Blind's Mate - A Navigation System for Blind People

Abstract

Visually challenged people rely on companions around them on daily basis. Basic chores of day to day life pose a challenge for people with impaired vision. Walking on streets while dodging obstacles and navigating through roads to reach desired destination independently is one such challenge. Proposed system 'Blind's Mate' is a combination of software and hardware technology that can be used to improve the walking experience of blind people. Blind’s Mate is a combination of smart stick and a mobile app that can alert people of impending obstacles and water pits while providing audio feed to the users about obstacles encountered during walking. This stick is embedded with ultrasonic sensor to detect any obstacles in front of the user. The app gives live feed to the user continuously via earphones. Speech warning messages are activated when any obstacle is detected. The proposed stick is of low cost, has fast response, low power consumption, light weight and an effective means to help blind people finding their way on streets with ease.