Project Overview:

An estimated 253 million people live with some form of visual impairment. About 70% of people who are blind or have moderate or severe vision impairment are aged 60 and above. Being visually handicapped in the hustle and bustle of the modern world can be difficult. Whether it’s commuting to work, or getting around the local grocery store, we need our eyes. For years, the solution to this problem has been the good-old walking stick – but it’s time for a tech upgrade. Our project idea is a walking stick meant to assist the blind. It will be equipped with obstacle and fall detection, and will also be paired with an app that will send relevant information/alerts to other authorised phones.

Project Sensostick is designed to assist the visually impaired with getting around on their own. The walking stick ensures the safety of the user by detecting obstacles using sensors, and further communicating the same to the user with the help of varying sounds and vibrations. This will be done with the help one ultrasonic sensor, one buzzer, and one beeper on all four sides. If an obstacle is detected, its presence will be communicated with vibrations and beeps corresponding to the side that it is present. The frequency of the beeps/vibrations will depend on the objects distance from the user.

The stick is also equipped with fall detection. If the stick detects that the user has fallen, it will send notifications/alerts to all authorized phones. Additionally, the Sensostick houses a Bluetooth component that connects to the users phone, allowing the user to make emergency calls (911) with the push of a button.

Project Specific Success Criteria:

  1. PSSC #1: An ability to detect the presence and distance of obstacles correctly using ultrasonic sensors.
  2. PSSC #2: An ability to produce correct vibrations and beeps in response to detected obstacles.
  3. PSSC #3: An ability to detect and respond to falls using acclerometer and gyroscope sensors.
  4. PSSC #4: An ability to establish working Bluetooth connectivity between the Sensostick and the phone.
  5. PSSC #5: An ability to send alerts and notifications to authorized phones when SOS button is pressed.