Safer Navigation: The AI-Powered Smart Cane for the Visually Impaired

This work proposes a flexible, foldable, lightweight, robust, and smart cane to aid visually impaired individuals and patients in navigating unfamiliar environments safely. The developed smart cane is equipped with an ultrasonic sensor, RFID reader, and an AI machine vision sensor for object detection and identification in the range of 30 cm to 9 m. A mobile application with a text-to-voice feature is developed that connects with the cane using Bluetooth to provide voice warnings to the user based on processed sensor output. The developed cane is also equipped with a vibration sensor activated when an obstacle is closer than 30 cm, serving as a backup of voice warnings. Object detection and classification using multiple sources (AI vision sensor, ultrasonic sensor, and RFID readers) ensures robust and uninterrupted operation in case of failure of one sensor. In emergencies, users can send text messages with their location to a pre-selected caretaker’s phone number using the installed SOS button. The rechargeable battery offers more than 24 hours of operation and warns users when the battery is low. The prototype has been successfully executed and tested in various environments and aims to improve the safety and quality of life for visually impaired individuals and hospital patients.