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Abstract— This paper outlines an obstacle Positioning system (DGPS) and Radio Frequency
recognition system for the blind people using the Radio- Identification (RFID) tags.
frequency identification (RFID). In order to walk without
being accompanied, people with visual impairment use A. Radio-frequency Identification System
touching clues such as canes. The main concern of blind people Radio-frequency identification (RFID) is the use of
is to be able to detect any type of obstacle within their radio-frequency electromagnetic fields through wireless to
surroundings. For that, several techniques have been transfer data from the tag of an object for system
developed such as Differential Global Positioning System identification and tracking. The tag contains electronic
(DGPS) or Radio-frequency identification (RFID). Previous
stored information that can be identified from some meters
experiences of different researches have proven the limits of
the DGPS in localizing the position of people and obstacles in away. The tag is usually embedded in the object and does
different situations, while the RFID is being developed to not need to be in the sight line of the person to be read. The
better meet the needs of the visually impaired people. This Radio-frequency identification is more used in the canes for
paper aims on developing a blind recognition system through the blind people as it is unaffected by poor lighting
canes using RFID and covers a brief insight of relevant work conditions or any other constraints that impede the
about the RFID system. The review of RFID system introduces performance of other systems [2]. The use of the RFID
the technical features of this utility and presents the concept of system became widespread as it offers its users a wide range
research being developed in smart canes for blind people. The of products depending on whether it includes a battery or
information such as the costs of the components of the
not, which will give the canes’ users more flexibility in
suggested RFID-based system is provided.
choosing the cane that best meets their needs [3].
Keywords: RFID, visually impaired people, recognition B. Background Research using RFID
system, smart cane, DGPS.
Several studies have been conducted in the domain of the
I. INTRODUCTION RFID technology to improve blind people’s life. Many
innovative ideas have been developed in this sense and one
According to the World Health Organization (WHO),
of them consists on adapting it to the blind’s cane.
there are 285 million visually impaired people in the world,
39 million of which are blind and 246 million have a low The idea behind it is to place RFID tags on the cane as
vision. Nowadays, technology dominates and makes people’s well as in different locations (in a given city for instance) in
tasks easy in different domains. Yet, people who are visually order for signal to be transmitted in a tactical manner through
impaired still struggle every day in performing actions that the contact between the cane and the detectors on the floor.
can be as simple as moving from one point to another There are different kinds of blind’s canes, but this research
without falling down, or knocking against obstacles. tackles only the ones that use the Braille system. Those canes
Research has been conducted on how to make white canes are made of different components which interact with each
more technology-oriented to maximize their use and benefit. other to produce a message in Braille which can be read by
However, all technologies selected require power sources the user to identify their location or any eventual obstacle,
that can make the recharge of the canes difficult for the object, etc. They are called “Smart Canes”. First, the RFID
visually impaired, due to complications related to the wiring, reader collects information on the environment (location,
for instance. This research suggests a system that will surroundings) from the passive tags, and then the data is
convert the mechanical energy created by the motion of the communicated to a control unit which takes care of the
cane to electrical one, thereby making the charging of its display of the message in Braille through the
battery a continuous process [1]. electromechanical switches in the cane handle. This control
unit is made of a microcontroller unit (MCU) that is
Mobility assistance for people with visual impairment
programmed to select the dots using decoders and buffers
was improved using different methods of navigation. Those
that send electrical messages that lead to the raising or
methods used two main techniques: Differential Global
lowering of pins, which allows displaying the text in Braille.
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complicated, and changing the battery can be difficult; TABLE 1: SYSTEM COMPONENTS COST ANALYSIS
especially if it dies at a critical moment. The proposed
solution consists on installing an alternative method that will Name Description Estimated
enable everyone to use the cane without worrying about its Cost
battery life. The added value to the smart cane relates to the
installation of the same mechanical system that is deployed Maverick-IIB3 Micro-controller $70.00
on wind-up watches. There would be an oscillating weight
that will move at the slightest motion of wrist, and this
motion will be amplified and transferred to the rotor. This Parallax 125MHz RFID Tag Reader $40.00
same rotor charges the oscillating weight by magnetism RFID Module
effect which is caused by a rotor and then converted by a
small generator to electricity that will be stored in a Parallax 12MHz RFID Tag $62.00
capacitor. Then, a smart chip regulates the quantity of energy Transponder
that should be released in the circuitry to make the watch
work [7]. 7.2V Battery Integrated $30.00
A similar system will be installed inside the cane so that Rechargeable
when a person probes the ground or any surface, either Battery
vertical or horizontal, the cane hits this surface with certain
strength and the chock of contactdissipates inside the cane PAC Braille 15 Braille translator $1000.00
fuselage. cells
The installation of an identical system of the wind-up
watch within the cane consists on the following steps: the Wound up Disk Energy Supply $83.00
system is encapsulated in a cylinder,this later will be fixed on System (barely)
the edges of the inside cane by screws so that it can rotate
freely. When the personprobes a surface; the energy of the
chock dissipates in the cane and the cylinder fixing the wind- Outdoor smart Smart Cane with $1000.00
up system moves and charges the battery. cane high resistance to
various collisions
The mechanical system will be directly attached to the
part of the circuit that is related to the rechargeable battery.
III. COST ANALYSIS
The cost of the suggested design depends entirely on the IV. CONCLUSION
joint of the best matches in terms of components. It is very This paper dealt with RFID based tag design and smart
important to use a quality price rating to choose carefully the outdoor cane equipped with Braille system for blind
components used in the system. The choice will be also recognition system. The prototype is user-friendlyand cost-
based on the characteristics of each component. The below efficient, though its difficulty in implementation; it is seen as
table shows each component used within the system with its an outstanding improvement in the field of blind recognition
approximate cost in US Dollars. systems, thanks to its durability, user-friendliness, and cost
benefit. In addition to that, the use of Braille in the cane’s
An evaluation of the prototype in terms of usability and
grid is considered as an assistive Technology and Universal
cost benefit showed that it is an adequate mixture of
Design for learning. The future work is to implement the
components that will satisfy the user’s expectations. The
suggested system with its validation in real life applications.
projected system is user-friendly especially concerning the
grid that is in the form of a digital screen displaying Braille REFERENCES
writing. Most of other prototypes are equipped with portable
navigation, GPS or sensor-to-sensor systems. In terms of
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proposed system is under 2285 USD which would place it 249, 2009.
within affordable range for users in any country compared to
the prices of the existing smart canes. The cost would decline [2] K. Steed-Terry, “Integrating GIS and the Global Positioning
substantially once these devices are mass produced. This System,” 2nd ed. ESRI inc. pp.1–12, 2001.
system reduces dependence on sighted assistance thereby
empowering the visually challenged [7]. [3] A. Hub and B. Schmitz, “Addition of RFID-Based Initialization and
Object Recognition to the Navigation System TANIA,” Visualization
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[5] T.Amemiya, “Virtual Leading Blocks for the Death-Blind: A Real
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