Voice Maps for Visually Impaired with Obstacle Detection

Abstract

The paper presents the architecture and implementation of a system that will help the visually impaired people to navigate using GPS technology. The system provides artificial guidance to the visually impaired through known paths, that is the path for navigation has to be already stored in the microcontroller. The current latitude and longitude values of the user are obtained using GPS. These values are continuously compared with the already stored value in the microcontroller. Thus helps the blind in navigation. The goal is to create a portable, simple and less costly system that will allow user to travel through familiar and unfamiliar environments without the aid of guides. Also it provides voice recognition to detect obstacles. The obstacles are detected using three ultrasonic sensors, which are placed on the left, right, and front positions of the blind. The commands and messages are played back to the blind via APR9600 voice playback IC. The keypad used in system allows the user to select the desired locations to which he/she wishes to go. Keypad consists of 12 keys where each key represents a location. Blind selects the key using Braille language. The paper focuses on the development and evaluation of a Navigation system that makes use of Global Positioning System, voice and ultrasonic sensor for obstacle detection.