A student team of the Virginia Tech College of Engineering has given the blind something they would have never thought of in their life – the opportunity to drive. A retrofitted four-wheel dirt buggy developed by the Blind Driver Challenge team from Virginia Tech Robotics and Mechanisms Laboratory uses laser finders, an instant voice command interface and much different but innovative technology to guide blind drivers as they steer, brake and accelerate. This change in approach led to new challenges, including how to effectively convey the high bandwidth of information from the laser sensors scanning the vehicle’s surroundings to the driver fast and accurate enough to allow safe driving. As a result, the team developed non-visual interface technologies, including a vibrating vest for feedback on speed, a click counter steering wheel with audio cues, spoken commands for directional feedback, and a unique tactile map interface that utilizes compressed air to provide information about the road and obstacles surrounding the vehicle. But the spoil sport is the law. Even though if this technology has been perfected with 0% damage and danger, the law pertaining to blind not allowed to drive has to be changed and that will take some time. But we cannot lose hope on something we don’t know and this world has seen a lot of revolutions which sometimes changed many things once thought will always remain the same.
[RDmug]
Technology breakthrough will give the blind an opportunity to drive
