Blind people could soon have a helpful hand in avoiding obstacles thanks to a cane equipped with the technology that retailers use to tag merchandise.
Researchers at Central Michigan University have created a “Smart Cane.”
It reads electronic navigational tags installed between buildings to help the blind travel more easily to their destinations.
“This project started as a way for me to teach students to see and understand the ways that engineering can be used for the greater good,” said Kumar Yelamarthi, the professor and project leader. “We wanted to do something that would help people and make our campus more accessible.”
Yelamarthi and five senior engineering students tested the cane during the spring semester.
The “Smart Cane” is equipped with Radio Frequency Identification technology similar to what retailers put on products to keep them from being stolen.
This is how it works. The cane contains an ultrasonic sensor that is paired with a miniature navigational system inside a messenger-style bag worn across the shoulder.
The students installed identification tags between two buildings on the campus in Mount Pleasant, Michigan.
A speaker located on the bag strap gave audio alerts when the system detected an obstacle. It also had the ability to tell the user which direction to move.
Yelamarthi said it’s one of the first widespread outdoor applications of RFID.
He says in upcoming classes he will further refine the system: he also plans on applying for grants to speed up the research.
Eventually, Yelamarthi wants to work toward integrating the Smart Cane’s data with GPS.
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