"Personal Radar": a self-governed support system to enhance environmental perception

In this work we propose a wearable solution for boundary detection (using ultrasonic range finders) and notification (via tactile actuators) under conditions of poor visibility. "Personal Radar" is not 'yet another' belt-like tactile feedback system used for walking navigation, the unique feature of our obstacle scanning and notification solution is, that it is self-contained and fully self-governed. User studies have confirmed that using "Personal Radar" can increase safety in close proximity to unseen obstacles by reducing the movement speed in that region. To compensate for this speed reduction, studies demonstrated a speed up in walking pace in regions distant to obstacles as compared to subjects moving sightlessly and without technology assistance. Finally, evaluation revealed that learning increases utilization performance of the system significantly.

[1]  Kwee-Bo Sim,et al.  SLAM of mobile robot in the indoor environment with Digital Magnetic Compass and Ultrasonic Sensors , 2007, 2007 International Conference on Control, Automation and Systems.

[2]  N. A. Bradley,et al.  Assistive Technology For Visually Impaired And Blind People , 2008 .

[3]  B. Rosner,et al.  Vibration perception in normal man and medical patients. , 1965, Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry.

[4]  A. B. Drought,et al.  WALKING PATTERNS OF NORMAL MEN. , 1964, The Journal of bone and joint surgery. American volume.

[5]  Shiqiang Zhu,et al.  Sensory navigation of autonomous cleaning robots , 2004, Fifth World Congress on Intelligent Control and Automation (IEEE Cat. No.04EX788).

[6]  J.B.F. van Erp.  Tactile displays for navigation and orientation : perception and behaviour , 2007 .

[7]  Shraga Shoval,et al.  Auditory guidance with the Navbelt-a computerized travel aid for the blind , 1998, IEEE Trans. Syst. Man Cybern. Part C.

[8]  Frank Dellaert,et al.  SWAN: System for Wearable Audio Navigation , 2007, 2007 11th IEEE International Symposium on Wearable Computers.

[9]  Linda R. Elliott,et al.  Field-Based Validation of a Tactile Navigation Device , 2010, IEEE Transactions on Haptics.

[10]  J. Borenstein,et al.  The NavBelt-a computerized travel aid for the blind based on mobile robotics technology , 1998, IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering.

[11]  Koji Tsukada,et al.  ActiveBelt: Belt-Type Wearable Tactile Display for Directional Navigation , 2004, UbiComp.

[12]  D. Bolgiano,et al.  A laser cane for the blind , 1967 .

[13]  Karyl A. Moore.  A Nonempirical Comparison of the Polaron and Mowat Sensor. , 1995 .

[14]  Masatoshi Ishikawa,et al.  Augmenting spatial awareness with Haptic Radar , 2006, 2006 10th IEEE International Symposium on Wearable Computers.

[15]  Kee-Ho Yu,et al.  A study on recognition of obstacle distribution by tactile stimulation , 2009, 2009 ICCAS-SICE.

[16]  S. Sethu Selvi,et al.  Andha Asthra - A navigation system for the visually impaired , 2008, 2008 IEEE International Conference on Multisensor Fusion and Integration for Intelligent Systems.

[17]  Susanne Boll,et al.  Exploring distance encodings with a tactile display to convey turn by turn information in automobiles , 2010, NordiCHI.

[18]  Markus Straub,et al.  Time-Lag as Limiting Factor for Indoor Walking Navigation , 2009, EuroSSC.

[19]  Alois Ferscha,et al.  Raising Awareness about Space via Vibro-Tactile Notifications , 2008, EuroSSC.

[20]  J. Wood,et al.  Amblyopia: prevalence, natural history, functional effects and treatment , 2005, Clinical & experimental optometry.

[21]  Susanne Boll,et al.  Feel your route: a tactile display for car navigation , 2011, IEEE Pervasive Computing.

[22]  William R. Wiener,et al.  Acoustic analysis of the Sonic Guide , 1981 .

[23]  M Bousbia-Salah,et al.  The Development of a pedestrian navigation aid for the blind , 2006, 2006 IEEE GCC Conference (GCC).

[24]  M. Hallbeck,et al.  Supracutaneous vibrotactile perception threshold at various non-glabrous body loci , 2008, Ergonomics.