ROVI: a robot for visually impaired for collision- free navigation

Abstract

ROVI is a device used to guide visually impaired people to dwell around. The conventional method is the white cane which will be used to sense the surface and of the obstacle around the blind. In this project, the white cane is attached to a mobile platform which will have an array of sensors used to detect obstacles.. The mobile robot will be given a predefined target to move. The sensors will always look for any obstacles along the path. It will avoid by an angle once the obstacle is detected. The deflection from original path due to presence of obstacle will be controlled by microcontroller. It will also provide instruction to the wheels to return to the original path once the obstacle has been avoided. The feedback signals from the optical encoders attached to the wheels are important to determine the distance travelled by the wheels. This paper will also discuss about the software for the obstacle avoidance and for reaching target.