Peer Tracking and Collision Free Navigation for Visually Impaired

Abstract

In the indoor space, the chances of a visually impaired person (VIP) getting lost on their way to their destination are very high. Unable to detect the terrain and surrounding environment, it makes it difficult for visually impaired people to move independently. Since the Global Positioning System (GPS) does not work well in the indoor environment and the existing indoor navigation systems are not very accurate, blind people find it difficult to locate and meet their peers without assistance. It is very difficult for them, as well as their family members or peers, to locate and get them back to the destination. Different connectivity technologies such as RFID (Radio Frequency Identification), ZigBee, or Bluetooth are deployed in real-life scenarios, but most of these technologies have limitations in terms of reliability, coverage, and implementation cost. Hence, this paper aims to implement a system that will help blind people in peer tracking and enable them to navigate in the indoor space with voice assistance to reach the desired location. The system includes a feature that detects and warns of any obstacles found in the desired path. Implementation of an effective indoor navigation system will turn out to be a visionary service for the disabled community.