A system and method for assisting a visually impaired user including an imaging device, a processing unit for receiving images from the imaging device and converting the images into signals for use by one or more controllers, and one or more vibro-tactile devices, wherein the one or more controllers activates one or more of the vibro-tactile devices in response to said signals received from the processing unit. The system preferably includes a lanyard to be worn around the neck of the user such that a first vibro-tactile device is arranged on the right side of the user's neck, a second vibro-tactile device on a left side of the user's neck, and a third vibro-tactile device at the back portion of the user's neck. The vibro-tactile devices are activated depending on a determined position in front of the user of an object and the distance from the user to the object.

Systems and methods for automatic adjustment of a wearable device are provided. One embodiment of a method includes determining whether a navigation sensor is in a desired position and, in response to determining that the navigation sensor is not in a desired position, determining a desired modification to the navigation sensor for achieving the desired position. Some embodiments include determining a change of a repositioning device for achieving the desired modification to the navigation sensor and actuating the repositioning device to implement the change.

Aspects of the present disclosure relate aids for the visually impaired.

Systems and methods for communicating with a guide animal are provided. One embodiment of a method includes determining a first command to provide to a user to proceed to a destination, determining a second command to provide to the guide animal to correspond with the first command, and outputting the first command to direct the user toward the destination. Some embodiments include outputting the second command to direct the guide animal toward the destination, where the second command is outputted to be imperceptible by the user but is perceptible by the guide animal.

Disclosed are systems, computer-readable mediums, and methods for receiving, from a sensor array, three-dimensional sensory data associated with an environment of a person. The three-dimensional sensory data is converted into a two-dimensional representation. An obstacle is located within the environment based upon the sensory data. The obstacle is mapped onto the two-dimensional representation and the two-dimensional representation is mapped onto a plurality of actuators within a vibrotactile interface. One or more of a plurality of actuators are controlled based upon the mapping of the two-dimensional representation onto the plurality of actuators to provide tactile input to the person that represents a location of the obstacle.

In accordance with one or more embodiments and corresponding disclosure, various non-limiting systems, devices, and methods are described in connection with an assistive support device that provides feedback to a user. In an aspect, disclosed is a system comprising, a first sensor component that generates a first set of sensor data based on a first set of force applied to an assistive support device. The system also comprises a data repository component that stores a first set of sensor data provided by the assistive support device. Furthermore, in an aspect, the system comprises a feedback component that employs a feedback mechanism based on an occurrence of a value of an applied force to the assistive support device of the first set of force applied being greater than or less than a threshold value of an applied force.

The communication support device comprises an imaging unit, a counterpart detector, a priority level setting unit, a priority determination unit, and a notification unit. The imaging unit that captures an image of a surrounding environment of a user to acquire a captured image. The counterpart detector detects a plurality of predetermined counterparts in the captured image. The a priority level setting unit sets priority levels respectively for the plurality of counterparts based on a predetermined relationship between the user and each of the plurality of counterparts. The priority determination unit determines priorities of the plurality of counterparts based on the priority levels. The notification unit selects information regarding the plurality of counterparts based on the priorities and notifies the user of the selected information.

Multipurpose tactile warning panels for use in pedestrian walkways, and in particular tactile warning panels that are designed and built with multifunction/multipurpose capabilities that serve the visually impaired and enable the deployment of smart city technology by integrating tactile warning systems and subsurface enclosures that can withstand pressures of five (5) tons up to and exceeding sixty (60) tons and incorporate small cells, beacons, sensors, Fog Computing, electric energy generation, rechargeable power supplies, wireless M2M communication and a plethora of other smart city technologies.

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.

A system for providing, to a user, navigation directions to a point of interest. The system includes a device having an output unit configured to output the navigation directions to the point of interest. The device is configured to communicate, to an unmanned vehicle, a point of interest identification. The system also includes the unmanned vehicle having a camera configured to detect image data. The unmanned vehicle is configured to determine Whether the point of interest identification is detected from the image data. The unmanned vehicle is also configured to determine a point of interest location when the point of interest identification is detected from the image data. The unmanned vehicle is also configured to determine point of interest navigation data based on the point of interest location. The unmanned vehicle is also configured to communicate, to the device, the point of interest navigation data.