Introducing the AI-Powered Smart Walking Stick

A closeup view of the artificial intelligence camera used on the end of the cane.

Introduction to the Smart Walking Stick

A team of engineers at the University of Colorado Boulder is developing an AI-powered walking stick to help the visually impaired. The stick can help users with tasks like grocery shopping or finding a seat by mapping and cataloging the environment using a camera and computer vision technology.

How the Walking Stick Works

The walking stick is similar to a traditional cane but is equipped with a camera and uses vibrations and spoken directions to guide the user.

Experimental Cafe Study

To understand the decision-making needs of people with impaired vision, the researchers created an experimental cafe in their lab. Using the smart walking stick equipped with a laptop and camera, patrons were asked to navigate the maze-like environment to find a seat. The study found successful results, with 10 out of 12 trials resulting in accurate chair selection with the eyesight of the participants obscured.

Experimental Grocery Store Study

In the lab, the team created a lifelike grocery shelf and used an extensive database of product photos to allow study subjects to select items using only the walking stick. The system assigns scores to objects and provides spoken commands to guide the user.

Availability

The team is still working to make the walking stick more compact and to design it to work with a standard smartphone. It will still be a while before it is available for use in the real world.