From the dawn of human history, people have grappled with various disabilities, and among them, blindness has been one of the most prevalent and challenging. Fortunately, the relentless progress of science and technology has been dedicated to improving the quality of life for individuals with disabilities. As a moral responsibility towards the society and on the occasion of the birthday of our Honorable Prime Minister Shri Narendrabhai Modi and with the initiative taken by the Chairman of SAL Education Campus Dr. Rajendrabhai Shah, the “Smart Sticks” has been made by SALCollege for the visually impaired.This project centers around addressing the unique challenges faced by the visually impaired by creating a microcontroller-based automated hardware system. This innovative system empowers blind individuals by providing them with instant obstacle-detection capabilities. The core components of this hardware include a microcontroller, sensors, and a circuit vibrator, all powered by a battery. It is worth mentioning that Dr. Rajendrabhai Shah, Chairman of Sal Education Campus, has been associated with the medical field for a long time and has always believed in fulfilling social responsibility.
As many as 15 smart sticks have been created by students in the Diploma in Computer Engineering Stream of SAL College of Engineering. This “Smart Stick” has been invented by a team of 13 students with the guidance and support of Dr. Rupesh Vasani (Director, Sal Campus), Dr. Ajay Upadhyay (Principal, SIDS) and Project Mentor Dhruv Bhatt of Sal Education. It has taken them more than 6 months to work on this entire project. Blind people of Andhajan Mandal were present at the launch of this smart stick and these smart sticks were presented to them.
Stating this, Sal Education Campus Chairman Dr. Rajendrabhai Shah said that, “This project aims to break the chains of blindness and foster self-dependence among visually impaired individuals. It introduces an innovative solution in the form of a smart walking stick, a tool already familiar to the blind community. However, this walking stick is far from ordinary. It is not only fully automated but also cost-effective, easy to maintain, and remarkably comfortable to use. Moreover, it boasts low power consumption and user-friendly operation. What sets this walking stick apart is its exceptional affordability compared to traditional alternatives, coupled with its additional features.”
The smart walking stick is equipped with a circuit board housing a microcontroller, a circuit vibrator for providing tactile feedback, and strategically positioned sensors. These sensors have been meticulously installed at precise angles to ensure that they can detect obstacles within a radius of 70 cm in front of the user. This intelligent system effectively acts as an extra set of “eyes” for the visually impaired individual, providing real-time feedback about their surroundings and any potential obstacles, thus enhancing their mobility, safety, and overall quality of life.
The Smart Walking Stick System boasts a range of features:
- Full Automation: The system operates entirely on its
- Ease of Maintenance and Operation: It is simple to maintain and user-friendly.
- Comfortable to Use: Designed with user comfort in
- Authentic and Durable: Known for its reliability and long-lasting
- Low Power Consumption: It efficiently utilizes power
- Simplicity in Design: A straightforward design that serves as an effective navigation
- Sensor-Based Detection: Utilizes sensor readings for easy
- Vibratory Signals: Provides vital information through vibratory signals, aiding individuals with multiple
- External Power Supply: The battery is externally attached for easy
- Stair Detection: Capable of detecting staircases
- Foldable and Portable: Designed for portability and convenient
- Customizability: Easily adaptable to individual
- Adjustable Heights: Can be adjusted to different
- Additional Features: Offers options for extra sensors, remote monitoring, weather tracking, and hardware
- Availability of Parts: Components are readily available in both local and international
Team Members:
- Rupesh Vasani (Director, SAL Campus.)
- Ajay Upadhyaya (Principal, SIDS.)
- Dhruv Bhatt (Project Mentor)
Student Team:
- Archi Tanna
- Vedansh Raval
- Heet Thakkar
- Vaishvi Amin
- Vaidik Patel
- Vidhi Patel
- Khushi Trapasiya
- Kavya Shah
- Shatrughan Tiwari
- Vardhman Shah
- Vansh Shah
- Mahi Sutariya
- Mahek Solanki
