Walking assistant device with GPS and electronic compass
Krzysztof Tokarz, Michał Dzik · 2008
Despite constantly improving medical techniques it is still impossible to cure many severe vision defects which causes great demand for devices that help blind persons to get through chores of everyday life. In this paper there is presented such assistive device developed at the Silesian University of Technology. The main purpose of the device is to help blind persons to move through a town without aid. The device is prepared to be used by pedestrians so it is small and battery powered. The device uses GPS navigation, yet because GPS can determine the azimuth only while moving, the device is equipped with electronic compass that needs to operate independently of the position. The description of the calculation of the azimuth is based on values measured from the compass and accelerometer.