Wearable Haptic Band for Visually Impaired Navigation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Visually impaired individuals face challenges in navigating their environment due to limited depth perception and object recognition, which affects their ability to walk with confidence and independence, as existing assistive technologies are limited in providing effective real-time feedback.
Innovation Solution
A wearable device combining head-mounted video sensors and haptic transducers, utilizing computer vision algorithms and machine learning techniques to provide haptic and auditory feedback, allowing users to perceive their environment through tactile cues, thereby enhancing navigation and object recognition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If wearable video sensors and computer vision algorithms are used to provide real-time environmental feedback, then navigation confidence and object recognition improve, but device complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the complex task of environmental perception into distinct modules: video capture by head-mounted sensors, computer vision processing to identify objects and depth, and haptic feedback delivery through transducers. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while working together to provide reliable navigation assistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces haptic transducers as an intermediary between the computer vision system and the user. Instead of directly presenting complex visual data to the visually impaired user, the system converts environmental information into tactile feedback patterns, serving as an effective mediator that translates visual perceptions into accessible haptic signals.
2Measurement precision
If multiple video sensors and haptic transducers are integrated for comprehensive environmental perception, then object detection accuracy improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple video sensors mounted on the head to capture environmental data from different angles simultaneously. This merging of sensor inputs allows the computer vision algorithm to construct a more accurate three-dimensional understanding of the environment, improving object detection precision through combined visual information.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from two-dimensional image data from video sensors to three-dimensional spatial understanding by incorporating depth information and spatial relationships. This dimensional transformation enables more accurate object detection and distance estimation, which is then conveyed through spatially differentiated haptic feedback patterns.
3Speed
If real-time computer vision processing is performed to provide immediate haptic feedback, then responsiveness improves, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The computer vision algorithms perform preliminary processing of video data to identify key objects and spatial relationships before generating haptic feedback commands. By pre-processing visual information to extract essential navigation-relevant features, the system reduces the computational burden during real-time feedback generation, improving responsiveness while managing energy consumption.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device enables visually impaired individuals to navigate more confidently by providing real-time tactile feedback of their surroundings, improving their ability to recognize important objects and avoid obstacles, thus enhancing their independence and quality of life.
Implementation Method 1
uses haptic transducers to report these objects
Data Source
AI summary
A device, system, and method of assistance for visually impaired users. The system comprises a plurality of video cameras, often head mounted, computer processors and associated support devices and algorithms configured for computer vision, and a user worn haptic band comprising a plurality (two or more) of distantly spaced haptic transducers. This haptic band is worn such that user's hands are free for other tasks. The system uses its video camera, depth processing algorithms, and object recognition algorithms (hardware and/or software based) to identify a limited number of navigationally important objects. The spatial locations of each object deemed important is output to the user by varying output to the haptic transducers accordingly. The system is configured to identify and report objects as generic objects, identified objects, and potential obstacle objects. The system can also optionally provide audio information pertaining to these objects as well.