AID FOR VISUALLY IMPAIRED

Introduction
This project aims towards the walking aid of visually impaired people. In this project we are basically
trying to actuate a vibration when any hindrance is observed by the sensor. This will alarm the person
about any near obstacle. In this project we are making smart shoes for detection of obstacles at lower
level as well as smart gloves for the detection of obstacles at higher level. The significance of gloves is
that after wearing them the person need not carry the stick which was earlier carried for detection of
any hindrance in the path.

Abstract
It is a project which is used as an aid for visually impaired people. The project is mainly focused
on setting up sensors and microcontrollers to the smart gloves as well as shoes. These sensors
will be able to detect the obstacles coming in the range and will alert the person. This project
contains many other features like battery checking system and alarming system when shoe is
stepped on water.

Hypothesis
This will be made possible by connecting and calibrating sensors with microcontrollers. Detection of
variation in sensor and generating the signal is basic principle of the project. Sensors should be very
specific to fit in smart shoes and smart gloves easily. The indicators used should be of type which blind
people can easily detect.

COMPONENTS USED:
1. Arduino uno and Arduino Nano: - it is used as a microcontroller which controls and
directs the ultrasonic, sensors and vibration motors, etc. Arduino microcontroller has
atmega 328 IC. It controls all the operations in the project. Arduino Nano works exactly
same as Arduino uno, only difference between them is of size only.
2. Ultrasonic sensor: - This sensor is used to detect the object present in front of the
person and sends the signal about the object to the microcontroller. Ultrasonic sensors
depend on two separate devices, an ultrasonic transducer and a detector. An ultrasonic
transducer is any device that converts energy into an ultrasonic frequency. Ultrasonic
transducers are usually made from piezoelectric crystals that can change size when a
voltage is applied to them. When an alternating current is applied to a piezoelectric
crystal, it vibrates extremely fast and produces an ultrasonic sound wave. It uses a
2000hz frequency for the operation.

3. Water Sensor: - In this sensor, it uses the principle of conductivity of water and sends
the signal to vibration motor activating it.
4. Vibration Motor: - It is a type of motor which has a weight on shaft and when shaft
rotates vibrates the shoes and gloves alerting the person accordingly. These vibrations
can be easily felt by the blind person and hence vibration motor becomes an indicator.

5. Light Emitting Diode: - It is a pn junction diode which emits light when it is forward
biased by applying the voltage across it. This led alerts the person coming in front of the
person. Led in this project is controlled by Arduino microcontroller.
 6. Buzzer: - It is an electronic device which makes beeping sound when signal is applied on
it.

Technical details
The gear comprises of shoes and gloves in which electronic components are installed. The electronic
components comprises of three basic modules, sensors, microcontrollers and indicators. The sensors
used is Ultrasonic sensors. The microcontroller used is Arduino Nano. The indicator used is vibration
motor and buzzer.

The sensor (Ultrasonic sensor) is used to detect the distance of the obstacle that can obstruct the path
of the person. As the signal is detected, it sends the signal to the microcontroller (Arduino Nano).
Arduino Nano will further modulate the signal accordingly and gives a signal to the vibration motor. This
indicator (vibration motor) alerts the person and helps the person to take further action accordingly.

The two gears used will help the person to detect the height of the object. The smart gloves used
detects the higher obstacles. The smart shoes detect the obstacles of smaller height. This will help the
person to take according action. This will also help the person to decide whether he can climb over the
obstacle or not.
The indicators will be fitted both in glove and shoes. Depending on the type of obstacle the particular
sensor will give the signal and microcontroller will accordingly activate particular indicator.

Working:
In this project the main parts are a pair of shoes, and gloves. The working of both the parts is
very similar. Basically the working of this module starts with detection of an object by ultrasonic
sensor. And the sensor works in a way that first it sends ultrasonic waves through transmitter
and then after the waves reflects back, due to the object. Then the ultrasonic sensor has a
receiver which receives them and after that time of the whole process is calculated. As the
sensor is aware of the speed of the waves, it can easily find the distance of the object. After
that this distance is sent to the micro controller, which interprets the data and further decides
the action to be taken.
If the distance sent is greater than 40cm, then no action is taken. But if the distance sent is less
than 40cm, then the micro controller takes further action like starting the vibration motor. If
distance is 30-40cm then vibration motor will vibrate single time.If distance is 20-30cm then
vibration motor will vibrate two times .If distance 10-20cm then vibration motor will vibrate
three times. If distance is less than 10cm, then vibration motor will vibrate four times.

In this gear there is a second motor also, which is placed at the back of the shoe. This motor will
vibrate, whenever the person steps onto water. As soon as foot is on the water then there is an
open connection, which completes and the motor starts to vibrate. This will help the person to
walk carefully and will help the person from slipping.
The second part of this gear consists of a glove. In this glove the basic working is same as that of
the shoe, but instead of the motor which vibrate due to water, there are LEDs placed which will
light up whenever someone comes nearby. So that the incoming person can notice the blind
person and will pass carefully.

The purpose of gloves is that when any object which is hollow from the bottom, and thus
cannot be detected by the shoes. For these types of objects, gloves will work and the person
will be careful while passing them. Glove can also be used to detect any pit or ditch that comes
in front of the person.

Alarming system in the glove is like when the object comes closer to the glove the frequency of
beeping of sound increases, and the beeping frequency decreases as the distance of the object
from the glove increases. The range of the glove is set to 60 cm which can also be varied.

The whole module works on 5v supply. But a 9v battery is available more commonly. Therefore
we are using a 9v battery and through 7805 IC. The voltage is stepped down through 7805 IC to
5v level.

For prototype basis we installed all the circuitry on the top of shoes and gloves. But for final
setup this whole circuitry can be installed in the heel of the shoe. But the ultrasonic will be
installed in front of the shoe. As it needs to sense the object that will come in front of the shoe.

OUTPUT OF SENSOR

It is the output of ultrasonic sensor which is displayed on the com port. And accordingly the
vibration motor and buzzer are given signal.
COST OF PROJECT
Total cost for electronic circuit installed in this project is 1500 INR.

Out of this, a major part is spent on microcontroller. All three microcontrollers cost around
1000 INR. Cost of the sensors installed in this project is around 300 INR. And cost of other parts
is 200 INR.

CONCLUSION
The project as an aid for visually impaired has been successfully developed. All the sensors and
microcontroller are perfectly working as per the setting. The detection of object with an alert is
made possible and hence the features are also working properly. This project has also been
practically tested by several visually impaired people. And it has proven to be a great help for
these people.

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