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Abstract

A smart stick concept is devised to provide a smart electronic aid for blind people .
Blind and visually impaired find difficulties in detecting obstacles during walking in
the street. The system is intended to provide artificial vision and object detection,
real time assistance via making use of Arduino UNO.
The main objective of our project is to provide a sound based assistance to blind
people.
The existing devices for the visually impaired only focus on travelling from one
location to another.
The device is aimed to help visually impaired with the same maneuver as that of
sighted people.
A brief study had been carried out to understand various issues related to the project
which involves providing a smart electronic aid for blind people to provide artificial
vision and object detection, real assistance via GPS module by using Arduino Uno.
Our project mainly focuses on the visually impaired people who cannot walk
independently environment.
The system consists of ultrasonic sensors, and the feedback is receive through audio.
The aim of the overall system is to provide a low cost and efficient navigation and
obstacle detection aid for blind which gives which gives a sense of artificial by
providing information about the environmental scenario of static and dynamic object
round them, so that they can walk independently.

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 CONTENTS
Title Page i
Certificate ii

Declaration iii

Abstract iv
Acknowledgements v
Contents vi-vii
List of Figures viii
List of Tables ix
List of Abbreviations and Symbols x

Chapter 1: INTRODUCTION 9-10

1.1 Smart Blind Stick Using Arduino 9
1.2 Objective 10
Chapter 2: LITERATURE REVIEW 11
2.1 Literature Survey 11
2.2 References 11
Chapter 3: PROPOSED MODEL WITH
12-15
THEORETICAL BACKGROUND
3.1 Theoretical background 12
3.2 Components Required 13-15
Chapter 4: DESIGN PROCESS 16-21
4.1 Block Diagram of Smart Blind Stick(Receiver) 16

4.2 Block Diagram of Smart Blind Stick(Transmitter) 17

4.3 Code for smart blind stick 18

4.4 Code snippets for Smart Blind Stick 19

4.5 Methodology 20-21
Chapter 5: RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS 22
5.1 Results 22
Chapter 6: APPLICATIONS 23
5.3 Applications 23

Chapter 6: CONCLUSIONS AND FUTURE SCOPE

24-25
References 26

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 LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1: Ultrasonic Sensor 13

Figure 2: Arduino UNO 13

Figure 3: Arduino Buzzer 14

Figure 4: LED 14

Figure 5: 9V Battery 15
Figure 6: Code Snippets 18
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LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

Abbreviation 1: UNO One

Abbreviation 2: GPS Global Positioning System

Abbreviation 3: AI Artificial Intelligence

Abbreviation 4: TTS Text to Speech

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CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

Smart Blind Stick Using Arduino

Eye sight plays a major role in collecting most of the

information from the real world and that information will be processed
by brain, visually impaired people suffer inconveniences in their daily
life and social life. Blindness or visual impairment is condition that
affects many people around the world. This condition leads to the loss
of the valuable senses of vision. Worldwide there are millions of people
who are visually impaired , where many of them are blind. The need for
assistive devices was and will be continuous. There is a wide range of
navigation systems and tools existing for visually impaired individuals.
The blind person truly requires an identifying objects.

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Objectives

The main objective of our project is to provide a sound based

assistance to blind people. Here we are trying to develop a system that helps
blind person to travel independently and works efficiently. Current navigation
device for the visually impair focus on travelling from one location to
another. Our project focuses on designing a device for blind people that help
them to travel independently and also it must be confortable to use. The
proposed device is used for guiding individuals who are blind or partially
sighted. The device used to help blind people to move with the same ease and
confidence as a sighted people.

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CHAPTER 2

LITERATURE REVIEW

Literature Survey

A literature survey is a proof essay of sorts. It is a study of

relevant literature materials in relation to a topic we have been given.
For thorough development of the device Smart Stick for Blind using
Arduino Uno, we need to go through each and every technical aspect
related to it.. This chapter provides an introduction to the area of
research. A brief Study and Survey has been carried out to understand
various issues related to the project which involves providing a smart
electronic aid for blind people to provide artificial vision and object
detection, real time assistance via using arduino. Our project mainly
focuses on the visually impaired people who cannot walk independently
in unfamiliar environment. The main aim of our project is to develop a
system that helps blind people to move independently. Smart Stick for
the blind stick usually consists of three parts to help people travel with a
greater degree of psychological comfort and independence: sensing the
immediate environment for obstacles and hazards, providing
information to move left and right and orientation during travel.

References

The references used here, are :-

 Ijert.org research - smart blind stick using arduino.

 Multi Functional blind Stick for visually impaired people.

 Ijltet.org journal- smart blind stick

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CHAPTER 3

PROPOSED MODEL

Theoretical Background

The proposed system consists of three main units :- Ultrasonic

Sensor Unit, Arduino Unit and Audio Conversion part.

Ultrasonic Sensor - High frequency sound wave generated

ultrasonic sensors. The time interval between sending the signal and
receiving the echo is calculated by sensor to determine the distance to
an object.

Arduino Unit - This module deals with the taking input from the
obstacles coming across the way and giving output according to that
input using sound notifications.

Voice Command Module.- This module deals with giving the

instructions to the blind user about the obstacles through buzzer sound.

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Components Required-

Ultrasonic Sensor
(The HC-SR04 Ultrasonic Distance Sensor is a sensor used for
detecting the distance to an object using sonar).

Arduino UNO
(The Arduino UNO is an open-source
microcontroller board based on the Microchip
ATmega328P microcontroller and developed
by Arduino cc.The board is equipped with sets
of digital and analog input/output pins).

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Arduino Buzzer-
(A piezo buzzer is basically a tiny
speaker that you can connect directly
to an Arduino; from the arduino you
can make sounds with a buzzer by
using tone).

9V Battery -
The battery is used to provide
power supply to the system for its
operation.

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LED
(A light-emitting diode is a semiconductor light
source that emits light when current flows
through it ).

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CHAPTER 4

DESIGN PROCESS

Block Diagram of Smart Blind Stick (Transmitter)

Ultrasonic Sensor 1(Right)

Ultrasonic Sensor 2(Left) Arduino

UNO
Navigation Switch

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Block Diagram of Smart Blind Stick (Reciever)

Arduino Audio
UNO

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Code - Arduino for Smart Blind Stick

// defines pins numbers

const int trigPin = 9;
const int echoPin = 10;
const int buzzer = 11;
const int ledPin = 13;
const int ledPin

// defines variables
long duration;
int distance;
int safetyDistance;

void setup() {
pinMode(trigPin, OUTPUT); // Sets the trigPin as an Output
pinMode(echoPin, INPUT); // Sets the echoPin as an Input
pinMode(buzzer, OUTPUT);
pinMode(ledPin, OUTPUT);
Serial.begin(9600); // Starts the serial communication
}

void loop() {
// Clears the trigPin
digitalWrite(trigPin, LOW);
delayMicroseconds(10);

// Sets the trigPin on HIGH state for 10 micro seconds

digitalWrite(trigPin, HIGH);
delayMicroseconds(10);
digitalWrite(trigPin, LOW);

// Reads the echoPin, returns the sound wave travel time in microseconds
duration = pulseIn(echoPin, HIGH);

// Calculating the distance

distance= duration*0.034/2;

safetyDistance = distance;
if (safetyDistance <= 17){
digitalWrite(buzzer, HIGH);
digitalWrite(ledPin, HIGH);
}
else{
digitalWrite(buzzer, LOW);
digitalWrite(ledPin, LOW);
}

// Prints the distance on the Serial Monitor

Serial.print("Distance: ");
Serial.println(distance); }
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Methodology

The working of the system begins when the power supply is given. The
Smart Blind Stick will have an Ultarsonic Sensor, LDR, Arduino UNO,
Buzzer.

All the components are connected to arduino UNO for processing.

ADC and DAC takes place in the Arduino. Additional navigation efficiency
is provided through Buzzer.

Basically, according to the distance assumed in the code , the ultrasonic

sensors works according to that and if any obstacles comes across then blind
stick detects the obstacles as an input function.

Then, after receiving the input from the ultrasonic sensors , it will notify the
user by giving the notification in the form of sound.

This sound will be buzzer sound, ensuring the user is notified and saved from
the obstacles he/she comes across.

This is the video attached to make the methodology of the project more
comprehensible.

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Start

Sense object through Ultrasonic Sensor

No Yes
Is object Compute Distance
detected?

Buzzer Sound
produced

Stop

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CHAPTER 4

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

Results

The project was made with the working hardware model, detecting the obstacles if come
across any obstacles.
The blind stick proposed model can aid the virtually impaired user by helping him/her
navigate through different terrains and obstacles.
With the advantages, that it is low cost , fast response, low power consumption, light
weight and ability receive the feedback through buzzer audio.
Detecting the obstacle with the help of Ultrasonic sensors and it can provide notification
to user holding it in the sound form via arduino buzzer.

Facilitiate easier comunication in case of emergency.

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CHAPTER 4

APPLICATIONS

Applications

It works as a navigation device for the blind people by alerting them about dangers.
The system is applied in automotive parking sensors and obstacles warning system.
It is applied during the measurement of object distance.
Robotics
barriers. Auto
detection.
With little software and sensor up gradation, can extensible to any other application and
specification.

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CHAPTER 5

CONCLUSIONS AND FUTURE SCOPE

Conclusions

The project proposed the design and architecture of a new concept of Smart Electronic
Guiding Stick for blind people.
The blind stick proposed in this paper can aid the visually impaired user by helping
him/her navigate through different terrains and obstacles.
The advantage of the system lies in the fact that it can prove to be very low cost solution
to millions of blind person worldwide.
The proposed combination of various working units makes a real-time system that
monitors position of the user and provide dual feedback making navigation more safe
and secure.
It can be further improved to have more decision taking capabilities by employing varied
types of sensors and thus could be used for different applications.
It aims to solve the problems faced by the blind people in their daily life.
The system also takes measures to ensure their safety.

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Future Scope

In future, we will be modifying the proposed model in better way . Initiating with the
addition of Bluetooth module for proper on and off functioning.
Integration of GPS module for detecting location of user , in case of an emergency.
GPS module will be integrated in combination of Bluetooth Module of Arduino UNO
connecting it to the mobile phone for better and smooth location detection.
Besides, soil moisture detector can be implemented for detecting the amount of moisture
in the soil , providing the safer access of the path to the user.
At last , in order to improve the sound notification we are planning to implement sound
module which will give instruction in voice form.
The stick system presented in the paper uses artificial intelligence along with various
sensors in real time to help the visually disabled people to navigate their environment
independently. Image recognition, collision detection and obstacle detection are the three
tasks performed by the system.

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