VISION A smart cane for visually impaired
According to the reliable estimates of W.H.O, about 40 to 45 million people are blind from the global population of 285 million visually impaired people, 39 million blind and 246 million having deviating vision. With the rapid advancement in navigational equipment the main concern for the visually d
2025-06-28 16:36:38 - Adil Khan
VISION A smart cane for visually impaired
Project Area of Specialization Wearables and ImplantableProject Summary PROJECT SUMMARY:According to the reliable estimates of W.H.O, about 40 to 45 million people are blind from the global population of 285 million visually impaired people, 39 million blind and 246 million having deviating vision. With the rapid advancement in navigational equipment the main concern for the visually disabled today is the invention of such tools that can assist them to lead a normal life. This project is aimed towards the development of a multi-functional electronic solution VISION, based around an obstacle detection based smart cane working in conjunction with GPS positioning & android integration. The propound research presents the development in navigational aids throughout the years. VISION can be employed to provide immense benefit to the blind by resolving any navigational impediment that they may face.
The VISION smart cane is an ETA (Electronic Travel Aid) device capable of providing the user complete navigational independence. It’s an obstacle detection based navigational device which holds the potential of enhancing the general mobility of the user. The device is intended to inform the user simultaneously using audio output and actuating vibration motors. The impaired user can also navigate to a particular destination by receiving audio step-by-step directions through a pair of earphones.
This project is aimed towards the navigational development & betterment for the legally as well as peripherally blind community. The incentive of this project is to provide total navigational freedom as well as enhanced social & economical interaction. VISION holds the potential to strengthen the sense of direction & mobility of the user. The current design durability of VISION guarantees protection against specific environmental factors including dusty, highly sunny & light drizzling/precipitative weather. It’s a cost effective engineering solution for easy product accessibility of the blind community. VISION holds the promise of minimizing the dependency of the blind community, and to allow them to ease back into their professional settings at a steady pace.
Project Objectives The Smart blind cane; VISION is based on the following objectives:
- To enhance the obstacle sensitivity of the visually impaired person, the blind will be able to sense the objects in front, above or below him.
- To help navigate the impaired person to a destination determined by the impaired person him/herself, the impaired person can find directions from current point to destination point using an Android App.
- To encourage the person to travel irrespective of terrain (rough/bumpy areas) changes,the person can sense the bumpy area using a ball type wheel or smooth rigid object which can be dragged.
- To inform the person about a wet or slippery area, the person will be forewarned if he approaches a wet floor.
- To find the cane, if misplaced, the visually impaired person will be able to locate VISION using portable small remote which will alert the person of its position using an alarm.
- To call or text a specified person a when in panic, Impaired person will be enabled to alert his speed dial emergency contact(s) using call, if not attended; a predefined text will be sent containing the co-ordinates of the impaired person.
- To acquire instant location of the person, the expected result will be that the impaired person can listen his instant location through the smartphones via earphones.
- To ensure maximum product efficiency in terms of battery life,
- The implementation of a BMS (Battery Management System) will confirm reduction in Battery consumption in the long run and the installation of a capacitive touch sensor will trigger VISION`s power whenever he holds it saving power.
- Constant battery alerts at different intervals using audio output.
1. Angle calculation of the Sensors:
To install the sensors on to the cane, calibration was to be performed first about the placement of ultrasonic sensors, their angles, their height, how far the is to be placed from the object, so that a threshold can be defined for the calibration. Following are the calibrations which were essential for obstacle detection. The readings calculations were performed when. The distance (d) of the stick tip from the object (wall) was 80cm because it is the max distance we have to set, in order to avoid collision. The stick was making an angle (?) of 45º with floor.
Upper sensor (S0):
- The angle 13º with the stick.
- Sensor So is sensing an object of height greater then 75cm and less then 98cm thus covers a range (height h0 in figure1) of 23cm.
Middle sensor (S1):
- The angle is 17º with the stick.
- Sensor “So” senses an object of height greater then 50cm and less then 65cm thus covers a range (height h1 in figure1) of 15cm.
Lower sensor (S2):
- The angle is 35º with the stick.
Sensor S2 is sensing an object of height greater then 12cm and less then 41cm thus covers a range (height h2 in figure1) of 29cm.
2.Actuatory output:
- At first we decided to install the vibratory motors on the cane itself. Later on the idea was discarded as the vibration would affect the whole cane.
- Then we decided to install a glove with 3 vibratory motors on the:
-
- Thumb
- Middle finger
- little finger
-
3.Floor level sensing:
- To avoid the risk of tumbling over the bumpy areas and to give the idea of level changing to the blind person, a small caster wheel is installed on the tip of the cane.
4.Wet floor sensor:
- We decided that water sensor modules cannot be installed on the cane tip as it was a rolling tip. So we came up with the idea of using simple Pull-resistor based water detector giving its response to the micro-controller.
- In Prototype version we used simple copper threading and made two contacts which become short-circuited when in water and sends responses to micro-Controller, but the issue of being strangled to the tire was not feasible.
- In final design the water sensor consists of two flexible copper strips so that the strangling issue with the tire is solved.
5. Cane locating using RF:
- The idea of locating a cane was an innovation in itself. At first we were thinking of using IR sensors with the encoders and decoder, but the idea was discarded due to the fact that IR sensors cannot breach the walls
- In prototype and final design, we came up with the idea of using RF transmission, and made two circuits of RF transmitter and receiver separately. Receiver in the cane and transmitter in a separate remote held by the Visually impaired.
- VISION is relatively replaceable & affordable as compared to other alternatives in the existing domestic & international market, with a cost margin in between 10000pkr-12000pkr
- Provides all the tactile information that is expected from a general white cane & more, you can stop & interact with the surrounding environment as you would while using a basic white cane without sacrificing usage fluidity.
- VISION will be tested thoroughly to achieve maximum operational efficiency regardless of any & all environmental factors including drizzling, precipitative & wide spread dusty weather.
- VISION will not only allow the user total navigational independence in terms of localized navigation but will also allow the user to venture to new locations as per his needs through Android app integration.
- VISION will allow the user to easily interact with his surroundings & to be forewarned about navigational hazards (traffic, bumpy surfaces, wet/slippery surfaces etc.) through a sophisticated array of sensors providing an easily distinguishable haptic feedback as well as audio feedbacks from voice recognition based Android app.
- provides independence to the user in terms of usage of the stick itself through the incorporation of an Radio Frequency transreceiver & voice operated interactive app design with built in operational tutorials covering every aspect of VISION's operations & controls, in laymen terms.
- VISION systems will ensure a long battery of 6-8hrs, through the application of an optimized power management scheme & improving the overall battery health through the application of a BMS.
- The main focus behind the development of VISION is to make it as cost-effective as possible by constantly optimizing our design iteration, so that it is easily accessible even in 3rd world countries.
- Enables provides secure 3rd party communication for the visually impaired & also provides features of instant location & panic alert in case of emergencies.
The final synthesized iteration of VISION will have an entirely functional array of localized sensors providing ground, body & overhead obstacle detection through haptic feedback
VISION will be able to alert the user in case a wet/slippery surface arrives through the application of a robust water sensor interfaced with an android application.
The visually impaired will be able to easily differentiate and avoid bumpy & uneven surfaces by the simple implementation of a 2” castor wheel at its base providing feedback regarding bumpy & uneven surfaces.
The Final implementation of VISION will have a refurbished design aimed towards making it user-friendly.
The finished product will be fitted with a RF-transreciever in order to help the user to find the cane in case it’s misplaced.
Fully synthesized VISION will able to provide seamless operation time ranging in between 5-6 hours through the application of BMS monitored battery & an efficient power management scheme.
The final iteration of VISION will have 3 buttons paired with an android phone capable of providing following features:
1) instant location
Upon pressing the 1st button, The Instant location feature will provide the user with his current location.
2) Panic alert
The panic alert button will allow the user to instantly notify the emergency contacts within his phone in case of emergencies, the emergency notification will also include an emergency notification message containing the Google maps coordinate of the user’s current location.
3) Get Directions
Upon pressing the 3rd button the android app will be prompted to receive directions through voice input & in turn provide turn by turn directions to the user to the location of his/her choosing.
Final Deliverable of the Project HW/SW integrated systemType of Industry Others , Health Technologies 3D/4D Printing, Robotics, Wearables and ImplantablesSustainable Development Goals Good Health and Well-Being for PeopleRequired Resources| Item Name | Type | No. of Units | Per Unit Cost (in Rs) | Total (in Rs) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9V Battery | Equipment | 4 | 30 | 120 |
| Battery clip | Equipment | 3 | 10 | 30 |
| IC HT12D + HT12E | Equipment | 3 | 350 | 1050 |
| BREADBOARD | Equipment | 1 | 80 | 80 |
| BUZZER | Equipment | 1 | 15 | 15 |
| IC7805 | Equipment | 10 | 10 | 100 |
| IC7809 | Equipment | 2 | 10 | 20 |
| 433MHZ RF transmitter and receive | Equipment | 1 | 230 | 230 |
| JUMPERS | Equipment | 68 | 5 | 340 |
| Headers | Equipment | 4 | 10 | 40 |
| LEDs | Equipment | 5 | 2 | 10 |
| Vero Boards | Equipment | 2 | 30 | 60 |
| IC jackets | Equipment | 4 | 5 | 20 |
| Resisitance Sheets | Equipment | 4 | 150 | 600 |
| Buttons | Equipment | 6 | 5 | 30 |
| Bluetooth | Equipment | 1 | 270 | 270 |
| Printouts(Proposal+Mid year + defence) | Miscellaneous | 78 | 5 | 390 |
| Final Report(Binding+printouts) | Miscellaneous | 2000 | 1 | 2000 |
| Files | Miscellaneous | 4 | 20 | 80 |
| Controller | Equipment | 1 | 1500 | 1500 |
| Ultrasonic Sensors | Equipment | 4 | 150 | 600 |
| IC ULN2003 | Equipment | 4 | 30 | 120 |
| Vibratory Motors | Equipment | 3 | 77 | 231 |
| Charger Li-ion | Equipment | 1 | 350 | 350 |
| Li-ion Cells(2000mAh) | Equipment | 2 | 100 | 200 |
| Battery Management System (BMS) | Equipment | 2 | 110 | 220 |
| Battery holders | Equipment | 2 | 30 | 60 |
| relay | Equipment | 2 | 20 | 40 |
| Soldering Wax | Equipment | 1 | 150 | 150 |
| 9V DC Adapters | Equipment | 1 | 400 | 400 |
| acrylic sheet | Equipment | 1 | 150 | 150 |
| Hardware Components | Equipment | 1 | 100 | 100 |
| tyres | Equipment | 1 | 150 | 150 |
| Soldering Wires | Equipment | 2 | 100 | 200 |
| Crimp Shell | Equipment | 3 | 10 | 30 |
| Jack | Equipment | 2 | 20 | 40 |
| Insulation Sleeves/Pipes | Equipment | 4 | 20 | 80 |
| Wires | Equipment | 25 | 7 | 175 |
| Double Tapes | Equipment | 1 | 40 | 40 |
| Touch Sensors | Equipment | 4 | 130 | 520 |
| Hardware pipe | Equipment | 1 | 210 | 210 |
| tyre | Equipment | 1 | 80 | 80 |
| AND gate | Equipment | 3 | 30 | 90 |
| BC547 | Equipment | 4 | 5 | 20 |
| 3D Printing | Equipment | Close |