Guide Vests Help The Visually Impaired To ‘See’ [Video]

A group of researchers from the University of Southern California’s Viterbi School of Engineering are developing a robotic vision-based mobility aid for the blind and partially blind. The system uses Simultaneous Localization And Mapping (SLAM) software to create 3D maps of the environment and identify a safe route to the destination. A ‘guide vest’‘ with vibrating micro motors conveys which direction to walk and whether there are any obstacles to avoid either above or on the ground. Below is a video from Reuters of the technology:

USC – Guide Vests