DE LA SALLE LIPA

College of Information Technology and Engineering

Electronics Engineering Department

T3D Digital Communications (COMM002)

MIDTERM PROJECT PROPOSAL

Submitted by:
Group No. 5
T3D

Members:
BALDOVINO, SETH
HERNANDEZ, JEFF
SANCHEZ, BRIAN

Submitted to:
Engr. Duwi Iscala, ECE
Instructor

July 4, 2018
 BLESSINGG, A SMART ARDUINO BASED CANE

(Blind Stick with Location IdEntification and SupeSsonic detectIon and Notification
using GPS and GSM)
I. Background of the Study

As of today, visually impaired people utilize a traditional blind stick as a tool for their
navigation and transportation in today’s environment. However, despite being widely
used, the traditional blind stick used today by the visually impaired people could not aid
the user in detecting dangers from all levels of obstacles. Given these circumstances, our
group proposes a smart and innovative system intended to guide individuals who are
visually impaired or partially sighted. Having said so, the proposed device enables the
visually impaired people to move with the same ease and confidence as a sighted people.
In connection, the system is to be linked with a GSM-GPS module to determine in real
time, the location of the visually impaired person, thus establishing a
communication path in a wireless fashion. Moreover, it provides the information
signals to the user to avoid obstacles based on ultrasonic sensors, buzzer and vibrator
motor. The design is to be portable, easy to use and much more effective than the tradition
blind stick.

II. Statement of the Problem

According to World Health Organization (WHO), 39 million people around the world
are estimated to be visually impaired. As a result, they are suffering a lot of hardships
in their daily life as compared to a normal human being. The affected ones have been
using the traditional cane for many years to somehow help them in navigating their
environment. This sticks, which although being effective, still has a lot of disadvantages.
In response to such, the aim of this prototype is to develop a cheap and more efficient
way to help the visually impaired to navigate with greater comfort, speed and confidence.
III. Conceptual Framework

The Arduino integrated system keeps the person informed about the obstacles lying
ahead. Such aid gives user more knowledge about the environment and enables them to
make decisions much more quickly, thus allowing them to move around more confidently
and effectively. The cane may be used in the nearby environment may be in a park, at
work, at home, and while a long journey. The designed assisted device helps a visionless
person to anticipate the surrounding using the sensor and vibrations. Moreover, in a stake
of panic or in need of assistance a panic button is in place which will automatically send
a SMS to an intended individual who will be notified of the pin point location of the patient
using GPS.

BLOCK DIAGRAM FOR THE SMART CANE

Ultrasonic Sensor Module

Ultrasonic sensor is used, as, it is less affected by target materials or by colour, it is

capable of detecting objects within a range of 4 meters. These ultrasonic sensors
provides an echo pulse that will serve as basic data to be interpreted. Ultrasonic waves
are emitted from the module and bounce back when hits an objects and obstructions in
the path of the user. The output of the sensor provides change in voltage with respect to
the distance of the obstacle.
Arduino

Arduino is an open-source single board microcontrolletr, helping in designing electronics

projects easily. The hardware consists of a simple open hardware design for the Arduino
board with an Atmel AVR processor and on-board input/output support. The sensor output
is provided to an Arduino which calculates the distance based on the program. The
obtained value is compared with the fixed value and a vibratory pattern of different
intensities is generated.

Vibration Motor

A vibration motor is used in the system design, which vibrates with three different
intensities depending on the distance from the obstacle. If the obstacle is very near then
intensity of the vibration will be very high. Intensity of the motor decreases as the distance
of the obstacle increases.

4.4. Buzzer

A low frequency piezo buzzer is used to indicate that the obstacle is very close to the
person and there might be a chance of collision. A buzzer is used along with the vibration
motor as an alerting the user in crowded areas.

4.5. GSM-GPS Modem

When the GSM modem receives a message the microcontroller will process the message
with the keyword saved in it. Then, it will get the location of the stick from the GPS modem
and transmit the location to the GSM modem in order to respond to the sender. In case
of an emergency, the user of the stick can press the emergency button the microcontroller
access the location from the GPS modem and transmit the location to the GSM modem
which will send a SMS messages to the saved number in the system.
Features:
A. Detection of Obstacles
The obstacle detection circuit consists of an ultrasonic sensor interfaced to the Arduino
Uno Board. The sensor detects the presence of obstacle in each direction and then the
range of the obstacle is calculated. If the distance is within 70cm then vibration motor will
be vibrating with highest intensity and also the buzzer will be on. If the distance is between
70cm and 150cm then the vibration motor will vibrate with medium intensity and if the
distance is above 250cm then the intensity of the vibration motor will be less.

B. Emergency Calling

The GSM and GPS module is used in emergency situation. This module receives the
information from the GPS satellite and transfers the latitude and longitude information as
SMS message to a predefined mobile number in case of emergency.

IV. References
American Journal of Intelligent Systems 2017, 7(3): 73-76
DOI: 10.5923/j.ajis.20170703.07

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