The Matching Fund Project for Practical Use of Robotic Travel Aid for the Visually Impaired

Destined for the visually impaired, Robotic Travel Aid (RoTA) acts as an intelligent cart, guiding people across the streets. The 60 kg, 1-m tall mobile robot is equipped with a computer vision system, stereo camera sensor and voice interface. When moving, it is aware of its environment: it recognizes landmarks such as zebra-crossing marks or traffic signals, stopping when the light is red, and 'sees' cars or other pedestrians. In case of trouble, the robots communicates wirelessly with a service center, allowing it to give extra information on the trajectory and adapt the navigational information system. Now, a wheelchair robot is developed as the successor of RoTA, not only for the visually impaired, but also the disabled.