A locomotion safety and health assistant can utilize a quad cane and have integrated thereon a suite of sensors, microcontrollers, power sources, external communication devices, lights, tactile communication devices, alerts and activation sensors. A plurality of environment sensors can monitor the terrain ahead, watching for obstacles or changes in elevation. The assistant can provide communication with the user to warn of any obstacles or dangers. A switch can allow the user to turn on a light that is directed to the front of the assistant and lights up the terrain ahead. The assistant can include a programmable medication alert. Additionally, a pulse sensor or other health sensor can be incorporated therein. Measurements therefrom can be compared to ranges and warnings communicated when outside of a safe range; thereby providing warning that it may not be safe to stand and walk as fall susceptibility is unduly high at present.

A system for usage guidance using wireless communication includes a receiver configured to wirelessly receive a first signal from a transmitter, and a portable computing device coupled to the receiver and designed and configured to parse the first signal for at least a textual element, extract, from the at least a textual element, a unique transmitter identifier, provide a user identifier, receive a first data record including a first user-specific datum from a first database as a function of the user identifier, receive a second data record including a first item-specific datum from a second database as a function of the unique identifier, and generate a user-specific usage sequence as a function of the first user-specific datum and the first item specific datum. The system includes a user output component coupled to the portable computing device and configured to provide the user-specific usage sequence to the user.

Various aspects of the disclosure generally relate to a handle with enhanced ergonomics and improved shape, especially for use with a probing or mobility cane. In one aspect, the handle may offer improved grip and coordination by someone who is blind or sight impaired. In one aspect, the handle may contain electronics and offer improved usability in the operation of those electronics.

An intelligent navigation assistance device including a mobility device (e.g., a walking staff, a walker, a wheelchair) configured with input component(s) to receive user input, environment component(s) to detect objects or obstacles in the surrounding environment, panic component(s) to detect emergency situations or conditions, local computing device(s) to process information and facilitate communication/control with/of mobile computing device(s) (including access to resources of the mobile computing device, e.g., GPS receiver, route mapping applications, telecommunications capabilities), and feedback component(s) to convey information to users via one or more prompt to the user.

Various arrangements for avoiding obstacles for a visually-impaired pedestrian are presented. An m by n matrix of distance measurements may be created using a scanning time of flight (ToF) sensor component for various different directions. The m by n matrix of distance measurements and the m by n direction matrix may be analyzed to identify a first obstacle having a vertical height that differs by at least a predefined threshold measurement from a neighboring second region. Based on identifying the first obstacle, an indication of the first obstacle and an indication of the distance to the first obstacle determined using the m by n matrix of distance indications may be output.

A device for navigation and usage guidance in a navigable space includes a wireless interrogator including an antenna and a driver circuit that transmits an interrogation signal providing power to a passive transponder at a first location in a navigable space and receives from the transponder a return signal. The device includes a portable computing device coupled to the interrogator and configured to parse the return signal for at least a textual element, extract therefrom a unique identifier of the transmitter, identify, in a first data structure the first location and a second location of a user feature, determine a location of the user, retrieve from a second data structure usage data, and generate a usage sequence for using the user feature. The device includes a user output component coupled to the portable computing device and configured to receive and provide to the user the usage sequence.

An improved walking cane device adapted to be used by a blind person to aid in walking and navigating upon any walking surface, use information pre-programmed upon a computer module, use information gathered by a receiver member in an elongated shaft, and send information through a speaker member in the elongated shaft and the wireless earpiece to the blind person for aiding in walking and navigating upon any walking surface.

A tactile or haptic guidance device incorporates a LIDAR assembly and servo motor assembly or linear actuators to provide tactile feedback to the user. The LIDAR assembly determines obstacles in the path of the user and the micro-controller uses the LIDAR data to send a signal to the servo motor assembly or linear actuators, which will cause translational or rotational movement along one or more axes with appropriate amounts of force to provide tactile feedback to the user about objects in their path.

A device for navigation and usage guidance in a navigable space includes a wireless interrogator including an antenna and a driver circuit that transmits an interrogation signal providing power to a passive transponder at a first location in a navigable space and receives from the transponder a return signal. The device includes a portable computing device coupled to the interrogator and configured to parse the return signal for at least a textual element, extract therefrom a unique identifier of the transmitter, identify, in a first data structure the first location and a second location of a user feature, determine a location of the user, retrieve from a second data structure usage data, and generate a usage sequence for using the user feature. The device includes a user output component coupled to the portable computing device and configured to receive and provide to the user the usage sequence.

A smart walking stick includes a longitudinal body; a forward facing sensor located on a front portion of the longitudinal body, the forward facing sensor monitoring objects in front of the longitudinal body; a forward downward facing sensor located on the front portion of the longitudinal body, the forward downward facing senor monitoring objects located in front of the longitudinal body on the ground; a left side sensor located on a left side of the longitudinal body and monitoring objects located on the left side of the longitudinal body; a right side sensor located on a right side of the longitudinal body and monitoring objects located on the right side of the longitudinal body; and an audio module that alerts a user if an obstacle is detected by one of the forward facing sensor, the forward downward facing sensor, the left side sensor, and the right side sensor.