Blind individuals are now being aided by a novel digital assistant engineered by student pioneers at the Texas A&M University.
In an innovative stride towards accessibility, a team of students at Tomsk Polytechnic University has developed a spatial navigation system designed to replace canes and guide dogs for visually impaired individuals. Antonina Kuptsova, a team member, chose to join the university due to positive experiences shared by her aunt and her interest in electronics and helping people.
The system, currently in development, consists of a combination of ultrasonic sensors, a piezoelectric dynamic, a vibromotor, a power supply, and a Bluetooth module for portable use. These components are connected via conductors with power from a crown. The system responds to obstacles in a swift 0.25-0.5 seconds, alerting the user with both sound and vibration signals, much like a smartwatch.
The design of the system follows the general pattern of portable devices or wearable solutions, combining sensors, computing units, and user interfaces to help visually impaired users navigate their environment safely and independently. The developers are also planning to work on the industrial design of the device to ensure it is user-friendly and aesthetically pleasing.
During the development process, the team had to consider 'blind spots' and model various situations, writing code for connecting all the sensors. Andrei Kazachenko, another team member, contributed significantly to this aspect of the project.
For those interested in applying to Tomsk Polytechnic University, there is an applicant website available (TPU Applicant Website). An instruction manual for the device will also be created by the developers. Additionally, a chatbot has been developed to assist applicants and their parents (Chatbot for Applicants and Their Parents).
In the 2025 academic year, Tomsk Polytechnic University will offer 3,484 budget places for applicants. The spatial navigation system for visually impaired individuals was developed by students in the "Biomedical Systems and Technologies" program at Tomsk Polytechnic University.
For more detailed information on this project, you might check the university's official publications, project reports, or contact the university directly, as specific project descriptions were not found in the provided search results. The developers are also planning to continue refining the system to optimise its usability and accuracy before its eventual release.
This spatial navigation system, a project by students at Tomsk Polytechnic University, merges science and technology, incorporating ultrasonic sensors, piezoelectric dynamics, vibromotors, Bluetooth modules, and power supplies. In the realm of health-and-wellness and assistive technology, it aims to replace canes and guide dogs for the visually impaired. Remaining in the development stage, the gadget is designed to respond swiftly to obstacles, providing both audible and tactile alerts, similar to a smartwatch.
