Low-Cost, Ultrasound-Based Support System for the Visually Impaired

Surveys show that most blind people find the use of a cane to be indispensable, but complain it does not provide them with sufficient safety for their upper body. In this study, an ultrasound-based, portable support system was developed to cover such limitation. Consisting of a small device fastened to the forehead, it can detect the distance to and from obstacles and translate it into different warning patterns depending on the distance. The device’s warnings can be auditory or haptic, and can also be emitted by a cell phone linked wirelessly via an application. While similar systems exist, the present product offers a compromise solution between functionalities and price, being more suited for developing countries like Ecuador. The system consists of affordable, readily available components and a 3D-printed case, and runs on open-source software. Tests showed subjects were successful in several tasks where collisions with obstacles were to be avoided.