'Smart' Cane for the Visually Impaired: Design and Controlled Field Testing of an Affordable Obstacle Detection System

Abstract

Visually challenged persons face great difficulty in independent mobility and use the white cane as a mobility aid to detect close-by obstacles on the ground. However, the cane has two major limitations: 1. It can only detect obstacles up to knee-level. Hence, the user cannot detect raised obstacles like elevated bars and frequently collides with them. 2. The cane can only detect obstacles within 1m from the user. Also, obstacles like moving vehicles cannot be detected until dangerously close to the person. Almost 90% of the blind persons live in developing countries, with a majority below poverty line. Current devices available internationally are unaffordable. In this work the authors present the design and usability features of a low-cost knee-above obstacle detection system and report results from controlled field experiments.