FUNCTIONAL PROTOTYPE OF AN ELECTRONIC CANE FOR THE MOBILITY OF VISUALLY IMPAIRED PEOPLE

Abstract

Accessibility problems are observed in the most diverse urban environments: irregular sidewalks, very steep ramps and lack of specific signs are some of the problems faced by people with special needs. So, we seek to mitigate these difficulties through
auxiliary accessories and resources. In this paper, a prototype of an electronic cane is presented, based on the constant observation of the daily life of a person with visual deficiency. Even though it is a very useful resource for the impaired, the conventional cane has important limitations, since the only way to identify the presence of obstacles is based on punctual touches and its range is limited, which can result in accidents, stumbling, falls and bruises. The instrumentation incorporated in the cane aims to allow obstacles to be identified more effectively and in advance. The characteristics of the prototype and development methodology are presented in the text.