Sensors help future blind people driving is not a dream

One day in the future, when you walk out of the door, you will see a fascinating future traffic scene: all kinds of roads hovering in the sky, and all kinds of cars fly into it. Whether it is blind people, old people or children Realize the dream of driving. Is this a scene that can only appear in movies?

Maybe you do not have enough patience to wait until this "future", but it is likely that within a few years you will see the blind man driving his car on the road.

According to Xinhua News, the American Blind Union and Virginia Tech University plan to show the world a modified car next year. The new technology is expected to help the blind to drive independently.

Some people say that this is "Arabian Nights," and others say that this great idea is comparable to landing a moon.

New technology <br> <br> close contact with the "eye" with "brain"

A blind car, as the name suggests, refers to a vehicle driven by a visually impaired person. The vehicle can directly help visually impaired people to drive freely in a blind car with a completely closed environment.

In 2007, the U.S. Department of Defense funded a "Automotive Autopilot Contest," which was developed by the Virginia Tech University without driver control. A car that is completely based on the sensory device itself performed well. The special car for the blind is thus extended.

The "non-visual interface" of the blind car developed by the Virginia Tech University includes two interfaces.

One interface is the "eye" and "brain." The task of "eyes" is a "handlebar" consisting of a laser sensor and several cameras. Its mission is to record road conditions; the "head" is a specially manufactured one. A vibrating vest can be received. It receives information from the "eyes" and judges and prompts the driver to accelerate, decelerate or turn with different tremors. If you don't want to wear a vest, you can wear similar vibrating gloves. This glove has a vibrator near the knuckles.

There is also a voice-activated software system to communicate turn instructions. The steering wheel of the car is connected to a laser ranging instrument network that can remotely monitor and collect information, and uses voice software to tell the driver how far to turn the steering wheel. For example, when there is a need for a left turn, the rangefinder network will make three "clicks". In addition, a vibrating vest equipped for the driver will tell the driver when it should speed up. The vest will vibrate on the back, abdomen and shoulders, conveying different commands. And when the whole tank is shaking, it means that the driver needs to brake quickly!

The other interface, called "air image," is a half-size piece of paper with many pores. This device releases compressed air to form a map of the objects around the car, telling the driver if there is a car in the lane next to it or if there are obstacles along the way.

News Background extend <br> <br> unmanned

For this new technology, Yang Ming, an associate professor in the Department of Automation at Shanghai Jiaotong University's School of Telecommunications, told reporters: “The blind car is a special application of driverless vehicles. Its basic principles and core technologies are basically the same as those of unmanned vehicles.”

“Current urban transportation is closely related to people’s lives. The emergence of more and more private cars also brings many problems such as traffic jams, energy shortages and environmental pollution, while the safety of traditional vehicles (traffic accidents) and system efficiency (traffic Congestion situation) must be solved fundamentally. The approach is to "get out" from the car and let the car perceive obstacles on the road and avoid danger."

Prof. Yang continued: "Actually, this blind car made by the Virginia Tech University is based on their previously developed self-driving vehicle, and some human-machine interactive devices that assist the blind are installed on it. In addition to interactive technologies, all key technologies are the same, such as positioning technology, control technology, obstacle avoidance technology, etc."

The key technology <br> <br> radar sensor communication system

“Safety is the key to the success or failure of unmanned vehicles. At present, commonly used obstacle avoidance sensors include laser radars, microwave radars, ultrasonic sensors, etc. In the highway environment, microwave radars with large detection distances are often used because of their high speed; In the urban environment, because of the complex environment, laser radars with large detection angles are usually selected. Because different radars have different properties, the locations of selection and placement are different, Professor Yang explained.

In the "Automotive Autopilot Contest" of 2007, a driverless vehicle was developed at the Virginia Tech University. A car equipped with sensory devices is a laser sensor.

However, as a new type of public transportation system (car networking), driverless vehicles also need some other related technologies, such as: communication systems to ensure communication between vehicles and central control systems, and between vehicles and vehicles. communication. "I believe that blind cars also need these same basic technologies as driverless technologies," said Professor Yang.

Looking to the future <br> <br> blind driver how far

“Blind cars are developed and produced for a special group of people and can only meet the needs of a small group of people,” said Professor Yang.

Blind people still have a series of problems to be solved. The first is the legal issue. Although the blind car has advanced technology to remind the blind people to avoid obstacles on the road, how can the liability be paid if there is an accident?

Secondly, from a technical point of view, environmental awareness technology is still the focus of unmanned research, and it is also true for blind drivers.

In addition, with the increase in the number of cars for the blind, coordination between vehicles and vehicles, communication systems, and remote monitoring are also important issues.

Finally, there are car insurance and the attitude of today’s crowd towards driving a blind car.

Extend benefits <br> <br> driving blind study brings
“Blind cars can make some people who lose their light enjoy the same driving pleasure as normal people. It has certain social significance.” Professor Yang believes that the significance of intelligent transportation is more than this. “On the large scale, the vast majority of traffic accidents Caused by human factors, while a smart car is neither fatigued nor violates regulations, it encounters unexpected situations, it can always maintain a clear 'mind', its 'no one' is safer than 'someone', and blind people drive The benefits should also be similar, which can greatly improve the efficiency and safety of the transportation system."

For example, a blind person drives a laser sensor on a car and several cameras record road conditions. A vibrating vest and a voice-activated software system can alert ordinary drivers when they should accelerate or decelerate a turn. This way, drivers will be safer and more efficient. higher.