Innovation uses echolocation to detect obstacles

A high school student in Arunachal Pradesh has invented a unique pair of goggles that uses ultrasound and infrared sensors to help the visually impaired detect obstacles on their path. On Friday, the State government pledged financial support for him to develop the gadget.

Anang Tadar, a Class XI student of New Galaxy Academy, Nirjuli, was recently awarded the Dinanath Pandey Smart Idea Innovation Award for inventing a gadget called Goggle for Blind (G4B).

Impressed by his innovation and keen to launch it in the market, the National Innovation Foundation, set up by the Department of Science and Technology, has asked Anang to create a few prototypes for the visually impaired to test.

Resources needed

Anang, who comes from a poor family, approached Chief Minister Pema Khandu for assistance. The Chief Minister offered full financial support to him to develop the prototype.

The technology Anang chose to make his gadget is similar to what is used in parking sensors used in cars. The teenager said the googles could be used to detect any obstacles on all sides within a distance of two metres. He says he used the principle of echolocation as used by bats at night.

There are two ultrasound sensors on the left and right of the goggles to detect obstacles. “There is also an infrared sensor in the middle of the gadget to detect obstacles in case both the ultrasound sensors fail,” he said.

Audio alert

When an obstacle is detected, a beep sound is heard through the audio output along with vibration to alert the person. “With the intensity of the beep and vibration the person could know how far and near the obstacle is,” Anang added.