[nfb-talk] Guide Bots

Tue May 28 18:00:21 UTC 2013

also you need to figure out in what temperature range this would work as 
well as using this isn snowy weather as in Montana.
On 5/28/2013 9:55 AM, Joshua Lester wrote:
> Hi Misty!
> I like your ideas!
> Let's make it solar powered, Mike!
> Thanks, Joshua
> ________________________________________
> From: nfb-talk [nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] on behalf of Misty Dawn Bradley [mistydbradley at gmail.com]
> Sent: Tuesday, May 28, 2013 10:52 AM
> To: NFB Talk Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Guide Bots
>
> Interesting idea, and I have a few ideas to add to what it could do:
> Identifying whether an intersection has a crosswalk or not, as in some
> cities/towns, crosswalks are not always painted at certain intersections
> Saying where a certain building or store is, such as if you are in a large
> parking lot
> Telling you what type of intersection you are at
> Also, I wonder if it can be made into a smaller device like a GPS-type
> device but with a camera and it tells you all of this, and it could vibrate
> or have a beep tone or something when something is at head level. I am just
> suggesting this because it would be a lot easier to carry around if it is a
> small device versus a larger one that one would have to push, plus having to
> push an extra device is impractical in cases where you have grocery bags or
> even children that you need to hold on to. The device could be small and
> have a strap that you could wear that would make the camera face outward or
> something to where the device could pick up on everything but still be small
> enough to wear hands-free. Also, if it happens to be raining or the weather
> is bad, it would be difficult to have a larger device and be able to protect
> it or put it away while it is raining or wet outside.
> This is just a few things I thought of when I read your email about the
> guide bot. I think it would be very helpful, but it would be nice if it were
> compact and hands-free at the same time. There would also be a limit on how
> long it could work because of batteries, unless it was made to use solar
> energy or something.
> Misty
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Joshua Lester" <JLester8462 at pccua.edu>
> To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, May 28, 2013 11:30 AM
> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Guide Bots
>
>
>> I like this!
>> Try telling this to Dr. Kurzweil!
>> Thanks, Joshua
>> ________________________________________
>> From: nfb-talk [nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] on behalf of Michael Bullis
>> [bullis.michael at gmail.com]
>> Sent: Tuesday, May 28, 2013 10:24 AM
>> To: NFB Talk Mailing List
>> Subject: [nfb-talk] Guide Bots
>>
>> I've been thinking about a new travel device lately and would be
>> interested
>> in any feedback members might have.
>>
>> I've been wondering lately if there is enough reasonably priced portable
>> processing power available to make a guide bot.
>>
>>  From looking on the web there are a few projects, mostly not very
>> efficient
>> ones.  There is a company called nst that is working on it but expects to
>> bring a product to market in the 2020's.  The reason most projects are so
>> difficult is that they are spending inordinate amounts of time and money
>> teaching the guide bots to climb stairs and fully "lead" the blind
>> person.
>> We know this is unnecessary.
>>
>> If you remove the necessity to "lead" the blind person the project becomes
>> much simpler.
>>
>> The device doesn't need to climb stairs.  The blind person can simply lift
>> it up or down.  This assumes of course that it is a lightweight  device.
>>
>> For example, suppose you have a two wheeled device with two forward facing
>> cameras  and a handle on it that you direct.  You push the device down the
>> sidewalk let's say.  When it detects an object that you should go around,
>> to
>> the left, the left wheel has a brake on it.  When the left brake engages
>> and
>> slows the left wheel, the device naturally turns that direction.  The same
>> thing happens if you want to go right.  If there's a curb coming, both
>> wheels slowly engage their brakes.
>>
>> At any time, if you as the person in charge wish to override the braking,
>> you simply give a quick shove to the device.
>>
>> The blind person provides the forward motion, eliminating any need for
>> motive power.  The only thing the device needs power for is processing and
>> braking.
>>
>> Whether verbally, or with a small keypad, you tell the device what you
>> want
>> it to do.  If the device is going to talk to you at all it needs to be
>> through an open-ear earbud.  But this may be unnecessary.
>>
>>
>>
>> I believe it would require two cameras for measuring distance and for
>> scanning both in front and to the sides.
>>
>> In order for the device to be practical it would have to solve problems
>> that
>> the cane and most dogs don't solve.  That is, it would have to detect
>> objects at head height.  And, it would have to be fast.  The thing that
>> limits a cane user in new territory is the necessity of slowing down while
>> detecting an object and moving around it.
>>
>>
>>
>> I place a list of things below that are within reach of today's technology
>> but I'm not sure if they are within the practical financial boundaries of
>> a
>> marketable device.
>>
>> I thought those of you who think about matters like this might weigh in on
>> this and let me know.
>>
>> Here is my list of things the device could do.
>>
>> 1.  avoiding objects-people and other interferences to the path of travel
>>
>> 2.  Detecting objects as high as one's head.
>>
>> 3.  identifying curbs and ramps
>>
>> 4.  recognizing intersecting sidewalks or other paths of travel
>>
>> 5.  finding doors
>>
>> 6.  locating up or down stairs
>>
>> 7.  locating elevators
>>
>> 8.  locating elevator buttons
>>
>> 9.  finding restrooms
>>
>> 10.  finding empty urinals
>>
>> 11.  finding empty seats on busses or in conference rooms
>>
>> 12.  returning to an already found seat
>>
>> 13.  finding a bus stop
>>
>> 14.  finding a specific address
>>
>> 15.  following an indicated person
>>
>>
>>
>> I'd be interested in feedback on this idea.
>>
>> If you wish to write me off-line, do so at
>>
>> mbullis at imagemd.org
>>
>> Thanks for your thinking.
>>
>> Mike
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
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>>
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