Basic study on step detection system for the visually impaired

Author

Ishiwata, Koichi ; Sekiguchi, Mari ; Fuchida, Masataka ; Nakamura, A.

Author_Institution

Dept. of Robot. & Mechatron., Tokyo Denki Univ., Tokyo, Japan

fYear

2013

fDate

4-7 Aug. 2013

Firstpage

1332

Lastpage

1337

Abstract

We proposes a step detection system as a supporting system for the visually impaired. A small laser range sensor, which is attached to the user´s chest, obtains distance information in the vertical cross-sectional plane of the front of the user. Points obtained through the range sensor are analyzed based on coordinates and classified into horizontal and vertical segments. The system judges whether there are steps or stairs by examining combination of the segments and informs the existence of the step to the user by voice and beep sound. Experimental trials show the basic validity of the proposed system. The system detects steps with the accuracy of over 95% even if the user is walking.

Keywords

laser ranging; vision defects; distance information; laser range sensor; step detection system; user chest; vertical cross-sectional plane; visually impaired; Acceleration; Global Positioning System; Legged locomotion; Mathematical model; Measurement by laser beam; Robot sensing systems; Time measurement; range sensor; stairs; visually impaired;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Mechatronics and Automation (ICMA), 2013 IEEE International Conference on

Conference_Location

Takamatsu

Print_ISBN

978-1-4673-5557-5

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/ICMA.2013.6618106

Filename

6618106