案内杖による視覚障害者歩行支援システムの性能

抄録

We have proposed an online navigation system for the visually impaired. In our previous system, we used a pedometer and a terrestrial magnetic sensor. This system has the problems that there are cumulative errors in the measurement of walking distance and errors in the detection of walking direction by the lean of the terrestrial magnetic sensor. In this paper, we develop another navigation system that uses a guide stick attaching a small wheel at the top of the stick instead of the pedometer and a device for keeping the terrestrial magnetic sensor horizontal in order to improve the problems of the previous system. Thus, we can obtain a more exact walking locus. To navigate the visually impaired, we propose a method using auditory signals that consist of voice sound and buzzer. Further, we attach an answering machine to the guide stick to provide the required information whenever requested. To evaluate the navigation system, we make some walking experiments by the blindfold and the visually impaired. This system shows that it can guide then to the destination of about 620m distance, and it is useful as a navigation system for the visually impaired.