Design and Realization of a Low-Cost Smart Walking Aid for Visually Impaired and Blind People

Abstract

We have developed an affordable and intelligent walking aid designed to provide visually impaired and blind individuals with alert-based support while navigating both outdoor streets and indoor environments. This innovative smart blind stick offers more than just collision avoidance capabilities; it boasts a range of advantages including cost-effectiveness, rapid responsiveness, minimal power consumption, lightweight design, and water detection features. The smart walking aid utilizes an ultrasonic sensor to detect obstacles in the user's path and promptly notifies them through a combination of buzzer alerts and mechanical vibrations, helping them avoid potential obstacles. Moreover, it can not only identify solid obstructions but can also alert the user to the presence of water using a dedicated water sensing mechanism. We rigorously evaluated the prototype's performance through extensive testing to optimize its accuracy in a variety of scenarios, revealing an impressive maximum obstacle detection range of approximately 2 meters on average.