UKinWalk: Walking aid for the blind employing the kinect and ultrasonic sensors

• Main Authors: Apolonio, Carla Francesca M., Cuevas, Jerome V., O, Charles Bryan L., Osiana, Ariane V.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2013
• Subjects: Blinds > Philippines; Blind, Apparatus for the; People with visual disabilities > Orientation and mobility; Electrical and Electronics; Engineering
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_bachelors/11131
• Institution: De La Salle University

Many devices have been made in order to aid the blind in various ways, particularly in guiding them as they walk, helping them navigate their way around with GPS systems, and helping them do the most basic things that would normally require reading through the incorporation of Braille and other functions specifically designed for the blind into modern devices. This thesis was done in order to find a way to incorporate the use of depth mapping technology into walking aids. In this thesis, a walking aid was developed to detect obstacles for he use without the need for a cane or any handles device. This was designed to work with the combined use of a Kinect sensor, ultrasonic sensors, and vibration motors. The Kinect was used to detect obstacles approaching the user from the front, informing the user of the general direction from which the obstacle is approaching (left, center, right). The ultrasonic sensors were used to detect obstacles at the extreme left and extreme right of the user, as well as those to the front that are to close, too high or too low for the Kinext to detect. The system is to be worn by the user. The belt, where the Kinect was mounted also contains three of the vibration motors. The other sensors are strapped onto the user together with their corresponding vibration motors. The high level sensor is positioned at the chest as part of the bag. The system was tested and evaluated by six (6) blind people who game the system an average overall grade of 7.5/10. The interviews showed that the participants saw potential in the system capabilities and future use, should the components be made smaller and lighter.