rohan.paul@iitd.ernet.in
SmartCaneTM is a mobility aid for the visually impaired used in conjunction with a white cane. It helps in detecting knee-to-head height obstacles as thin as 3 cm within the range of 3 m. The device employs ultrasound based ranging for obstacle detection and informs the user about impending obstacles. Its battery can last up to 10 hours, and the device can be simply removed and replaced as the user wishes. SmartCaneTM gives a pre-warning through vibrations helping users avoid obstacles and unwanted collisions altogether. SmartCaneTM is among the first efforts to produce a mobility device at an affordable price. Nearly 2000 units have been produced and are being disseminated through the Indian Government distribution schemes as well as partner organizations. Now the focus is to scale-up and reach out to a large number of all those working for the empowerment of the visually impaired globally.
