Computer vision-based terrain sensors for blind wheelchair users

Authors:
James Coughlan;Roberto Manduchi;Huiying Shen
Affiliations:
Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute, San Francisco, CA;Dept. of Computer Engineering, Univ. of California at Santa Cruz;Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute, San Francisco, CA
Venue:
ICCHP'06 Proceedings of the 10th international conference on Computers Helping People with Special Needs
Year:
2006

Citing 2
Cited 2

Real-time stereo processing, obstacle detection, and terrain estimation from vehicle-mounted stereo cameras

WACV '98 Proceedings of the 4th IEEE Workshop on Applications of Computer Vision (WACV'98)
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Image and video processing for visually handicapped people

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Computer vision-based clear path guidance for blind wheelchair users

Proceedings of the 10th international ACM SIGACCESS conference on Computers and accessibility

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Abstract

We demonstrate computer vision techniques designed to aid blind or severely visually impaired wheelchair users. These techniques will be used to sense important features in nearby terrain from images collected by cameras mounted rigidly to the wheelchair. They will assist in the detection of hazards such as obstacles and drop-offs ahead of or alongside the chair, as well as detecting veer, finding curb cuts, finding a clear path, and maintaining a straight course. The resulting information is intended ultimately to be integrated with inputs from other sensors and communicated to the traveler using synthesized speech and/or audible tones and tactile cues, supplementing rather than replacing the user's existing cane, guide dog and wayfinding skills