Smart Assistive Stick

Before technology, blind people only use a white cane to walk and which is not safe and anything could happen to the person. Then technology evolved and sensor-based smart sticks were made which provides assistance to blind people in object detection. There was an ultrasonic sensor used in them. The

Project Title

Smart Assistive Stick

Project Area of Specialization

Internet of Things

Project Summary

Before technology, blind people only use a white cane to walk and which is not safe and anything could happen to the person. Then technology evolved and sensor-based smart sticks were made which provides assistance to blind people in object detection. There was an ultrasonic sensor used in them. The audio was also listened to by the blind person when there comes an obstacle in his/her way. A system was also developed which tells the height of the obstacle to the user and also tells whether there are stairs in front of the user or not. These technologies seem to be helpful for a blind person but they don’t assure the security of a person like if something happens and the person falls down then there was no mechanism to rescue the blind person as soon as possible so that no blind person remains safe. It is hard for the visually impaired to live or even walk without any help. Usually, they use a white cane in order to guide them while moving. Although it seems to be helpful, it does not ensure blind people to be safe from risks. Many people have proposed an electronic system that provides low-level obstacle detection which also does not guarantee the safety of a visually impaired person. We have proposed a system in which a smart assistive stick will aid visually impaired people by detecting obstacle while ensuring the safety of a person, in a way that if the person falls, the mobile application will record the location of the person and this location will be uploaded on application to rescue the person. 

Project Objectives

Within the existed stick for blind people, there is no provision made to assist visually disabled persons from imminent danger, nor is there any provision made to even contact their guardians when they are lost or injured. In this project, our goal is to intensify the day-to-day activities of visually impaired people by designing an integrating smart stick. We will draft a smart stick interface and integrate an Ultrasonic sensor, Vibration motor, GPS module, GSM module, Gyroscope, GSR sensor, Accelerometer then fetch data from each sensor to perform multiple operations to help an impaired person in daily life mobility. In addition, it will be cost-effective as compared to other versions of smart sticks.

Objective:

1. Design a smart stick, interface and integrate inertial sensors. 

2. Collect data from each sensor to utilize for the multiple operations. 

3. Analyze data from different sensors for different operations to enhance user mobility.

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Project Implementation Method

Hardware implementation:

We interfaced hardware components on a microcontroller and the IR is interface at the front of the stick so that obstacles can be detected easily. An accelerometer is used to measure the acceleration when the stick falls. And gyroscope will measure the angular velocity and orientation of the falling stick. 

Bluetooth module is used to provide communication between smartphone and microcontroller by serial port communication. There will be code in the flash memory of the microcontroller in order to handle every component of hardware.  Data can be exchange after pairing a microcontroller with a smartphone. Data from different sensors are being sent to the microcontroller and through Bluetooth module data can be transmitted to smartphones. 

Software implementation

Smartphone app:

A user-friendly mobile is developed for the visually impaired person for obtaining their location.

Benefits of the Project

 Location of user 

We will get the coordinates by using the GPS module. These coordinates are being transferred to the nearby rescue through a GSM module with a text message having coordinates that can be extracted by an application on the mobile and a Google map is used to find the exact location of the user by using these coordinates. 

 Obstacle Detection 

An ultrasonic sensor will detect obstacles in front of the user. If the obstacle is detected, then vibration will be produced. Earphones are used for transferring information regarding object detection to protect users from any danger.  

 Fall detection 

Now if the user falls down, then the current location of the user is recorded by the android app which uses google maps to obtain the exact location of the user. This information will be uploaded to the website and a text msg will be sent to the nearby rescue by using the GSM module. The fall detection will be performed by an accelerometer and gyroscope. There will be different data when only stick falls and stick along with the person has different angle and speed. 

 Finding of stick 

If the person forgets where they kept the stick, an RF-based remote is used to locate the stick. When the user presses the button on the remote, it will produce a buzzer sound on the stick which will be helpful in finding the stick.

Technical Details of Final Deliverable

To develop a SMART ASSISTIVE STICK to perform obstacle detection and navigating user  process is explained in the steps below: 

• First, we will get the location of the user by using a mobile app 

• Then ultrasonic sensor will detect obstacles in front of the user. 

• A voice will be produced to provide awareness to blind people about the obstacle. • To provide communication between the microcontroller and smartphone, we use a Bluetooth module. 

• Now if the user falls, gyro-accelerometer will perform fall detection 

• The current location of the user is being recorded.  

• This recorded information will be uploaded to the mobile application. 

• RF-based remote is used to locate a stick if it gets misplaced.

Hardware and Software Specification:

• Ultrasonic sensor is used to detect obstacle in front of the user
• Gyro-accelerometer this sensors provide direction and stability. It is also used sense angular velocity that is produced by the movement of sensor.
• Bluetooth module is used to connect the stick to earphones of user.
• GSM-GPS Module is also used to find the location of the user.
• Heart rate sensor is used to find the heart rate of user.
• Radio-frequency Remote is used to locate the stick.
• Software: Android studio version 4.1

. Tools and technologies used with reasoning:

• Android studio
• Arduino
• Mat lab
• Visio
• MS word
• Arduino IDE
• Java
• XML

Final Deliverable of the Project

HW/SW integrated system

Core Industry

IT

Other Industries

Core Technology

Internet of Things (IoT)

Other Technologies

Sustainable Development Goals

Good Health and Well-Being for People

Required Resources

If you need this project, please contact me on contact@adikhanofficial.com