A portable electronic navigational aid (104) e.g. for the blind (102), comprising a radio frequency, preferably millimeter wave, radar (218) with at least one transmitting (TX) channel and a plurality of receiving (RX) channels, at least one orientation sensor (220) configured to obtain data indicative of the orientation of the radar, and a processing element (210) configured to adaptively control (500, 602) the beamforming of the radar based on the data provided by the orientation sensor. A corresponding method is presented. An accessory, such as a replaceable cover, containing a radio frequency radar for attaching to an electronic host device is presented.

A rollator for mobility assistance to a user is provided. The rollator includes a chassis foldable in a compacted configuration, wheels rotatably mounted to the chassis, wheel braking assemblies engageable with the wheels, and a pair of handgrips mountable to the chassis and operatively connected to the chassis. Both handgrips have to be configured in a handgrip displacement configuration to configure the wheel braking assemblies into a displacement configuration of the wheels and wherein both wheel braking assemblies are simultaneously in the displacement configuration. The rollator can include a seat assembly which can be configured in a raised configuration and a seated configuration. In the seated configuration, a pressure equal to or greater than a seat pressure threshold has to be applied on the seat for the wheel braking assemblies to be configured in the displacement configuration.

A notification device includes a detector (20) configured to detect a physical object around a moving person, a relative position acquirer (302 and 304) configured to acquire a relative position with respect to the physical object for which the detector is designated as a base point, a storage (200) storing sound information in which sounds, which are emitted from a plurality of positions away from a predetermined recording point within a predetermined recording space, are pre-recorded for each of the plurality of positions and the recorded sounds are associated with relative positional relationships between the recording point and the plurality of positions; and a selector (308) configured to select the sound information associated with the relative position from the sound information stored in the storage on the basis of the relative positional relationship associated with the relative position acquired by the relative position acquirer. The notification device causes a generator to generate the sounds of the sound information selected by the selector to notify the moving person of information about the physical object detected by the detector.

A cane apparatus may include a body portion, a handle at a top end of the body portion, a proximity detector coupled to the body portion, an alert mechanism, and a processor communicatively coupled to the proximity detector and the alert mechanism. The processor may be configured to: determine, based on a signal received from the proximity detector, that the proximity detector is within a threshold distance of an obstacle; and based on the determination, activate the alert mechanism.

A method for providing information to a user, preferably including: determining environmental information; determining a set of features based on the information; determining output parameters based on the features; and controlling a sensory output system to generate outputs based on the output parameters. A sensory output device, preferably including a plurality of sensory output actuators. A system for providing information to a user, preferably including one or more: sensory output devices, sensors, and computing systems.

The present invention relates to tactile warning panels, and in particular to tactile warning panels that are designed and built with multi-function/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.

Detectable warning areas (DWAs) and methods of forming the same are provided. A dome-forming material can be mixed with a catalyst to form a mixture, which can then be poured into a dome-shaped cavity of a die-cast mold. A peg may be inserted into the mixture in the dome-shaped cavity of the die-cast mold. The mixture may be allowed catalyze and harden in the dome-shaped cavity of the die-cast mold, then a molded dome may be removed from the dome-shaped cavity of the die-cast mold. A portion of the molded dome such as the peg may be inserted into a hole in a prepared substrate. The dome may also be prepared by grinding an outer top surface with a drilling attachment. The dome may instead be formed with the use of an insert and a mat template.

A cane apparatus may include a body portion, a handle at a top end of the body portion, a proximity detector coupled to the body portion, an alert mechanism, and a processor communicatively coupled to the proximity detector and the alert mechanism. The processor may be configured to: determine, based on a signal received from the proximity detector, that the proximity detector is within a threshold distance of an obstacle; and based on the determination, activate the alert mechanism.

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

Devices and methods for assisting and guiding a person with visual and/or hearing impairment. In various embodiments there is a computer-guided, motorized walking stick. Preferably, at least one wheel at the distal end of the stick, and in contact with the ground, can be steered or pivoted over a range of angles, and thus establish a desired direction. In yet other embodiments there are one or more powered wheels that further drive the walking stick in the desired direction. Various algorithms are disclosed for providing instructions to the computer controller by way of various input devices. Still further embodiments include various types of sensors that provide data to the computer with regards to objects proximate to the walking stick.