> -----Original Message-----
> From: Brendan Moran [SMTP:annirack@SHAW.CA]
> Sent: Thursday, July 04, 2002 8:46 AM
> To:   PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU
> Subject:      Re: [OT]:  Major transport lemon??
>
> At 07:04 PM 03/07/2002 -0500, you wrote:
> >     "I don't think it's exactly AI caliber technology. "
> >
> >Is there something for the blind yet that
> >can be worn as a cap and gives 'audible
> >notice' of impending danger as well as
> >assists in navigation/negotiation of common
> >obstacles like street crossings and doors?
> >
> >To my knowledge the only device currently
> >capable of this is 'dog'.
> >
> >THAT's the caliber of 'obstacle avoidance' and
> >navaid I'm talking of.
>
> That's fair, but I don't think that that's what the Segway's about.
>
> With a small amount of ultrasound sonar and CCD based optical mapping, I
> think what you propose would be quite feasible but it would require the
> technology that's been built for mobile computing to get enough processing
> power to handle the mapping; you'd need a fast P3 to handle everything in
> realtime.
>
> I think the first step would be to create a system that could generate a
> 3D
> map of the area in front of the system.  After that, it should be
> relatively simple to identify obstacles outside a certain acceptable
> tolerance.
>
I saw a UK TV program (Tommorows World possibly) for an electronic cane for
blind persons.  It had multiple ultrasonic sensors mouted at various heights
alaong the length of the cane, and a braile-like interface in the handle
witch solenoid controlled pins.  The person could tell if there was any
obstruction to the front, left and right and how far away it was.  The
person using it praised it highly, although I was thinking that it might not
mix well with a guide dog who probably wouldn't appreciate being blasted
with ultrasonics.

Regards

Mike

--
http://www.piclist.com#nomail Going offline? Don't AutoReply us!
email listserv@mitvma.mit.edu with SET PICList DIGEST in the body