The application of robotics to a mobility aid for the elderly blind

摘要

In this paper we describe a novel application of mobile robot technology to the construction of amobility for the frail blind. The robot mobility aid discussed in this paper physically supports theperson walking behind it and provides obstacle avoidance to ensure safer travel. As in all AssistiveTechnology projects, a clear understanding of the user's needs is vital and we summarise the mainuser requirements for our device. We then describe the mechanical design, the user interface, thesoftware and hardware architectures of our robot. We describe the results of evaluations carried outby both mobility experts and users and finally we outline our plans for further development.