NAVIX: A Wearable Navigation System for Visually Impaired Persons

Abstract

Visually impaired people meet several difficulties such as freedom of navigation inability, informing location, obstacle or sudden danger, and many more. None can erase this worst feeling. However, our fundamental aim of this project is to introduce a wearable system for blinds under indoor conditions, which can be mounted on a jacket, portable, lightweight, and user friendly as well as the optimum solution. Such behaviours engender a new prototype and a part of nascent technological improvement. The system comprises Raspberry Pi, three ultrasonic sensors, camera module, vibration motor, gyroscope, emergency button, and mobile application for android, namely ‘Blynk’. Raspberry Pi acts as a ‘Central Processing Unit (CPU)’, connected with each part. Among them, ultrasonic sensors detect any blockage within 400 cm and send an alert through the headpiece when it appears within 30 cm. Camera module read frame by frame, identify the person standing in front and recognize pre-trained faces using ‘Haar feature’ algorithm. The gyroscope provides information about the 3D axis of the patient, which acts instantly during an unusual activity such as fall detection. The software has been installed in the cellphone of the guardian to receive an alert automatically. It may occur in the event of an accident or, pushing the ‘Emergency Button’. A wearable blind assistive system-based project installed upon the jacket obviates the needs for a pair of eyes or a helping hand in an oblique manner, which in turn reduces the misery more than a modicum.