Tom Pouce III, an Electronic White Cane for Blind People: Ability to Detect Obstacles and Mobility Performances

Aya Dernayka,Roger Leroux,Lucas Bogaert,Michel-Ange Amorim,René Farcy

doi:10.3390/s21206854

Abstract

We present a protocol for evaluating the efficiency of an electronic white cane for improving the mobility of blind people. The electronic cane used during the test is the Tom Pouce III, made of LIDAR sensors (light detection and ranging) with tactile feedback. The protocol comprises two parts. The first part, the “detection test”, evaluates the efficiency of the sensors in the Tom Pouce III for detecting the obstacles found in everyday life (thin and large poles, apertures) under different environmental conditions (darkness, sun light, rain). The second part of the test, the “mobility test”, compares the ability of blind participants to cross a 25 m path by avoiding obstacles with the simple white cane and the electronic cane. The 12 blind participants had between 2 and 20 years of experience of everyday usage of Tom Pouce devices. The results show a significant improvement in the capacity to avoid obstacles with the electronic cane relative to the simple white cane, and there was no speed difference. There was no correlation between the results and the years of experience of the users.

Highlights

For more than 80 years, the white cane and the guide dog have been the only assistive devices used in everyday life by blind people to assist walking independently
We suggest a protocol that is as close as possible to the everyday life of the users in order to assess the utility of an electronic white cane
We present the results obtained in the “detection test” and the “mobility test”

Summary

Introduction

For more than 80 years, the white cane and the guide dog have been the only assistive devices used in everyday life by blind people to assist walking independently. The white cane only anticipates obstacles by touching them, a few tens of centimeters before the point at which the body would contact them. The head of the user is not protected by the cane. For these reasons, several works have been carried out to develop an electronic cane that allows blind people to avoid obstacles with greater anticipation and safety. We name below some examples of the devices found in the literature with different kinds of sensors: .

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Discussion

Conclusion