Navigation Support for the Visually Impaired using Electronic Smart Cane
Project Abstract / Summary : Objective of the Project
To design a smart e-cane, that can not only help with obstacle detection of objects that are above knee level; but also help with navigation in buildings and to reach the desired destination by creating a user-friendly environment with RFID.
Description
There are two major units in the project:
1. The contact-less Obstacle Detection Unit
2. Indoor Navigation Support using RFID
The feedback for the Obstacle detection is with the vibrations in the cane and the feedback for the indoor navigation is via Voice Guidance.
Following are the issues with the Existing Systems:
1. Uses RFID which is highly accurate (coupled with Braille blocks) when compared to GPS and Zigbee.
2. Inexpensive; since its based around a single micro-controller along with RFID module.
Block Diagram
![[IMG]](proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Foi59.tinypic.com%2F22gqoy.jpg&hash=05dbda8fb3bf759696a9248c8d7731aa)
Basic Layout of the Indoor Navigation System
![[IMG]](proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Foi58.tinypic.com%2F2mod109.jpg&hash=6331bf3a5cd76cd1727549359d2cce6b)
Hardware and Software Requirements
Why did you choose to work on this project topic : NEED FOR THE PROJECT
Saves the trial and error time of the visually impaired to navigate inside buildings; hence with voice directions, navigating inside a building is no more a maze puzzle but can be done without hassle.
Visually impaired bump into low hanging objects and protruding objects (like the back of truck), this project helps to deal with that with the use of ultrasonic sensors.
FUTURE SCOPE
*Can be used in shopping complexes to assist the blind in identifying the products sections.
*Can be used in outdoor environment in campuses as well, if combined with Braille blocks.
*Can be integrated in the Bus system to inform the route of the buses that arrive at a bus-stop.
*Speech recognition can be added to select the destination.
Project Category : Electrical / Electronics / Communication
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Institute/College Name: S.A. Engineering College
City: Chennai
State: Tamil Nadu
Participating Team From: Final Year
To design a smart e-cane, that can not only help with obstacle detection of objects that are above knee level; but also help with navigation in buildings and to reach the desired destination by creating a user-friendly environment with RFID.
Description
There are two major units in the project:
1. The contact-less Obstacle Detection Unit
2. Indoor Navigation Support using RFID
The feedback for the Obstacle detection is with the vibrations in the cane and the feedback for the indoor navigation is via Voice Guidance.
Following are the issues with the Existing Systems:
- Only obstacle sensor, with no indoor navigation
- Very expensive obstacle sensing system
- Very bulky equipment (Headgear, Bag Etc)
- Uses expensive touchscreen smartphones (For Bluetooth, Zigbee)
- Uses GPS (Which Is Inaccurate Indoors)
1. Uses RFID which is highly accurate (coupled with Braille blocks) when compared to GPS and Zigbee.
2. Inexpensive; since its based around a single micro-controller along with RFID module.
Block Diagram
- Microcontroller - ATmega328
- RFID Module
- RFID Tags
- Ultrasonic Sensor
- Cane, Buttons and Switches
- Voice Module with Storage
- Vibrating Motors
- ATMEL IDE
Why did you choose to work on this project topic : NEED FOR THE PROJECT
Saves the trial and error time of the visually impaired to navigate inside buildings; hence with voice directions, navigating inside a building is no more a maze puzzle but can be done without hassle.
Visually impaired bump into low hanging objects and protruding objects (like the back of truck), this project helps to deal with that with the use of ultrasonic sensors.
FUTURE SCOPE
*Can be used in shopping complexes to assist the blind in identifying the products sections.
*Can be used in outdoor environment in campuses as well, if combined with Braille blocks.
*Can be integrated in the Bus system to inform the route of the buses that arrive at a bus-stop.
*Speech recognition can be added to select the destination.
Project Category : Electrical / Electronics / Communication
------------------------------------------------------
Institute/College Name: S.A. Engineering College
City: Chennai
State: Tamil Nadu
Participating Team From: Final Year
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