DESIGN OF SMART SIGHTLESS CANE (SSC)

Abstract

The technology has grown broadly along with time and generations on rebuilding existing products to boost its functionality, in which the visually impaired community too received benefits from this. Their needs become a major factor to develop an advanced invention and innovation of the standard White Cane. Previously, visually impaired person used a white cane as a guide, primarily to scan their surroundings for obstacles or a symbol of identification for blind people. The white cane has been useful for the blinds on improving their mobility but unfortunately the white cane has its limitation. It is unable to provide early warning as the cane could only detect the obstacles that are within the contact ranges. Consequently resulted in lack of timing for user to avoid any obstruction ahead. Hence, the design of Smart Sightless Cane (SSC) was aimed to innovate the existing white cane by emphasizing its safety features. The SSC is the combination of the Control Engineering process, Internet of Things (IoT) Technology Arduino Nano (SMART) and The Device (Cane). It is a prototype specifically constructed to aid visually impaired community on navigating their everyday life safely with self-reliance. Fabrication of SSC incorporates two ultrasonic sensors which functioned as a detection components of obstacles distance to a wide range of objects regardless of shape, color or surface texture. Also, a water sensor to recognize the presence of water in case of wet or slippery area, a light reflector to perform a noticeable light beam on the cane during night time and a buzzer to produce a tone, alarm or sound as an alert signal for emergency purposes and obstruction awareness either to public or the user. In addition, SSC is a traceable device which built with a Global Positioning System (GPS) that provides a visually impaired person with positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) services to be able being traced by their family members and loved ones. Thus, a safer environment will encourage the visually impaired community to also have a confident lifestyle