Multichannel ultrasonic range finder for blind people navigation

2013 ◽  
Vol 61 (3) ◽  
pp. 633-637 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Gelmuda ◽  
A. Kos

Abstract The purpose of this paper is to present a multichannel ultrasonic range finder which was designed for the navigation system for blind people. A substantial number of consultations with blind people in the Blind People Centre in Krakow have shown that the navigation and obstacle detection with a help of a white stick only, is not sufficient enough to assure a high safety level. Electronic aids which are being designed for blind people should be mobile, comfortable and low-powered. That is why the MOBIAN© (a mobile safety system for the blind) project is being carried out by the authors to create a highly reliable safety navigation system for blind people. It could not only improve blind people quality of life but also their safety, especially when they are walking in unknown areas. As a part of this project, the multichannel ultrasonic range finder was designed, produced and tested. The tests have proven the device is capable of detecting objects from different directions in a range over 4 m. The device interface is easy to manage and can be controlled by almost any microcontroller or FPGA chip. The designed range finder is to be implemented in the electronic assistant project for blind people. Other systems, including the industrial ones, for instance, mobile robots or gates that count people entries, could benefit from this multichannel range finder. Usually, some low-cost ultrasonic range finders use two transducers for each channel (a transmitter and a receiver). The designed device employs only one transducer per channel which minimizes the end-device size and cost and at the same time provides with the main functionality. Novelty of this device is its multichannel design and the emplacement of the ultrasonic transducers, which can be used due to the application of the multichannel analog multiplexer. Thus, it is possible to detect obstacles, even the inclined ones, with higher reliability and increase the safety of blind people while walking. Also, this design and the transducers’ placement allow to detect obstacles much quicker, when the blind user suddenly turns.

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 921-927
Author(s):  
Auns Q. H. Al-Neami ◽  
Saba M. Ahmed

The objective of this study is to provide the physically disabled patients who had suffered from losing their extremities due to the accident, age or disease, with an easily controllable wheelchair. Those patients cannot use the manual wheelchair or electric wheelchair with joysticks due to their handicap. The movements of this wheelchair are controlled by head motions with the use of gyroscope sensor. The microcontroller is also used and it is programmed to make the wheelchair moves according to the corresponding motion from the patient’s head. Forward movement of the wheelchair due to tilting head forward, left tilt of the user's head will cause the wheelchair to move to the left and so on. An obstacle detection system is done by using ultrasonic sensors. This system showed very good results it will make the usage of this wheelchair safer as compared to standard ones. It will help in enhancing the quality of life for such people and make them less dependent on others. This wheelchair is low cost, provide ease of use and comfortable for the physically disabled patients.


Author(s):  
Jizhong Xiao ◽  
Kevin Ramdath ◽  
Manor Iosilevish ◽  
Dharmdeo Sigh ◽  
Anastasis Tsakas

2013 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 91-106 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel Pizarek ◽  
Valeriy Shafiro ◽  
Patricia McCarthy

Computerized auditory training (CAT) is a convenient, low-cost approach to improving communication of individuals with hearing loss or other communicative disorders. A number of CAT programs are being marketed to patients and audiologists. The present literature review is an examination of evidence for the effectiveness of CAT in improving speech perception in adults with hearing impairments. Six current CAT programs, used in 9 published studies, were reviewed. In all 9 studies, some benefit of CAT for speech perception was demonstrated. Although these results are encouraging, the overall quality of available evidence remains low, and many programs currently on the market have not yet been evaluated. Thus, caution is needed when selecting CAT programs for specific patients. It is hoped that future researchers will (a) examine a greater number of CAT programs using more rigorous experimental designs, (b) determine which program features and training regimens are most effective, and (c) indicate which patients may benefit from CAT the most.


Author(s):  
T. N. Antipova ◽  
D. S. Shiroyan

The system of indicators of quality of carbon-carbon composite material and technological operations of its production is proved in the work. As a result of the experimental studies, with respect to the existing laboratory equipment, the optimal number of cycles of saturation of the reinforcing frame with a carbon matrix is determined. It was found that to obtain a carbon-carbon composite material with a low cost and the required quality indicators, it is necessary to introduce additional parameters of the pitch melt at the impregnation stage.


Author(s):  
Giuseppe Spampinato ◽  
Arcangelo Bruna ◽  
Davide Giacalone ◽  
Giuseppe Messina

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