DIY Navigation Device for Blind People Using Arduino and Android Smart Phone

Intro: DIY Navigation Device for Blind People Using Arduino and Android Smart Phone

In this project you can cover your eyes and let your smartphone navigate you to avoid obstacles, the application is mainly a DIY navigation device for blind people.

I knew that 1Sheeld is about to launch a new text to speech shield, and so I contacted them to let me use it in this project and they accepted since I'm one of the early Kickstarter backers :D

By using 1sheeld I made the text to speech part by only 1 line of code!

All you need to get started

1. Any Arduino board (here i used UNO)

2. 1sheeld

3. Ultrasonic sensor (I used two for better navigation)

4. Male-female arduino jumbers or wires

5. Your belt

6. Any smart phone that runs Android V2.3 and above.

Download 1sheeld application to your android smart phone from here

Download 1sheeld library from here and put it in the libraries folder in your Arduino folder.

STEP 1: Wiring and Electronics Setup

1. Connect your 1sheeld to your arduino board

2. Connect your ultrasonics as shown in figure

VCC ==> to the 5V in your 1sheeld
GND ==> to your GND in 1sheeld

ECHO ==> to any i/o pin here i used 11 and 13 for the two ultrasonics

Trigger ==> to any i/o pin here i used 10 and 12 for the two ultrasonics

If you have the 5 pin ultrasonic make the same wiring and put the out pin on SC.

(OUT ==> to your GND on 1sheeld)

STEP 2: Belt Setup

I needed to put the Arduino and 1Sheeld in a cover, I couldn't find any plastic box so I got this laser cut case from Fablab Egypt.

You can make a case with a laser cutter like this one also.

I used wires to mount the case and sensors to my belt.

STEP 3: Software (Arduino Code)

#include <OneSheeld.h>
#define inputPin 11 
#define outputPin 10 
#define inputPin2 13  
#define outputPin2 12 
#define my_constant 20
unsigned int sensor_r_value;
unsigned int sensor_l_value;
unsigned int sensor_r_value_last;
unsigned int sensor_l_value_last;
int difference;
void setup(){ 
  pinMode(inputPin,INPUT);
  pinMode(outputPin,OUTPUT);
  pinMode(inputPin2,INPUT);
  pinMode(outputPin2,OUTPUT);
  OneSheeld.begin();
}
void loop(){ 
  read_sensors();
 delay(1500);
}
int measure_r(){
  digitalWrite(outputPin, LOW);  // send low pulse for 2μs
   delayMicroseconds(2);
   digitalWrite(outputPin, HIGH); // send high pulse for 10μs
   delayMicroseconds(10);
   digitalWrite(outputPin, LOW);  // back to low pulse
   int distance = pulseIn(inputPin, HIGH);  // read echo value
   int distance1= distance/29/2;  // in cm
   return distance1;
}
int measure_l(){
  digitalWrite(outputPin2, LOW);  // send low pulse for 2μs
   delayMicroseconds(2);
   digitalWrite(outputPin2, HIGH); // send high pulse for 10μs
   delayMicroseconds(10);
   digitalWrite(outputPin2, LOW);  // back to low pulse
   int distance = pulseIn(inputPin2, HIGH);  // read echo value
   int distance2= distance/29/2;  // in cm
   return distance2;
}
int read_sensors(){
sensor_r_value=measure_r();
sensor_l_value=measure_l();
if((sensor_r_value<30)||(sensor_l_value<30)){
TextToSpeech.say("stop now and rotate");
}
else{}
if(((sensor_r_value>30)&&(sensor_l_value>30))&&((sensor_r_value_last<30)||(sensor_l_value_last<30))){
  TextToSpeech.say("Go Forward");}
sensor_r_value_last=sensor_r_value;
sensor_l_value_last=sensor_l_value;
}

STEP 4: Code Explanation

Basically, the ultrasonic sensors gets the distance in front of me, if it is higher than 30 cm then no problem, if not then it sends to my smart phone and it tells me through the speaker t turn till the distance is over 30 again, then the phone tells me to continue moving forward.

I used two sensors for better quality and wide range coverage, there is a function that compares between the 2 readings of the sensors and takes the decision based on that.

Let me know what do you think!

Comments

[NikhilS3]

Why pay around 5-7k and use 1sheeld to make the arduino communicate with any android smartphone, when u can use a much cheaper bluetooth module (say HC-07) costing you abut 500-600 bucks, which accomplishes the same task.!

Would'nt it be cheaper and more convenient.? with all respect to ur work. Pl suggest.

[Deepak_Dulal]

Brother , please help me with this project, i wana make use of cheaper bluetooth module instead of 1sheeld.. i am a beginner.

[NikhilS3]

@Deepak just use any bluetooth module, you can start off with by using HC-05 bluetooth module available on the internet for around $8-$9, to establish connection between your android phone and arduino. You however would need a custom android app which u would have to develop. I made an app and Added the functionality of voice aided Navigation to any destination i walking range. The app is deployed in such a way that, the user just has to plug in any earphone and the app automatically launches, scans and automatically connects to the Bluetooth module. Contact me for more information.

[musheer21]

bro u made a point
can u help me out as i am beginner
i will be grateful to you for this
[e-mail]

[DangerMiner]

Please send me app on [e-mail]

[NikhilS3]

The app basically uses built-in Text to Speech feature in the Android OS. Thus when an Obstacle is detected by your ultrasonic sensors, an appropriate Voice output is generated. (Something like "Please Stop Obstacle on your right")

[Deepak_Dulal]

bro i have sent u a message, please check

[ankyproject]

bro u made a point
can u help me out as i am beginner
i will be grateful to you for this
[e-mail]

[BhavinD4]

Bro can you give me Android code for this

[richardli]

what a kind idea, i love it , can i share it in my blog?

[amr wasfy]

Thanks richardli, of course you can share it

[midhunprasad]

Sir, I hav made this device. I made the conncections and programmed the UNO before it as you described. But I dont get ny output from my 1sheeld app which i was connected via BT. Here I used 1sheeld+ and is there any problem with it.

[midhunprasad]

Sir, I hav made it as U said above. but i ddnt get ny output frm my phone. I purchased 1sheeld+ and 2 ultrasonic sensors and they were connented to arduino uno. I hav programmed it before making the connections.

[La_Tahzan]

What is the used of 1sheeld actually? And where did you put the ultrasonic sensor?

[KevinO74]

What is the replacement for 1Sheeld, I can't get one around

[Joanna KazzandraD]

can you help me how to use Bluetooth module and to develop my own android application to make this possible?

[PaulS160]

One fixed the code repeating "stop now and rotate "

[HumzaK]

can you tell me what language this is

[jerrymonkey123]

cool,but not for me !

[NikhilS3]

And fyi, you could use androids very own built in tts (text to speech) API, for voice synthesis.!