Smart Cane for Visually Impaired with Obstacle, Water Detection and GPS

Abstract

Visual impairment can be termed as a disability that distresses the structure and functions of the visual system. Many people considered blindness as an inability to see at all or at best to perceive light from the darkness. In the context of visual impairment, most people with visual impairment have difficulty to find their way autonomously in an unfamiliar area. Visually impaired people usually use the standard white cane or walking cane to assist them in walking. However, it is not adequate to ensure their safety when navigating in an unfamiliar area. In addition, the current development of the smart cane also has some deficiencies. Therefore, in this paper, we designed a smart cane by integrating it with an ultrasonic sensor to detect obstacles, water sensor for detecting the presence of water puddle, and GPS Module to monitor the blind's location via Blynk. A total of ten respondents with age above twenty years old involved in the functionality test to identify the effectiveness of the proposed system. From the findings, it is learned that the proposed system can increase the protection and safety towards the people while navigating an outdoor or unfamiliar area.