Methods, systems, and apparatuses are described that are configured for determining a path of an apparatus, engaging a motor to cause the apparatus to proceed along the path, receiving one or more of LIDAR data, ultrasonic data, or optical flow data, determining, based on one or more of the LIDAR data, the ultrasonic data, or the optical flow data, one or more objects in the path of the apparatus, and engaging the motor to cause the apparatus to avoid the one or more objects.

Systems, devices, and methods are provided which provide a processor in a server computer, a device including an optical sensor, and a cane. The device may be connected electronically to a cane through wired or wireless technology. The cane may include a haptic controller which provides a notification to a user.

Mechanisms for providing environment information to a visually impaired person (VIP) are provided, the mechanisms including: receiving information relating to a direction from a VIP when in an environment using at least one hardware processor; identifying at least one object in the direction from the VIP when in the environment; and providing environment information regarding at least one object to the VIP. In some of these embodiments, the environment is a virtual environment. In some of these embodiments, the information relating to the direction is a bearing relative to a reference from the VIP. In some of these embodiments, the information is image data. In some of these embodiments, the method further comprises: determining that the direction has changed; and stopping providing the environment information in response to determining that the direction has changed.

When it is determined that a presence of a traffic light is not recognized in an image acquired by a first image acquisition operation by a camera, the presence of the traffic light is recognized in an image acquired by a second image acquisition operation in which a recognition accuracy of the presence of the traffic light is improved. In this second image acquisition operation, it is assumed that a pedestrian is stopped in front of a pedestrian crossing, and there is little demand for increasing a detection speed of objects such as moving objects present in a surrounding area. Thus, it is possible to sufficiently obtain the recognition accuracy of the traffic light by the second image acquisition operation that gives priority to the recognition accuracy of the presence of the traffic light.

Method, systems, and apparatus to facilitate navigation in a known environment. Communication and tracking between a receiver device and one or more beacons are provided to identify a current position of the receiver device. A direction to a next waypoint of a current path is determined based on the identified current position and a haptic feedback system is signaled to provide continuous haptic feedback to orient a user in the identified direction.

When there is an area that cannot be confirmed as a white line based on an image acquired by a camera, it is determined that the area that cannot be confirmed as the white line is an area that can be regarded as the white line, on condition that the area that cannot be confirmed as the white line is located in an area between a first straight line connecting edges of one ends of the area that can be confirmed as the white line in a longitudinal direction of the white line and extension lines of the first straight line, and a second straight line connecting edges of the other ends and extension lines of the second straight line. For the area that can be regarded as the white line, a shape of the area in the image is set to a shape as a white line.

A human-interface device and a guiding apparatus for a visually impaired user including such human-interface device. The human-interface device includes a tactile module arranged to provide a set of haptic signals to a user, wherein the tactile module has a plurality of tactile units each arranged to provide at least a first haptic signal and operable to cooperate with one or more of other tactile units to provide different haptic signals.

A device for assisting navigation including a body defining a middle portion having a first end and a second end, a handle portion at one of the first or second ends, a holder that is removably mounted with another end of the first or second ends of the body.

An information processing device calculates an occupancy rate of a pedestrian crossing in an image obtained by capturing an image of a traveling direction of a target person, determines a crossing status of the target person for the pedestrian crossing based on the calculated occupancy rate, and generates support information for supporting the target person crossing the pedestrian crossing based on the crossing status.

Devices and systems are described including a walking aid including a linear rod, a hand grip disposed in proximity to a first end of the linear rod, two or more extendable and retractable load-bearing feet at a second end of the linear rod, at least one first sensor configured to detect a parameter of a walking surface, at least one second sensor configured to detect a parameter of the walking aid, a controller including input circuitry configured to receive information regarding the detected parameter of the walking surface from the at least one first sensor and actuation circuitry configured to actuate at least one of the two or more extendable and retractable load-bearing feet in response to the information regarding the detected parameter of the walking surface, and a transmission unit including circuitry configured to transmit the second sensor output to a computing device.