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ABSTRACT

Nowadays the blind and impaired people are suffering a lot because there are
so many struggles for blind peoples to reach their destination and also there are
dangerous risks that blind persons must face. To avoid uncomfortable walking
experience, we have designed a smart electronic walking stick for blind people. Our
paper proposes a low-cost walking stick based on latest technology and a new
implementation are made for efficient interface for blind people. Basically, the
ultrasonic sensor is implemented in the walking stick for detecting the obstacles in
front of the blind/impaired persons. If there are any obstacles, it will alert the blind
person to avoid that obstacles and the alert in the form of buzzer. daily in different
aspects in order to provide flexible and safe movement for the people. In this
technology driven world, where people strive to live independently, this paper
propose a low-cost 3D ultrasonic

stick for blind people to gain personal independence, so that they can move
from one place to another easily and safely. A portable stick is design and developed
that detects the obstacles in the path of the blind using ultrasonic sensors. The
buzzer and vibration motor are activated when any obstacle is detected. In addition,
the stick is equipped with GPS and SMS message system. GPS system provide the
information regarding the location of the blind person using the stick to his family

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members. SMS system is used by the blind to send SMS message to the saved
numbers in the microcontroller in case of emergency. The programming of GPS
modem, GSM modem, buzzer and vibration motor has been successfully done for
this system. Computer simulation is done to essence the performance of the system
using Proteous software.

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SR No. Table Of Content Page No.
Introduction 12
1.

Problem Identification 14
2.

(a) Circuit Diagram Of Smart Blind Stick 15

3. (b) Block Diagram And Prototype Of Smart Blind 16

Stick

Costing Of All Components 17

4.

Advantages & Limitations 30

5.

Conclusion 31
6.

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LIST OF FIGURES:
SR No. Description Page No.

1. Circuit Diagram 15

2. Block Diagram 16

3. Prototype 16

4. Arduino Nano 18

5. Ultrasonic Sensor 20

6. LDR 22

7. Buzzer & LED 24

8. 433MHZ RF Transmitter And Receiver 26

9. Resistors 27

10. Capacitors 29

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 Introduction
Visually impaired persons have difficulty to interact and feel their
environment. They have little contact with surroundings. Physical movement is a
challenge for visually impaired persons, because it can become tricky to distinguish
obstacles appearing in front of them, and they are not able to move from one place
to another.

They depend on their families for mobility and financial support. Their mobility
opposes them from interacting with people and social activities. In the past,
different systems are designed with limitations without a solid understanding of the
non-visual perception. Researchers have spent the decades to develop an intelligent
and smart stick to assist and alert visually impaired persons from obstacles and give
information about their location.

Smart walking stick is specially designed to detect obstacles which may help
the blind to navigate care-free. The audio messages will keep the user alert and
considerably reduce accidents. A voice enabled automatic switching is also
incorporated to help them in private space as well. This system presents a concept
to provide a smart electronic aid for blind people, both in public and private space
The proposed system contains the ultrasonic sensor, water sensor, voice play back
board, raspberry pi and speaker. The proposed system detects the obstacle images
which are present in outdoor and indoor with the help of a camera. The Stick
measures the distance between the objects and smart walking stick by using an

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ultrasonic sensor. When any objects or obstacles come in range of an ultrasonic
sensor then the head phone tell the name of obstacle which is in front of the stick.

The smart walking stick is a simple and purely mechanical device to detect the
obstacles on the ground. This device is light in weight and portable. But its range is
limited due to its own size. It provides the best travel aid for the person. The blind
person can move from one place to another independently without the others help.

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PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION

The smart walking stick helps blind people to perform navigation and to do
their work easily and comfortably. In normal stick, the detection of the obstacle is
not done and normal stick is not efficient for visually impaired persons. Because the
blind person does not know what type of things or what type of the objects come in
front of him or her. The person cannot recognize what is the size of that object and
how far is he/she from the object. It is difficult for blind person to move here and
there. In smart walking stick, the object is detected with the help of a camera and
also it measures the distance between objects by using ultrasonic sensor. If any
obstacle comes in front of blind person, he/she can know about the obstacle by
hearing the sound generated by the head phone. The system is very useful for
people who are visually impaired and are often need help from others.

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CIRCUIT DIAGRAM OF SMART BLIND STICK -

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BLOCK DIAGRAM

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COSTING OF ALL COMPONENTS -

Components Cost
Arduino Nano 175/-

Ultrasonic Sensor HC-SR04 150/-

LDR 10/-

Buzzer And LED 20/-

433MHZ RF Transmitter And Receiver 250/-

Resistors 10/-

Capacitors 10/-

Push Button Switches 15/-

Total Cost Of All Components 640/-

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(1) Arduino Nano –

The Arduino Nano is very much similar to the Arduino UNO. They use the
same Processor (Atmega328p) and hence they both can share the same program.
One big difference between both is the size UNO is twice as big as Nano and hence
occupies more space on your project. Also Nano is breadboard friendly while Uno is

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not. To program a Uno you need Regular USB cable where as for Nano you will need
a mini USB cable. The technical difference between Uno and Nano is shown below.
The Arduino board is designed in such a way that it is very easy for beginners
to get started with microcontrollers. This board especially is breadboard friendly is
very easy to handle the connections. Let’s start with powering the Board.

❖ Applications

• Prototyping of Electronics Products and Systems

• Multiple DIY Projects.
• Easy to use for beginner level.
• Projects requiring Multiple I/O interfaces and communications.

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(2) Ultrasonic Sensor HC-SR04-

The HC-SR04 Ultrasonic Distance Sensor is a sensor used for detecting

the distance to an object using sonar. It's ideal for any robotics projects
your have which require you to avoid objects, by detecting how close they
are you can steer away from them.

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 The HC-SR04 uses non-contact ultrasound sonar to measure the
distance to an object, and consists of two ultrasonic transmitters (basically
speakers), a receiver, and a control circuit. The transmitters emit a high
frequency ultrasonic sound, which bounce off any nearby solid objects,
and the receiver listens for any return echo.
That echo is then processed by the control circuit to calculate the time
difference between the signal being transmitted and received. This time
can subsequently be used, along with some clever math, to calculate the
distance between the sensor and the reflecting effect.

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(3) LDR –

A photoresistor (acronym LDR for Light Decreasing Resistance, or light-

dependent resistor, or photo-conductive cell) is a passive component that
decreases resistance with respect to receiving luminosity (light) on the component's
sensitive surface. The resistance of a photoresistor decreases with increase in
incident light intensity; in other words, it exhibits photoconductivity. A

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photoresistor can be applied in light-sensitive detector circuits and light-activated
and dark-activated switching circuits acting as a resistance semiconductor. In the
dark, a photoresistor can have a resistance as high as several megaohms (MΩ),
while in the light, a photoresistor can have a resistance as low as a few hundred
ohms. If incident light on a photoresistor exceeds a
certain frequency, photons absorbed by the semiconductor give
bound electrons enough energy to jump into the conduction band. The resulting
free electrons (and their hole partners) conduct electricity, thereby
lowering resistance. The resistance range and sensitivity of a photoresistor can
substantially differ among dissimilar devices. Moreover, unique photoresistors may
react substantially differently to photons within certain wavelength bands.

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(4) Buzzer And LED –

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 A buzzer or beeper is an audio signalling device, which may
be mechanical, electromechanical, or piezoelectric (piezo for short). Typical uses of
buzzers and beepers include alarm devices, timers, and confirmation of user input
such as a mouse click or keystroke.

Light Emitting Diodes are basically tiny light bulbs that fit easily into an
electrical circuit. They can be found in dozens of applications including digital clocks,
remote controls, and traffic lights. Unlike ordinary incandescent light bulbs, LEDs do
not have a filament that will burn out, so they have a much longer lifetime. LEDs are
illuminated by the movement of electrons in a semiconductor material. The
composition of the semiconductor affects the wavelength (colour) and intensity of
the emitted light. LEDs also generate much less heat and a larger percentage of the
electrical current is directed toward generating light, which reduces electrical power
usage.

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(5) 433MHZ RF Transmitter And Receiver –

The 433MHz wireless module is one of the cheap and easy to use modules for
all wireless projects. These modules can be used only in pairs and only simplex
communication is possible. Meaning the transmitter can only transmit information
and the receiver can only receive it, so you can only send data from point A to B and
not from B to A.
The module could cover a minimum of 3 meters and with proper antenna a
power supplies it can reach upto 100 meters theoretically. But practically we can
hardly get about 30-35 meters in a normal test conditions.

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(6) Resistors –

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 A resistor is a passive two-terminal electrical component that
implements electrical resistance as a circuit element. In electronic circuits, resistors
are used to reduce current flow, adjust signal levels, to divide voltages, bias active
elements, and terminate transmission lines, among other uses. High-power
resistors that can dissipate many watts of electrical power as heat, may be used as
part of motor controls, in power distribution systems, or as test loads
for generators. Fixed resistors have resistances that only change slightly with
temperature, time or operating voltage. Variable resistors can be used to adjust
circuit elements (such as a volume control or a lamp dimmer), or as sensing devices
for heat, light, humidity, force, or chemical activity.

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(7) Capacitors –

A capacitor (originally known as a condenser) is a passive two-

terminal electrical component used to store energy electrostatically in
an electric field. The forms of practical capacitors vary widely, but all contain at
least two electrical conductors (plates) separated by a dielectric (i.e., insulator).
The conductors can be thin films of metal, aluminium foil or disks, etc. The
'nonconducting' dielectric acts to increase the capacitor's charge capacity. A
dielectric can be glass, ceramic, plastic film, air, paper, mica, etc.
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ADVANTAGES-
1. Auto Detection
2. Having feature to left & right turn alarm signal obstacle detection with
indication support
3. Dig information with indication alarm
4. Simple to use & low cost.

DISADVANTAGES-
1. Limited & Fixed Daily route to follow daily routine.
2. Till now GPS can’t in it due to 40 meter to change coordinate as to follow the
path / new path.
3. Little sensor support in these fields.

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CONCLUSION

The smart walking stick, constructed with at most accuracy, will help the blind
people to move from one place to another without others help. This could also
be considered a crude way of giving the blind a sense of vision. This stick
reduces the dependency of visually impaired people on other family members,
friends and guide dogs while walking around. The proposed combination of
various working units makes a real-time system that monitors position of the
user and provides dual feedback making navigation more safe and secure . The
smart stick detects objects or obstacles in front of users and feeds warning
back, in the form of voice messages rather than vibration. Also the
incorporation of automatic room equipment switching in the stick will be useful
while they are indoor. The advantage of the system lies in the fact that it can
prove to be a low cost solution to millions of blind person worldwide.

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REFERENCE
www.google.com

www.wikipedia.com

www.circuitdigest.com

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