A team of experts at the University of Glasgow is developing RoboGuide: an artificial intelligence-powered robotic guide dog capable of talking to humans. This project seeks to facilitate the mobility of visually impaired people in public places.
RoboGuide: the robotic guide dog for people with visual impairment
RoboGuide uses a series of sensors to accurately map and assess its environment. Thanks to software developed by the team, these robots can learn optimal routes between different locations and interpret real-time sensor data to avoid moving obstacles while guiding a person. In addition, they have the ability to understand speech, which allows them to respond verbally to human interactions.
Dr. Olaoluwa Popoola, principal investigator of the project at the university’s James Watt School of Engineering, highlighted the potential of assistive technologies such as the one in this quadruped robot to offer greater independence to blind and partially sighted people in the future.
The researcher noted that unlike current robots that may have limitations in navigating indoors due to reliance on GPS or camera vision, the robot is designed to overcome these challenges and provide effective assistance in enclosed environments.
The development of the RoboGuide was presented at the university’s Mazumdar-Shaw Advanced Research Center, where the developers highlighted the use of cutting-edge technologies in the prototype. A full version of the device is expected to be available in the next few years.
Robot assistance to visually impaired people
Worldwide, there are an estimated 2.2 billion people living with some form of vision loss, including approximately two million people in the United Kingdom. The project, co-investigated by Professor Muhammad Imran, dean of graduate studies in the James Watt School of Engineering, exemplifies the university’s commitment to innovation and inclusion, developing technologies that can transform lives and redefine social norms.
The project has been supported by the Forth Valley Sensory Centre (FVSC) and the Royal National Institute for Blind People (RNIB) in Scotland. During a trial at the Hunterian Museum in Glasgow, the RoboGuide helped volunteers find their way around and provided interactive spoken guidance on different exhibits.
RoboGuide’s innovation highlights progress towards a more accessible world, empowering people who are blind or partially sighted to live with greater confidence and autonomy.
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Source and photo: independent.co.uk
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