AN ALGORITHM FOR MOBILE ROBOTS TO GUIDE BLIND PEOPLE MOVING INDOORS

Abstract

Our study develops an algorithm to aid a robot in guiding visually impaired people in an
environment with moving objects. The proposed method creates a two-way interaction between
the robot and the visually impaired person, which allows them to move independently without
touching the robot directly. Specifically, the proposed algorithm helps the mobile robot provide
detailed navigational information to the visually impaired person and monitor their actual
movements in the environment with the environment with moving objects. According to laboratory
experiments, the robot is highly effective at enabling visually impaired people to move
independently and flexibly interact with others. Developed and applied to mobile robots, this
algorithm can help visually impaired people reduce their dependence on direct interaction with a
robot and enhance their autonomy.