scholarly journals Low-Cost Ultrasonic Range Improvements for an Assistive Device

Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (12) ◽  
pp. 4250
Author(s):  
David Abreu ◽  
Jonay Toledo ◽  
Benito Codina ◽  
Arminda Suárez
Keyword(s):  
User Satisfaction ◽  
Phase Modulation ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Electronic Devices ◽  
Obstacle Detection ◽  
Assistive Device ◽  
Manufacturing Costs ◽  
Visually Impaired People ◽  
Mobility Aids ◽  
Blind Persons

To achieve optimal mobility, visually impaired people have to deal with obstacle detection and avoidance challenges. Aside from the broadly adopted white cane, electronic aids have been developed. However, available electronic devices are not extensively used due to their complexity and price. As an effort to improve the existing ones, this work presents the design of a low-cost aid for blind people. A standard low-cost HC-SRF04 ultrasonic range is modified by adding phase modulation in the ultrasonic pulses, allowing it to detect the origin of emission, thus discriminating if the echo pulses come from the same device and avoiding false echoes due to interference from other sources. This improves accuracy and security in areas where different ultrasonic sensors are working simultaneously. The final device, based on users and trainers feedback for the design, works with the user’s own mobile phone, easing utilization and lowering manufacturing costs. The device was tested with a set of twenty blind persons carrying out a travel experiment and satisfaction survey. The main results showed a change in total involuntary contacts with unknown obstacles and high user satisfaction. Hence, we conclude that the device can fill a gap in the mobility aids and reduce feelings of insecurity amongst the blind.

scholarly journals A Hands-Free Obstacle Detection and Avoidance System

2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 801-804
Author(s):  
M. Abdul-Niby ◽  
M. Alameen ◽  
O. Irscheid ◽  
M. Baidoun ◽  
H. Mourtada
Keyword(s):  
Obstacle Avoidance ◽  
Visually Impaired ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Obstacle Detection ◽  
Text To Speech ◽  
Voice Signal ◽  
Visually Impaired People ◽  
Impaired People ◽  
The Voice

In this paper, we present a low cost hands-free detection and avoidance system designed to provide mobility assistance for visually impaired people. An ultrasonic sensor is attached to the jacket of the user and detects the obstacles in front. The information obtained is transferred to the user through audio messages and also by a vibration. The range of the detection is user-defined. A text-to-speech module is employed for the voice signal. The proposed obstacle avoidance device is cost effective, easy to use and easily upgraded.

scholarly journals Intelligent Assistive System for Visually Disabled Persons

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 1436-1440
Keyword(s):  
Optical Character Recognition ◽  
Visually Impaired ◽  
Disabled Persons ◽  
Obstacle Detection ◽  
Outdoor Environment ◽  
Assistive Device ◽  
Raspberry Pi ◽  
New Device ◽  
Visually Impaired People ◽  
Impaired People

There is increasin demand for smart widgets which make people more comfortable. Though many research works have done on current existing devices/systems for visually impaired people are not providing facilities them enough. The imperceptible people read Braille scripted books only, so here developing a new device that will assist the visually impaired people and also providing desired language reading facility. This smart assistive device will help visually impaired people gain increased independence and freedom in society. This device has an obstacle detection sensor to intimate the obstacles to the visually impaired person and a camera connected to Raspberry pi to convert image to text using Optical Character Recognition (OCR). The read data is converted to speech using text to speech synthesizer. This will useful for visually impaired people for surviving in outdoor environment as well as reading books which are in normal script. The read data can be stored in database for further reading and it can be retrieve by giving a command.

scholarly journals Low cost real time braille keypad for communication

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (2.8) ◽  
pp. 77
Author(s):  
Lakshmi Prabha.P ◽  
Sanjanamenon EJ ◽  
Christina Samuel ◽  
Ganga Ramesh
Keyword(s):  
Mobile Phones ◽  
Visually Impaired ◽  
Educational Software ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Assistive Device ◽  
Normal Person ◽  
Text To Speech ◽  
Visually Impaired People ◽  
Impaired People ◽  
Communication Methods

Visually impaired people find it challenging to use devices such as computers, and other digital/educational software like every normal person does in this technology driven world. Due to their inability to gainaccess to basic and vital information they sometimes feel excluded from the society and also limit their knowledge. Several attempts have beenmade in the recent years toimprove their communication methods such as tactile sign language, Braille glove, and Audioacces devices so on. This paper suggests an innovative assistive device, a Braille keypad, for the viually impaired that would help them use computers just like a normal person. The Braille keypad implements the Braille cells as 6 switches that can be pressed simultaneously based on the actual Braille combination in order to type a particular letter and words. The corresponding letters/words are displayed as well as can be heard by the user. A text to speech algorithm is implemented using puTTY software which would help the user confirm what he/she has typed is right. In this way it enables them to interact and communicate as well as use computers and mobile phones much like a normal person.

Development of a Text-to-Speech Scanner for Visually Impaired People

2018 ◽  
pp. 218-238
Author(s):  
Minerva Sarma ◽  
Anuskha Kumar ◽  
Aditi Joshi ◽  
Suraj Kumar Nayak ◽  
Biswajeet Champaty
Keyword(s):  
Character Recognition ◽  
Optical Character Recognition ◽  
Speech Synthesis ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Raspberry Pi ◽  
Text To Speech ◽  
Visually Impaired People ◽  
Text To Speech Synthesis ◽  
Cost Efficient ◽  
Blind Persons

In this chapter, a low-cost, efficient, and real-time wearable text-to-speech scanner has been proposed that can enable blind persons to hear the contents of a text material. The device captures the images of the text and converts them to speech. The hardware of the device has been realized using Raspberry Pi 3, Pi camera, and an earphone. Optical character recognition (OCR) and text-to-speech synthesis (TTS) have been implemented using Raspberry Pi 3 to accomplish the working of the device. OCR technology converted the captured text images to editable text, whereas the TTS technology scanned the alphanumeric characters in the processed image and converted them to speech. The proposed technology imitates the ability of the human sensory organs and the nervous system, where the camera mimics human eye and the image processing in Raspberry Pi 3 substitutes the human brain. This proposed device can also help people suffering from diseases like dyslexia and nyctalopia, and inability to see in dim light or at night.

Low cost audio based intelligent guidance system for visually impaired people

2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (03) ◽  
pp. 515-520
Author(s):  
Vattumilli Komal Venugopal ◽  
Alampally Naveen ◽  
Rajkumar R ◽  
Govinda K ◽  
Jolly Masih
Keyword(s):  
Visually Impaired ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Guidance System ◽  
Visually Impaired People ◽  
Impaired People

scholarly journals A Proposal of a Motion Measurement System to Support Visually Impaired People in Rehabilitation Using Low-Cost Inertial Sensors

Entropy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (7) ◽  
pp. 848
Author(s):  
Karla Miriam Reyes Leiva ◽  
Milagros Jaén-Vargas ◽  
Miguel Ángel Cuba ◽  
Sergio Sánchez Lara ◽  
José Javier Serrano Olmedo
Keyword(s):  
Visually Impaired ◽  
Inertial Sensors ◽  
Personal Autonomy ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Step Length ◽  
Hand Position ◽  
Visually Impaired People ◽  
Gait Parameters ◽  
Impaired Person ◽  
Further Development

The rehabilitation of a visually impaired person (VIP) is a systematic process where the person is provided with tools that allow them to deal with the impairment to achieve personal autonomy and independence, such as training for the use of the long cane as a tool for orientation and mobility (O&M). This process must be trained personally by specialists, leading to a limitation of human, technological and structural resources in some regions, especially those with economical narrow circumstances. A system to obtain information about the motion of the long cane and the leg using low-cost inertial sensors was developed to provide an overview of quantitative parameters such as sweeping coverage and gait analysis, that are currently visually analyzed during rehabilitation. The system was tested with 10 blindfolded volunteers in laboratory conditions following constant contact, two points touch, and three points touch travel techniques. The results indicate that the quantification system is reliable for measuring grip rotation, safety zone, sweeping amplitude and hand position using orientation angles with an accuracy of around 97.62%. However, a new method or an improvement of hardware must be developed to improve gait parameters’ measurements, since the step length measurement presented a mean accuracy of 94.62%. The system requires further development to be used as an aid in the rehabilitation process of the VIP. Now, it is a simple and low-cost technological aid that has the potential to improve the current practice of O&M.

scholarly journals A Framework for a New Approach to Empower Users Through Low-Cost and Do-It-Yourself Assistive Technology

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (6) ◽  
pp. 3039
Author(s):  
Thais Pousada García ◽  
Jessica Garabal-Barbeira ◽  
Patricia Porto Trillo ◽  
Olalla Vilar Figueira ◽  
Cristina Novo Díaz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Assistive Technology ◽  
Outcome Measures ◽  
Design Thinking ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Pilot Project ◽  
Assistive Device ◽  
Preliminary Results ◽  
Do It Yourself ◽  
Principles Of Design

Background: Assistive Technology (AT) refers to “assistive products and related systems and services developed for people to maintain or improve functioning and thereby to promote well-being”. Improving the process of design and creation of assistive products is an important step towards strengthening AT provision. Purpose: (1) to present a framework for designing and creating Low-Cost AT; (2) to display the preliminary results and evidence derived from applying the framework. Methodology: First, an evidence-based process was applied to develop and conceptualize the framework. Then, a pilot project to validate the framework was carried out. The sample was formed by 11 people with disabilities. The measure instruments were specific questionnaire, several forms of the Matching Person-Technology model, the Psychosocial Impact of Assistive Device Scale, and a tool to assess the usability and universal design of AT. Results: The framework integrates three phases: Identification (Design), Creation (Making the prototype), and Implementation (Outcome Measures), based on the principles of Design Thinking, and with a user-centered perspective. The preliminary results showed the coherence of the entire process and its applicability. The matching between person and device was high, representing the importance of involving the user in the design and selection of AT. Conclusions: The framework is a guide for professionals and users to apply a Low-Cost and Do-It-Yourself perspective to the provision of AT. It highlights the importance of monitoring the entire procedure and measuring the effects, by applying the outcome measures.

scholarly journals Design, manufacture and testing of a prototype obstacle-detection device at blind corners: an automated highway system technology

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles Atombo ◽  
Emmanuel Gbey ◽  
Apevienyeku Kwami Holali
Keyword(s):  
Traffic Accidents ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Effective Area ◽  
Obstacle Detection ◽  
The Road ◽  
Vibration Sensors ◽  
Road Signs ◽  
Sensor Module ◽  
Vehicle Path ◽  
Automated Highway

Abstract Traffic accidents on highways are attributed mostly to the "invisibility" of oncoming traffic and road signs. "Speeding" also causes drivers to reduce the effective radius of the vehicle path in the curve, thus trespassing into the lane of the oncoming traffic. The main aim of this paper was to develop a multisensory obstacle-detection device that is affordable, easy to implement and easy to maintain to reduce the risk of road accidents at blind corners. An ultrasonic sensor module with a maximum measuring angle of 15° was used to ensure that a significant portion of the lane was detected at the blind corner. The sensor covered a minimum effective area of 0.5 m2 of the road for obstacle detection. Yellow light was employed to signify caution while negotiating the blind corner. Two photoresistors (PRs) were used as sensors because of the limited number of pins on the microcontroller (Arduino Uno). However, the device developed for this project achieved obstacle detection at blind corners at relatively low cost and can be accessed by all road users. In real-world applications, the use of piezoelectric accelerometers (vibration sensors) instead of PR sensors would be more desirable in order to detect not only cars but also two-wheelers.

InSb Czochralski Growth Single Crystals for InGaSb Substrates

2014 ◽  
Vol 1616 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. E. Flores Mena ◽  
R. Castillo Ojeda ◽  
J. Díaz Reyes
Keyword(s):  
Low Cost ◽  
Electronic Devices ◽  
Czochralski Method ◽  
Liquid Nitrogen Temperature ◽  
Longitudinal Optical ◽  
Czochralski Growth ◽  
Etch Pit ◽  
Growth System ◽  
Radiation Sensors ◽  
Made In

ABSTRACTThe massive crystal growth of single crystal semiconductors materials has been of fundamental importance for the actual electronic devices industry. As a consequence of this one, we can obtain easily a large variety of low cost devices almost as made ones of silicon. Nowadays, the III-V semiconductors compounds and their alloys have been proved to be very important because of their optical properties and applications. It is the case of the elements In, Ga, As, Sb, which can be utilized for the fabrication of radiation sensors. In this work we present the results obtained from the ingots grown by the Czochralski method, using a growth system made in home. These results include anisotropic chemical attacks in order to reveal the crystallographic orientation and the possible polycrystallinity. Isotropic chemical attacks were made to evaluate the etch pit density. Metallographic pictures of the chemical attacks are presented in this work. Among the results of these measurements, the best samples presented in this work showed mobilities of 62.000 cm2/V*s at room temperature and 99.000 cm2/V*s at liquid nitrogen temperature. Typical pit density was 10,000/cm2. The Raman spectra present two dominant peaks associated at Transversal Optical (TO)- and Longitudinal Optical (LO)-InSb, the first vibrational mode is dominant due to the crystalline direction of the ingots and second one is associated to high defects density.

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