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Introduction:
Orientation, Navigation and Mobility are perhaps the three of the most important aspects of ordinary human life. Most aspects of the dissemination of
information to aid navigation and cues for active mobility are passed to humans via the most complex sensory system, the vision system. This visual
information form the basis for most navigational tasks and so with impaired vision an individual is at a disadvantage because appropriate information about
the environment is not available. The common way of navigating for a visionless person is using a white cane or walking cane. The walking cane is a simple
and purely mechanical device dedicated to detect static obstacles on the ground, uneven surfaces, holes and steps via simple tactile-force feedback.
The OBSTACLE DETECTION SYSTEM (ODS) for the visually impaired aims at increasing the mobility of visually impaired people by offering new sensing
abilities. It consists of sensing the surrounding environment via sonar sensors and sending feedback (sound/vibration) to the user of the position of the closest
obstacles in range. ODS is created for use by visually impaired people in order that they may “use sound to see with”. This is called “sonocular
perception”. The idea is to enhance the traditional white cane by giving information about the obstacles before direct contact, as the cane dose not provide
any information beyond its immediate length. The role of the cane from being a primary source of object space sensing to that of being a complementary and
especially sensitive safety probe that can be optimally used in conjunction with the greater knowledge of the travel path ahead as provided by sonocular
perception.
The system consists of a transmitter and receiver wherein sensors are used to give alert incase of an obstacle. The alert could be in the form of a buzzer or
vibrator depending on users’ choice. At an early stage buzzer can help to get the person used to the system, as it could be a little inconvenient to sense the
vibrator at an early stage.
The transmitter will emit ultrasound waves of 40Khz frequency towards the front path and the receiver would capture the return echo, the apmlifier will amplify
the small signal and the tone decoder will lock onto the 40Khz frequency. The output of the tone decoder is given to a comparator. When a 40Khz signal is
received, the comparator will turn on the alert circuitry, thus giving an alert.
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555 Timer in Transmitter
Astable mode Transistor Transducer
(40Khz) Switch (40Khz) O
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Receiver C
Tone
Amplifier Transducer
Decoder
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Comparator Alert
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Fig. 4: After the components were soldered onto the PCB, it was
placed inside a small plastic box. Two holes were made in the box
for the ultrasonic sensors to pop out (see Fig.5 below).
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Fig. 6: The Obstacle Detection System (ODS)
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strategically placed on a stick
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