Navigation Aid for the BlindP12015

Team Members: (from left)

Bob Evans Electrical Engineer

David Sachenik Electrical Engineer

Jackson Lamp Computer Engineer

David Yip Electrical Engineer

Ben Davidson Mechanical Engineer

Rob Steigerwald Industrial Systems Engineer

Konrad Ahlin Mechanical Engineer

Project Description:

Navigating unfamiliar buildings can be difficult for a vision/hearing-impaired individual. While room numbers are usually in Braille only about ten percent of blind individuals read Braille. Additionally, floor maps are usually not in relief and thus impossible for the blind to read. The purpose of this project was to develop a handheld navigation system for vision/hearing-impaired individuals. The device uses radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags to calculate positions and the quickest routes to destinations.

Project Requirements:• Charge in less than 8 hours• Interchangeable battery• Commands to user must be non-visual• Device generates less than 50 dB noise• Attachment time less than one minute• Impact resistant• Lightweight• Hands free• Reliable

Electrical Design

Software Design

Central Processing Unit MSP430F5438A Microcontroller

Determines Heading of User

LSM303DLH Magnetometer

Determines Location of User

SkyeTek SkyeModule M9RFID Reader

Power Source Polymer Lithium IonBattery – 1000mAh

RFID Reader Antenna HyperLink Wireless 8 dBi Flat Patch Antenna

User Input Device 3x4 Numerical Matrix Keypad

Defines Locations Within Building

Alien-Higgs Passive RFID Tags 840-960MHz

Provides Feedback to User

Precision Microdrives 10mm Vibration Motors 400mA

PCB Design Layout

Mechanical DesignMain Case:

•Slide allows for easy battery access•Top cover holds keypad in place•Main body holds PCB, RFID reader, and battery in place

Motor Cases:

•Transmits vibrations•Allows offset mass to rotate

Belt Enclosure:

•Ergonomically designed•Properly secures components

Two Step Navigation Process: Path Finding and Path Following• Path finding algorithm is an implementation on Dijkstra’s

algorithm• Path following algorithm interprets the data found from the path

finding algorithm to guide the user to their destination.

Management of Peripheral Devices:• Custom Interface for Keypad• SPI Interface for RFID Reader• I2C Interface for Magnetometer• PWM Output for Vibration Motors

Faculty Guide:Dr. DeBartolo

Clientele:Blind and hard of hearing individuals

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Award No. BES-0527358. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.