Course Content

This paper presents an electronic navigation system for visually impaired and blind people (subject). This system understands obstacles around the subject up to 500 cm in front, left and right direction using a network of ultrasonic sensors. It effectively calculates distance of the detected object from the subject and prepares navigation path accordingly avoiding obstacles. It uses speech feedback to aware the subject about the detected obstacle and its distance. This proposed system uses Arduino microcontroller based embedded system to process real time data collected using ultrasonic sensor network. Based on direction and distance of detected obstacle. When Obstacle Detected the Vibrator will turn on.

HARDWARE

·        Arduino ‘

·        Ultrasonic Sensor

·        Vibrator

·        Li-ion Battery

·        Switch

SOFTWARE

·        Arduino IDE

·        Embedded C

This wearable electronic navigation system is successfully tested on blind folded subjects in indoor environment. Less training time is required to use this system. With rigorous training, system can be used for outdoor navigation also. System has following advantages and limitations:

Advantages:

}  Accurate detection of obstacles in front, left and right direction.

}  Detection of waist level height to head level height obstacles

}  Minimum physical interface

}  Less training time

}  Very low cost

}  Low power consumption

Considering the expectations and requirements of the visually impaired and blind people, this system offers a low cost, reliable, portable, low power and robust solution for smooth navigation. Though the system is light weight, but hard wired with sensors and other components. Further wearable aspect of this system can be improved using wireless connectivity between the system components. This system is developed considering visually impaired and blind people in developing countries