A dynamic ultrasonic ranging system as a mobility aid for the blind

Author

Gao, Robert X. ; Li, Chum

Author_Institution

Inst. for Micromanuf., Louisiana Tech. Univ., Ruston, LA, USA

Volume

2

fYear

1995

fDate

20-23 Sep 1995

Firstpage

1631

Abstract

A microprocessor-based ultrasonic ranging system, configured around a PVC tube resembling the form of a long cane, has been designed. The system, intended to serve as a mobility aid for the blind, consists of four ultrasonic sensors integrated into the cane, and a microcontroller. It is able to provide real-time information on the distance and height of over-hanging obstacles within 5 meters along the travel path ahead of the user. Laboratory experiments under various cane motion patterns have shown that at 5 meters, the maximum relative error of the measurement is below 14%. This drops to less than 5%, when the measurement range is within 3 meters. Upon miniaturization, the system can be integrated into a conventional long cane for practical daily use by the blind

Keywords

biomedical ultrasonics; distance measurement; handicapped aids; height measurement; microcomputer applications; microsensors; real-time systems; sensory aids; ultrasonic transducers; vision defects; 5 m; PVC tube; blind; cane motion patterns; dynamic ultrasonic ranging system; four ultrasonic sensors; laboratory experiments; long cane; measurement error; microcontroller; microprocessor-based ultrasonic ranging system; miniaturization; mobility aid; over-hanging obstacles; practical daily use; real-time information; travel path; Biomedical measurements; Control systems; Ergonomics; Micromechanical devices; Motion measurement; Protection; Sensor systems; Time of arrival estimation; USA Councils; Ultrasonic transducers;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, 1995., IEEE 17th Annual Conference

Conference_Location

Montreal, Que.

Print_ISBN

0-7803-2475-7

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/IEMBS.1995.579864

Filename

579864