Blind Walking Stick

ULTRASONIC SMART CANE FOR VISUALLY-IMPAIRED PERSONS
_______________________________________________
A Project Study
Presented to the
Faculty of College of Engineering and Architecture
_______________________________________________
In Partial Fulfilment
Of the Requirement for the Degree
Bachelor of Science in Electronics Engineering
________________________________________________
By:
Cruz, Joshua T.
Manalo, Jerome C.
Yambao, Tristan Nicholai F.
August 2018
INTRODUCTION
Out of all the five human senses, vision seems to be the most important. Humans
are fairly unique in their reliance on sight as the dominant sense (Medium Corporation
[US]), since 83% of information that human beings get from the environment, is via sight.
The most recent statistics by the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that there
are 285 million people in the world with visual impairment. Among these individuals, there
are 39 million who are totally blind and 246 million with low vision.
People with visual impairment primarily rely on sighted guidance and/or traditional
travel-navigation aids. Long (white) cane is the most popular and commonly used
assistive device around the world. It increases the detection range to nearly one meter
and provides information about the ground-level obstacles and the surfaces. However,
there are many limitations of the white cane like uncertainty in discrimination and
protection against drop-offs, limited preview range, danger of tripping pedestrians in
crowded places and no protection of the upper part of the body from the hanging or
protruding obstacles which do not have significant footprint on the ground. It is reported
that walking without sight poses risk of head-level and fall accidents that often require
medical attention.
The limitations of traditional assistive solutions led to the development of several
electronic assistive travel aids and systems, for the purpose of detection of objects as
well as guiding the user by providing the required orientation and navigation information.
Such solutions would enhance the quality of VIPs’ lives by improving the detection range
of obstacles, objects, etc. which leads to better orientation in the environment and to less
stressful, more independent, safe, comfortable, and simplified navigation task.

AIMS/OBJECTIVES
In expanding the idea of helping the blind, two main objectives are the target to be
achieved upon completion of this project.
The first objective is to develop a model of cane for the blind. The most widely
used primary mobility aid today is the long cane. The goal of this design is to improve
upon the limitations of the long cane and to replace it.
The second objective is to design a prototype that consumes less power, portable
in size and has an acceptable accurate performance in object distance detection (using
sensor) in order to provide fully automatic obstacle avoidance with audible notification.
The design of a small portable cane will be useful for the blind people. It is easier
for them to find ways on daily activities without having to use the standard mobility aid
available for individuals with this disability. Since the mobility aids are small and light, it is
easily, portable and can be taken anywhere.

METHODOLOGY
There are different methods that can be used to implement ultrasonic blind walking
stick. By doing research, different methods that were found out are as follows:
 Voice operated outdoor navigation system for visually impaired persons done by
Osama Bader AL-Barrm International Journal of Latest Trends in Engineering and
Technology [1]. Uses a stick equipped with ultra-sonic sensors, GPS and audio
output system. The stick contains GPS along with a SD memory card which were
used to store different locations .The user can use voice commands to input the
desired location. This system will also provide the speed and the remaining
distance to reach the destination. When the ultra-sonic sensors detect any
obstacle directly the voice system will activate the caution voice. This system can
be classified as a low cost system affordable by the user. In addition to that, it can
provide a voice guide for the user with greatest possible accuracy. The system
uses the ARM processor which has more memory space, so that the operating
speed is high. However, this system cannot operate indoors because there will be
no signal for the GPS system. The accuracy of the GPS signal need to be improved
because it only can be controlled within 5 meters radios. Finally, the blind person
needs to be trained on the system so that he or she can use it effectively.
 Another study done by (Jayant, Pratik and Mita, 2012) proposed a smart cane
assisted mobility for the visually impaired. The system is based on normal
ultrasonic sensors and ATMEL microcontroller. It operates with two rechargeable
battery (7.4v) that can be recharged using a USB cable or AC adaptor. The control
unit is programmed using ATMEL AVR microcontroller ATMEGA328P
microcontroller. Once any obstacles are detected, vibration and buzzer will start in
order to warn the user. This system is a non-complex system to use. It has the
ability to cover a distance up to 3 meters and has the rechargeable feature of the
battery. Also, this system can be folded in small piece so that the user can carry it
easily. However, this system has only one direction detection coverage and it is
inaccurate in detecting the obstacles.
 The Nottingham Obstacle Detector (NOD) is a hand held device subsumed with
ultrasound. The device provides feedback as a unique note on the musical scale
which is audible, and depicts the distance of the obstacle.
These methods will be combined, improved and implemented to aid in the study
we are undertaking.
PROJECT PLAN
The project plan will be divided into three stages:
Stage 1: Chapters 1, 2 and 3
 Conduct surveys related to the project or thesis.
 Carry out research and preliminary experiments.
 Design the prototype.
Stage 2: Chapter 4
 Interview engineers, technicians etc. for information related to the project.
 Carry out further experiments.
 Preliminary review of the research and experiments conducted.
 Build the prototype.
Stage 3: Chapters 4 and 5
 Collection and analysis of the data gathered.
 Finalizing the research work and findings.
 Completion of the final report and prototype.

GANTT CHART
YEAR 2018 2019

ACTIVITIES/MONTH JUL AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR
Thesis Title Proposal Preparation
Title Proposal/Overview
Collection of Related Journals/Materials
Writing of Introduction (Ch. 1)
Writing of Literature Review (Ch.2)
Writing of Design and Methodology (Ch. 3)
Submission and Presentation of Proposal (Ch. 1-3)
Tallying and Writing of Findings (Ch. 4)
Prototype Creation
Statistical Analysis
Testing of Prototype
Writing of Conclusion (Ch. 5)
Writing of Final Report
Submission and Presentation of Final Report
POTENTIAL CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT
The study will provide:
 An understanding of the function of ultrasonic sensor, water sensor and Arduino.
 An improved design for a low budget ultrasonic smart cane which is effective in
detecting the head level obstacles within 2.5m and water on the floor.
 Further knowledge in determining the performance of ultrasonic sensor and water
sensor as well as ultrasonic smart cane.
 Recommendations for an improved walking stick design for visually-impaired
people.
 A device with travel surface information including textures and discontinuities and
Information enabling self-familiarization and mental mapping of the environment.

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ULTRASONIC SMART CANE FOR VISUALLY-IMPAIRED PERSONS

Faculty of College of Engineering and Architecture

Of the Requirement for the Degree

Bachelor of Science in Electronics Engineering

Yambao, Tristan Nicholai F.

protection against drop-offs, limited preview range, danger of tripping pedestrians in

The limitations of traditional assistive solutions led to the development of several

stressful, more independent, safe, comfortable, and simplified navigation task.

achieved upon completion of this project.

upon the limitations of the long cane and to replace it.

easily, portable and can be taken anywhere.

Osama Bader AL-Barrm International Journal of Latest Trends in Engineering and

needs to be trained on the system so that he or she can use it effectively.

ultrasonic sensors and ATMEL microcontroller. It operates with two rechargeable

inaccurate in detecting the obstacles.

which is audible, and depicts the distance of the obstacle.

The project plan will be divided into three stages:

Stage 1: Chapters 1, 2 and 3

 Conduct surveys related to the project or thesis.

 Carry out research and preliminary experiments.

 Design the prototype.

 Interview engineers, technicians etc. for information related to the project.

 Carry out further experiments.

 Preliminary review of the research and experiments conducted.

 Build the prototype.

Stage 3: Chapters 4 and 5

 Collection and analysis of the data gathered.

 Finalizing the research work and findings.

 Completion of the final report and prototype.

YEAR 2018 2019

The study will provide:

 An understanding of the function of ultrasonic sensor, water sensor and Arduino.

 Further knowledge in determining the performance of ultrasonic sensor and water

sensor as well as ultrasonic smart cane.

 Recommendations for an improved walking stick design for visually-impaired

Information enabling self-familiarization and mental mapping of the environment.

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