Exploration and Navigation in Unknown Environments for Guide Dog Robots

This study presents the development of an autonomous robotic guide dog designed to navigate unknown indoor environments, effectively avoid obstacles, and guide users to specified destinations based on verbal commands. Addressing the growing global shortage of guide dogs, this robotic system offers a safe, flexible, and reliable alternative to traditional guide animals. Upon receiving commands such as “Find the restroom,” the robot systematically explores the environment, detects relevant landmarks, calculates their global coordinates, and safely guides the user toward the targeted location. Experimental evaluations demonstrate that the proposed system successfully achieves high accuracy in environment mapping, reliable object recognition, and efficient path planning within previously unknown indoor settings. The findings underscore the potential of this autonomous guide dog robot as a practical alternative to traditional guide dogs, significantly enhancing mobility and independence for impaired individuals.