Information Processor for Visually Impaired Collision Avoidance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing information processors, such as those described in WO2018/025531, do not account for the detection of mobile objects, which can lead to potential collisions with visually impaired individuals, compromising their safety and that of surrounding mobile objects.
Innovation Solution
An information processor with a direction determination unit for visually impaired individuals, a reception unit for mobile object movement information, and a notification generation unit that alerts the user to their walking direction and potential collisions with mobile objects, enabling them to take avoiding actions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mobile object detection is added to the information processor, then safety of visually impaired individuals is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides safety monitoring into separate functional modules: a direction determination unit that tracks the visually impaired person's movement, a reception unit that receives mobile object information from external sources, and a generation unit that processes collision predictions. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently while maintaining overall system safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The generation unit acts as an intermediary that receives data from both the direction determination unit and the reception unit, processes this information to predict potential collisions, and generates appropriate notifications. This intermediary component integrates information from multiple sources without requiring direct complex interaction between all system elements.
2Reliability
If collision prediction and notification functions are implemented, then safety of mobile objects is improved, but loss of time for processing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The direction determination unit continuously determines the walking direction in advance, and the system maintains ready-state reception of mobile object information. By having these data streams prepared and available before a collision risk arises, the generation unit can quickly process collision predictions without time-consuming data collection when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuous operation of the direction determination unit and reception unit, ensuring that data flows are constantly active and updated. This continuous operation eliminates interruptions and delays that would occur if these functions needed to be activated or restarted when a potential collision risk is detected.
Data Source
AI summary
A controller of a white stick system determines a walking direction of a person who acts without using eyesight based on sensor data acquired from built-in sensors, such as a camera, and generates a first notification to notify the determined walking direction. A wireless communication unit receives information regarding movement of a mobile object present around the person from a data communication module and a mobile terminal. The controller generates a second notification to notify a collision between the person who moves without using eyesight and the mobile object when the collision is predicted based on the information regarding movement of the mobile object.