Design and analysis of an intelligent stick for blind

Abstract

The thesis presents a theoretical and practical model and a system concept to provide a smart electronic aid for blind people. The system is intended to provide overall measures – Artificial vision and object detection. The aim of the overall system is to provide a low cost and efficient navigation aid for blind which gives a sense of artificial vision by providing information about the environmental scenario of objects around them. Ultrasonic sensors are used to calculate distance of the obstacles around the blind person and water sensor detects any water surfaces to guide the user towards the available path. Output is in the form of vibrations or voice. The hardware consists of Arduino Uno board, ultrasonic sensors, water sensor and vibrator. The secondary sonar sensor fitted on the bottom of the stick will detect any hole or trench in the way and will notify the user. The thesis contains the work on the design and working of practical model for artificial guidance and explains properly the working principle of the intelligent stick. The arduino program defines all the possible scenarios that may occur in the normal life of a blind person and will help to solve it. Computer simulations were performed in order to find the traces of the guide stick at three different conditions using an in-house arduino software. The intelligent guide stick will help the blind travel with providing more convenient means of life.