The has been the most commonly used travel

aid by the blind. The biggest

Ultra Cane disadvantage is that the user has to be
trained a lot and the user is forced to
scan manually the vicinity for obstacles.
"Success comes in cans, failure comes in
cants". Gulping this energy capsule we
came up with a dream device for the
blind I-cane.... the only cane in this
world with intelligence. I-cane, which
we have created, answers all the
problems that the blind face very
intelligently. This paper starts with very
brief introduction about the description
of the I-cane. This paper also deals
with the next version of Ultra-cane with
a single wheel design. The main idea
behind this paper is to contribute our

….putting the service to the blind society and helping

world at your them with the little knowledge that we
fingertips have. We feel that it is the duty of those
blessed with the power of vision and
ABSTRACT:
knowledge to contribute and help the
Independence and confidence are
blind and other deprived people in their
building methodologies in achieving
lives. This paper also deals with the next
your dreams and goals in life. Visually
version of I-Cane with a single wheel
impaired persons find themselves
design, the ultra cane. The drawbacks of
challenging to go out independently.
the I-cane lead to invent the Ultra cane.
There are about 12 million visually
With little technology and flexibility to
impaired or blind people in this world
the users, there came ultra cane. Detailed
who are always in need of helping
explanation of the individual parts and
hands. For many years the white cane
Do’s and Don’ts of it is discussed. The dangerous obstacles at head level. Guide
main idea behind this paper is to dogs are another methods using which
contribute our service to the blind the blinds navigate. Guide dogs are very
society and helping them with the little capable guides for the blind, but they
knowledge that we have. We feel that it require extensive training. Fully trained
is the duty of those blessed with the guide dogs cost between Rs.l5, 000 and
power of vision and knowledge to Rs.20, 000, and they are only useful for
contribute and help the blind and other about five years. Furthermore, many
deprived people in their lives. blind and visually impaired people are
aged and find it difficult to care
INTRODUCTION appropriately for another living being.
The growth of information technology As a result, only 3% of the estimated
plays a vital role in the recent twelve million visually impaired people
development almost in all the fields. We in the world have guide dogs. The
also want to explore the developments proposed model of I-cane is one such
for the benefit of the visually impaired intelligent device that allows the blind to
persons. Visually impaired persons find navigate. "Success comes in can's,
themselves challenging to go out failure comes in cant's". Gulping this
independently. The population of the energy capsule we came up with a dream
visually impaired is growing day by day. device for the blind the I-cane ... the
The problems faced by them also only cane in this world with intelligence.
increased without finding any solution. I-cane. I-Cane is a novel device designed
They require a help to come out from with Artificial Intelligence (A.I)
their problems. For many years the white techniques, to help blind or visually
cane has been the most commonly used impaired users navigate safely and
travel aids by the blinds. The blind quickly among obstacles and other
people get trained a lot to move out in hazards faced while walking in the road.
the streets with the white cane and they A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE
have to take each step after scanning the "I-Cane"
area ahead of him/her. The white cane is The I-Cane project will investigate,
also not suited for detecting potentially apply, and assemble state-of-the-art
sensory, processing, and man-machine We have come up with a new and a
interface technology to design and build novel design with just one wheel to help
an intelligent tool for the blind. I-cane is the blind to navigate easily and also in a
a user-friend device, which is definitely very safe manner. The new design
an indispensable travel aid for the blinds. makes the I-cane a very compact, less
It has two parts. One is the base (made weight and a portable one, unlike the
of wood) and the other is the handle. The previous model.
base bears the electronic circuits, the
embedded chip along with three
powerful infrared sensors. These
infrared sensors detect obstacles ahead
up to considerable distance. The base is
also fitted with four rubber wheels, We employ a new design with a single
which helps the user to move with the wheel (Fig4-3D view) connected to the
device easily. The important part of the motor for driving the system and another
I-cane is the handle that is fitted on to motor connected to a circular disc for
the base. The handle is very cleverly changing the direction of wheel. Initially
designed in such a manner that the user two wheels will be attached to the device
could increase or decrease its height by to provide static stability, in addition to
means of an easily adjustable screw. the main wheel which steers the system.
This ensures the easiness and comfort These two wheels are intended be
while operating the device. The device is detached from the device after testing. It
also portable and could be easily is to be noted that these wheels don't
dismantled and assembled with out any have any electronic significance and
external help. I-cane device provides its they are merely included to ensure static
user a joystick at its handle to switch stability. The three infrared sensors are
over different controls like START, eliminated and instead we intend to use
STOP and HORN. In addition to these, two IR proximity sensors of bigger
there is also a brake diameter to provide more precise
GENERAL DESCRIPTION: detection. The sensors will be placed
over the rotating disc. So that when the
disc rotates when an obstacle is sensed available to you about obstacles in your
the sensor also rotates along with it to path and at head height. This means you
check for the presence of obstacles in all can make decisions more quickly. In
directions. The other sensor will detect other words, it gives you more
potentially dangerous obstacles at head confidence and allows you to walk faster
level or hanging obstacles .The other than with a traditional white cane.
sensor is placed on the stick itself. This The Ultra Cane is an electronic primary
intended feature is absent in the aid, modelled on the traditional long
prototype model. The serious drawback white cane, but with some important
of the prototype model is that it cannot differences. It uses Ultrasonic echoes to
detect holes. This problem is overcome find objects in front of and at shoulder or
in the new version by placing a high head height of the person using it. It
precision ultra-sonic sensor at the wheels gives tactile feedback to the hand via
so as to detect holes. The main aim of two vibrating buttons. Each button
our work is not only make the blind to indicates a different direction where an
navigate in a fluid and graceful manner object may be, and the intensity or speed
but also ensure his safety at all possible of vibration lets you know how far away
levels. The circuit board bearing all the the object is. In essence, the purpose of
electronic components, which was the Ultra Cane is to locate landmarks,
earlier, integrated in the base part of the obstacles, hazards, and environmental
device, and is to be integrated on the features. This additional information
stick itself e connected to the handle that leads to safer travel which in turn
allows the user to control the motion of increases confidence in travelling alone,
the device. The brake system in the assisting in the development
previous design is completely eliminated
in the new design.
Ultra Cane Overview:
The Ultra Cane is a new electronic
mobility aid, designed to help you get
around more easily and safely. It
increases the amount of information