This work addresses the challenge of designing an effective, reliable and affordable autonomous navigation system for blind and visually impaired people which also covers journey planning and post journey activities (such as recommendations and experiences sharing). The main contribution focuses on the integration of accurate real-time user positioning data with binaural 3D audio based guiding techniques on mobile devices and a web services delivering platform. The aim is to produce an autonomous navigation system that can be used to guide targeted users along pre-defined tracks and that can be used also before and after the journey to carry out several related tasks such as journey planning, training and sharing of experiences. A preliminary prototype of this concept has been built and tested with 4 end users in both rural and urban environments, obtaining encouraging results.
1 ABSTRACT Visually disabled people have striking needs for trustfully navitgation systems enabling for eficient mobility services, mainly considering safety and autonomy. In this context, satellite-positioning and navigation technologies available are being implemented in innovative personal navigation devices. But existing products and solutions based on GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite Systems) fail because they lack accuracy and intergrity, they do not provide a suitable and efficient man machine interface adjusted to this user segment, or rely on costly infrastructure. ARGUS project focuses onto a satellite based navigation (GNSS/EDAS – EGNOS Data Access System) terminal for people with impaired visually capabilities, guiding them along pre-defined tracks using specifically designed HMI (Human Machine Interface) such as tactile, acoustic and haptic signals. It introduces the oportunity to develop an innovative guidance support system for visually impaired people based on the provision of a virtual-lead-line perception to the end user that can be perceived and followed. This will provide “track navigation” instead the classical “waypoint or route navigation” which is used for car navigation or people with all visual capabilities. This system will be also usable for professional, scientific and sportive activities developed in reduced visibility scenarios that could require accurate guidance on normal or emergency situations, as well as for other people working in reduced visibility environments needing guidance and assistance.
