Design, Implementation and Evaluation of an Indoor Navigation System for Visually Impaired People

Area of Science:

• Assistive Technology
• Robotics and Intelligent Systems
• Human-Computer Interaction

Background:

• Indoor navigation presents significant challenges for visually impaired individuals.
• Existing guidance systems often suffer from complexity, inaccuracy, or impractical operational requirements.
• Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technology offers high accuracy and ease of installation for indoor positioning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate SUGAR, an innovative indoor navigation system tailored for the visually impaired.
• To leverage UWB technology for precise indoor positioning within the SUGAR system.
• To enhance user independence and safety through intuitive acoustic and voice-based guidance.

Main Methods:

• The SUGAR system integrates UWB for positioning, a spatial database with the A* algorithm for pathfinding, and a dedicated guidance module.
• User interaction is facilitated via acoustic signals and voice commands delivered through headphones.
• A functional prototype underwent field testing with a visually impaired participant to assess real-world usability.

Main Results:

• The field test demonstrated the SUGAR system's suitability and usability for indoor navigation by a visually impaired person.
• Additional tests validated the accuracy of critical system components, including UWB positioning and pathfinding algorithms.
• The system successfully provided navigation assistance in an indoor environment.

Conclusions:

• The SUGAR system, utilizing UWB and A* pathfinding, offers a viable and accurate solution for indoor navigation for the visually impaired.
• The developed prototype is functional, usable, and addresses the limitations of previous navigation aids.
• This technology has the potential to significantly improve mobility and independence for visually impaired individuals in indoor settings.