Assistive Cane Featuring Vibration-based Obstacle Detection for Visually Challenge
Abhishek Tripathi, B. Jaswanth Kumar Reddy, K. Dinesh Kumar Reddy, B. Kiran Kumar Reddy, B. Chandra Mohan Reddy, Sunkara Nagajayanth, Shubham Anjankar, Shashi Kant Dargar, Amit Goyal · 2025
In order to improve mobility and safety for visually impaired users, this research presents an assistive cane that is outfitted with HC-SR04 ultrasonic sensors and vibration-based obstacle detection. An Arduino UNO microcontroller processes proximity data from three HC-SR04 ultrasonic sensors that are positioned to cover a 180-degree frontal detection field. Intuitive spatial cues are delivered via a vibration motor integrated into the handle, which offers adjustable feedback intensity dependent on obstacle distance. With an average rating of 6.8, the cane showed good accuracy in a testing including five visually challenged participants. Testing confirmed accurate detection up to one meter with a 50 ms response time, successfully detecting objects at both head and ground level. These outcomes highlight the device’s ability to increase independence and trust in navigation. Future research will concentrate on improving battery life and comfort for extended daily usage.