions currently available are not very effective and are extremely expensive – MOWAT, Laser Cane

4. Project Goals Design a device that will provides useful feedback to enhance the navigational ability of the visually impaired The device should be – Useful – Portable – Reliable – Affordable

5. TechnologyCostAccuracyMobilityComplexity Power Consumption LIDARVery HighExtremely Accurate Very LowVery Complex Very High Camera Recognition HighMediumLowComplexVery High EcholocationLow HighModerateLow Directional Ultrasonic Medium AccurateHighModerateLow Solutions Considered

6. Chosen Design

7. High-Level Algorithm Sensor reads distance Microcontroller gets the direct distance reading, then computes the differential reading

8. Intuitive Implementation Amplitude proportional to distance Pitch proportional to velocity (differential distance) Difference between either ear is related to angle Sensor information is delivered through the corresponding speakers

9. Functional Flowchart

10. System Model

13. Economics Ultrasonic Sensors$120 – Maxbotix LV-MaxSonar-EZ Speakers$15 Microcontroller & Board$65 – Arduino Mega2560 – Atmel ATmega2560 Miscellaneous$50_____ Total$250

14. Health and Safety Should not obstruct hearing – Software: Beeps vs. constant tone – Hardware: Shape of headgear Safety Risks – Product meant for eye level detection Learning Curve – Battery Life – Calibration and Accuracy

15. Ethical Responsibilities Reliability vs. Cost – Software: Must act with minimal delay – Hardware: Accuracy and reliability must be maximized Marketing: Risks and limitations should be made clear – Ex: This device cannot sense elevations in floors, so it must be used with a cane or a seeing eye dog

16. Conclusion Improvements on existing products – Omni-directional awareness – Velocity Recognition – Comfort/Aesthetics – Intuitive audio feedback – Low Cost

17. References http://www.rehab.research.va.gov/jour/74/11/2/443.pdf http://classes.engr.oregonstate.edu/eecs/spring2003/ece44x/groups/g14/white%20papers/whitepaper_matt.htm http://www.maxbotix.com/MaxbotixHome.html http://www.brailleinstitute.org/facts_about_sight_loss Fast and robust tracking of multiple moving objects with a laser range finder http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpls/abs_all.jsp?arnumber=932853&tag=1 A comparison of line extraction algorithms using 2D laser rangefinder http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpls/abs_all.jsp?arnumber=1545234 Laser range finder based on synchronized scanners http://www.opticsinfobase.org/abstract.cfm?&id=27938 Compact laser radar and three-dimensional camera http://www.opticsinfobase.org/josaa/abstract.cfm?URI=josaa-23-4-800 http://www.tsbvi.edu/seehear/fall98/waytogo.htm http://www.noogenesis.com/eta/current.html http://www.agis.com/Eldercare-Basics/Assisted-Daily-Living-Aids/Mobility/Blind-Mobility-Aids/default.aspx http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blindness#Adaptive_techniques_and_aids http://trid.trb.org/view.aspx?id=810306 http://www.onlineethics.org/Resources/ethcodes/EnglishCodes/9972.aspx http://www.onlineethics.org/Resources/ethcodes/EnglishCodes/IEEEguidelines.aspx http://www.acm.org/about/se-code http://www.ilr.cornell.edu/edi/disabilitystatistics/ http://www.worldaccessfortheblind.org/node/119 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_echolocation