Title :
Ultrasound Pulse Coding for Robust Obstacle Detection Using a Long Cane
Author :
Frenkel, Raymond ; Gao, Robert X.
Author_Institution :
Dept. of Mech. & Ind. Eng., Massachusetts Univ., Amherst, MA
Abstract :
An ultrasonic collision warning system suitable for embedding into a long cane for the sight impaired was designed. Using a sensor array and digital signal processing (DSP) techniques, an algorithm for collision hazard identification was formulated using a synthetic aperture to discriminate between echoes constituting real threats and those that do not. A prototype system was built using a Freescale DSP microcontroller and embedded into the handle of a long cane. Test results showed that obstacles within the synthetic aperture can be detected and reported with a maximum error of 6.3%
Keywords :
acoustic signal processing; alarm systems; array signal processing; collision avoidance; handicapped aids; ultrasonic measurement; Freescale DSP microcontroller; collision hazard identification; digital signal processing; long cane; pulse compression; robust obstacle detection; sensor array; synthetic aperture; ultrasonic collision; ultrasound pulse coding; warning system; Alarm systems; Digital signal processing; Hazards; Microcontrollers; Prototypes; Robustness; Sensor arrays; Signal processing algorithms; Testing; Ultrasonic imaging; Ultrasonic pulse coding; pulse compression; synthetic aperture; travel aid for the blind;
Conference_Titel :
Instrumentation and Measurement Technology Conference, 2006. IMTC 2006. Proceedings of the IEEE
Conference_Location :
Sorrento
Print_ISBN :
0-7803-9359-7
Electronic_ISBN :
1091-5281
DOI :
10.1109/IMTC.2006.328488
