The document describes the development of a Smart Cane to assist visually impaired individuals. It discusses: 1) Limitations of traditional white canes in detecting overhead obstacles which can cause injuries. 2) Studying commercially available electronic travel aids (ETAs) and learning that users prefer lightweight, one-handed devices that don't obscure environmental sounds. 3) The evolution of the Smart Cane prototype, which uses ultrasonic sensors to detect obstacles and vibrations to provide feedback, through multiple versions based on user testing to refine the design. 4) Conducting field trials across multiple cities in India with over 80 users to evaluate the Smart Cane design and gather feedback.

1. Development
of
Smart Cane
Submitted by :-
PRADEEP THAKUR
152214

2. Table of content
2
 Commercially Available ETAs
 smart cane
 Device Evolution and Next Steps
 Project Initiation & Specification
 R & D and Development of Field Deployable
Product
 Product Testing & Field Trials

3. Restricted range and inability to detect knee-above obstacles
Limitations of the White Cane
causes unexpected collisions and upper-body injuries.

4. Study of Commercially Available ETAs
• Procurement and study of commercially available
ETAs.
• User testing with 5 users each, one week usage.
• Evaluation of key technical parameters.
TeletectThe Mini guide mobility aid

5. Lessons Learnt from Study of ETAs
• User prefer ETAs where only one hand is used.
• ETAs were not flexible in gripping styles or force
users to adopt to new gripping styles may not work.
• ETAs which provide feedback as auditory output via
earphone conceal some valuable auditory clues from
the environment which is necessary and important
for mobility, path planning and safety.
• User prefer devices which are small in size and weight
but do not prefer rigorous scanning to detect obstacles.
5

6. Smart Cane
 Smart Cane is an obstacle
detection and warning
system
 Can be easily mounted and
detached from white cane.
 Detects obstacles with the
use of ultrasonic waves.
 Presence of obstacles is
conveyed by easily
perceptible and intuitive
vibratory patterns. 6

7. Various Navigation Scenarios
Path Finding
Gate Detection
Indoor Navigation Raised obstacle detected 3m away

8. Smart Cane Characteristics
 Rechargeable Li –ion
battery.
 Indoor and outdoor
modes of navigation.
 User adjustable sensor
angle
 Accommodating wide
varying grips
 Affordable
8

9. Device usage with widely varying grips.
Flexibility
Cane-mountable through an
attachment mechanism.

10. Affordability
Source: http://smartcane.saksham.org

11. Device Evolution and Next Steps
11
Three Milestones
1. Project Initiation & Specification
2. R & D and Development of Field
Deployable Product
3. Product Testing & Field Trials

12. Milestone 1: Key Activities
Team Formation &
Logistics Setup
Product
Specifications
Requirements Manufacturability
User Workshop for
Validation
Study of Other ETAs User Feedback Preliminary R & D

13. Milestone 1: Key Activities
Team Formation &
Logistics Setup
Study of Other ETAs User Feedback Preliminary R & D
Procurement of
CommerciallyAvailable
ETAs in market
Review of Published
Studies on ETAs & Mobility
Study of Commercially
Available White Canes
13

14. Milestone 1: Key Activities
Team Formation & Logistics
Setup
Study of Other
ETAs
User Feedback Preliminary R & D
Review of Disability, Mobility and
Human Factors Literature
Questionnaire & Obstacle
Course Design
14

15. Milestone 1: Key Activities
Team Formation & Logistics
Setup
Study of Other ETAs User Feedback Preliminary R&D
Electronics Design
Mechanical Design
Prototyping
Self Learning &
Training Manuals
15

16. 2.Product R&D (Electronics)
• Sourcing & testing smaller and water proof
ultrasonic sensors.
• Exploring trans-receiver based sensors.
• Miniaturized combined electronics circuit.
• Multilayer PCB design
16

17. Electronics Final version

18. Product R&D (Mechanical Design)
Version 0.4
18
Version 0.5
Version 0.6 Version 0.7

19. Product R&D (Mechanical Design)
Version 0.8 used for user trials
19

20. Product R&D (Mechanical Design)
Design Version 0.9
• Non protruding angle adjustment mechanism
• Reduced size, thinner grip & better weight balancing
• Braille markings according to standards
• Single combined ultrasonic and control circuit
20

21. Version 1.0
Field trial prototype
Version 1.1
Elongated prototype
Version 1.2
Combined circuit prototype
Version 1.3
Version 2.0
Final design
Sleek design 31

22. Design Approach to Grip Design
33
Identify pain areas
in all types of grips
Identify common pain
areas in all grips
Explore other palm
areas to reduce stress

23. Design Approach to Grip Design
Trials with Clay Models

24. Design Approach to Grip Design
3D Digitizing Clay Models to build CAD models

25. New Design of Smart Cane
Old and New Design

26. Cane attachment and Detachment Mechanism
New Design of Smart Cane

27. New Design of Smart Cane
Angle Adjustment Mechanism

28. Manufacturing process
10

29. 3.Testing setup
Testing Area for Sensor Field of View

30. User Study Sites
Chennai
Ahmedabad
Shimla
Dehradun
Delhi
Study Completed
84

31. feedback trials of Smart Cane
Gender distribution of user group per site
31
Age distribution of user group per site
Source:- http://assistech.iitd.ernet.in/smartcane.php

32. Key Findings from Feedback Trials
There is an acceptance for overall concept of the
device.
Some features such as intuitive tactile patterns for
distance of obstacles and battery level indicators were
appreciated by all.
During the study, users suggested various
modifications such as reduced weight, reduced size of
the device.
32

33. Vibratory Tests
Smart cane  1.145 m/s2
Mini guide  4.27 m/s2
Samsung Cell Phone  2.78 m/s2
Nokia Cell Phone  0.8454 m/s2
33
Vibratory pattern analysis

34. Salient Features of Current Version
• Reduced size
• Reduced weight
• Improved weight balancing
• Ergonomic grip
• Braille markings according to standards
• Easily accessible controls
• combined ultrasonic and control circuit with
reduced size
3

35. Packaging & Training Manuals
35

36. Obstacle arena

37. Collisionrate
U1
U2
U3
U4
U5
U6
U7
U8
U9
U10
U11
U12
U13
U14
U15
U16
U17
U18
U19
U20
U21
U22
U23
U24
U25
U26
U27
U28
U29
U30
Collision ratewith chest aboveobstaclesusing white cane and Smartcane
100.0
80.0
60.0
collision rate with chest
above
obstacles using white cane
40.0
20.0
0.0
Users
Collision Study using Obstacle Course
collision rate with
chest above obstacles
using smartcane
Source: http://assistech.iitd.ernet.in/smartcane.php

38. Collisionrate
Overall Collison rate with obstacles using white cane and Smartcane
100.0
Overall collision rate with
obstacles using whitecane
Overall collision rate with
obstacles usingsmartcane
80.0
60.0
40.0
20.0
0.0
U1 U2 U3 U4 U5 U6 U7 U8 U9 U10U11U12U13U14U15U16U17U18U19U20U21U22U23U24U25U26U27U28U29U30
Users
Collision Study using Obstacle Course
Source: http://assistech.iitd.ernet.in/smartcane.php

39. References
1. http://smartcane.saksham.org/
2. http://www.gdp-research.com.au/minig_1.htm
3. http://assistech.iitd.ernet.in/smartcane.php
4. https://www.seeingwithsound.com/binocular.htm
5. http://www.aph.org/news/june-2008/
6. http://www.phoenixmedicalsystems.com/?option=c
om_jumi&fileid=23&Itemid=45
39

40. Thank You…