Could a blind person drive a car? Researchers are trying to
make that far-flung notion a reality.
The National Federation of the Blind and Virginia Tech plan to
demonstrate a prototype vehicle next year equipped with technology
that helps a blind person drive a car independently.
The technology, called "nonvisual interfaces," uses sensors to
let a blind driver maneuver a car based on information transmitted
to him about his surroundings: whether another car or object is
nearby, in front of him or in a neighboring lane.
Advocates for the blind consider it a "moon shot," a goal
similar to President John F. Kennedy's pledge to land a man on the
moon. For many blind people, driving a car long has been considered
impossible. But researchers hope the project could revolutionize
mobility and challenge long-held assumptions about limitations.
"We're exploring areas that have previously been regarded as
unexplorable," said Dr. Marc Maurer, president of the National
Federation of the Blind. "We're moving away from the theory that
blindness ends the capacity of human beings to make contributions
to society."
The Baltimore-based organization was announcing its plans for
the vehicle demonstration at a news conference Friday in Daytona
Beach, Floria.
Maurer first talked about building an automobile that the blind
could drive about a decade ago when he launched the organization's
research institute.
"Some people thought I was crazy and they thought, 'Why do you
want us to raise money for something that can't be done?' Others
thought it was a great idea," Maurer said. "Some people were
incredulous. Others thought the idea was incredible."
The vehicle has its roots in Virginia Tech's 2007 entry into the
DARPA Grand Challenge, a competition for driverless vehicles funded
by the Defense Department's research arm. The university's team won
third place for a self-driving vehicle that used sensors to
perceive traffic, avoid crashing into other cars and objects and
run like any other vehicle.
Following their success, Virginia Tech's team responded to a
challenge from the National Federation of the Blind to help build a
car that could be driven by a blind person. Virginia Tech first
created a dune buggy as part of a feasibility study that used
sensor lasers and cameras to act as the eyes of the vehicle. A
vibrating vest was used to direct the driver to speed up, slow down
or make turns.
The blind organization was impressed by the results and urged
the researchers to keep pushing. The results will be demonstrated
next January on a modified Ford Escape sport utility vehicle at the
Daytona International Speedway before the Rolex 24 race.
The latest vehicle will use nonvisual interfaces to help a blind
driver operate the car. One interface, called DriveGrip, uses
gloves with vibrating motors on areas that cover the knuckles. The
vibrations signal to the driver when and where to turn.
Another interface, called AirPix, is a tablet about half the
size of a sheet of paper with multiple air holes, almost like those
found on an air hockey game. Compressed air coming out of the
device helps inform the driver of his or her surroundings,
essentially creating a map of the objects around a vehicle. It
would show whether there's another vehicle in a nearby lane or an
obstruction in the road.
A blind person, who has not yet been chosen, will drive the
vehicle on a course near the famed Daytona race track and attempt
to simulate a typical driving experience.
Dr. Dennis Hong, a mechanical engineering professor at Virginia
Tech who leads the research, said the technology could someday help
a blind driver operate a vehicle but could also be used on
conventional vehicles to make them safer or on other applications.
Advocates for the blind say it will take time before society
accepts the potential of blind drivers and that the safety of the
technology will need to be proven through years of testing. But
more than anything, they say it's part of a broader mission to
change the way people perceive the blind.
Mark Riccobono, executive director of the NFB's Jer****n
Institute, said when he walks down the street with his 3-year-old
son, many people might think he, as a blind person, is being guided
by his son.
"The idea that a 3-year-old takes care of me stems from what
they think about blindness," Riccobono said. "That will change when
people see that we can do something that they thought was
impossible."
make that far-flung notion a reality.
The National Federation of the Blind and Virginia Tech plan to
demonstrate a prototype vehicle next year equipped with technology
that helps a blind person drive a car independently.
The technology, called "nonvisual interfaces," uses sensors to
let a blind driver maneuver a car based on information transmitted
to him about his surroundings: whether another car or object is
nearby, in front of him or in a neighboring lane.
Advocates for the blind consider it a "moon shot," a goal
similar to President John F. Kennedy's pledge to land a man on the
moon. For many blind people, driving a car long has been considered
impossible. But researchers hope the project could revolutionize
mobility and challenge long-held assumptions about limitations.
"We're exploring areas that have previously been regarded as
unexplorable," said Dr. Marc Maurer, president of the National
Federation of the Blind. "We're moving away from the theory that
blindness ends the capacity of human beings to make contributions
to society."
The Baltimore-based organization was announcing its plans for
the vehicle demonstration at a news conference Friday in Daytona
Beach, Floria.
Maurer first talked about building an automobile that the blind
could drive about a decade ago when he launched the organization's
research institute.
"Some people thought I was crazy and they thought, 'Why do you
want us to raise money for something that can't be done?' Others
thought it was a great idea," Maurer said. "Some people were
incredulous. Others thought the idea was incredible."
The vehicle has its roots in Virginia Tech's 2007 entry into the
DARPA Grand Challenge, a competition for driverless vehicles funded
by the Defense Department's research arm. The university's team won
third place for a self-driving vehicle that used sensors to
perceive traffic, avoid crashing into other cars and objects and
run like any other vehicle.
Following their success, Virginia Tech's team responded to a
challenge from the National Federation of the Blind to help build a
car that could be driven by a blind person. Virginia Tech first
created a dune buggy as part of a feasibility study that used
sensor lasers and cameras to act as the eyes of the vehicle. A
vibrating vest was used to direct the driver to speed up, slow down
or make turns.
The blind organization was impressed by the results and urged
the researchers to keep pushing. The results will be demonstrated
next January on a modified Ford Escape sport utility vehicle at the
Daytona International Speedway before the Rolex 24 race.
The latest vehicle will use nonvisual interfaces to help a blind
driver operate the car. One interface, called DriveGrip, uses
gloves with vibrating motors on areas that cover the knuckles. The
vibrations signal to the driver when and where to turn.
Another interface, called AirPix, is a tablet about half the
size of a sheet of paper with multiple air holes, almost like those
found on an air hockey game. Compressed air coming out of the
device helps inform the driver of his or her surroundings,
essentially creating a map of the objects around a vehicle. It
would show whether there's another vehicle in a nearby lane or an
obstruction in the road.
A blind person, who has not yet been chosen, will drive the
vehicle on a course near the famed Daytona race track and attempt
to simulate a typical driving experience.
Dr. Dennis Hong, a mechanical engineering professor at Virginia
Tech who leads the research, said the technology could someday help
a blind driver operate a vehicle but could also be used on
conventional vehicles to make them safer or on other applications.
Advocates for the blind say it will take time before society
accepts the potential of blind drivers and that the safety of the
technology will need to be proven through years of testing. But
more than anything, they say it's part of a broader mission to
change the way people perceive the blind.
Mark Riccobono, executive director of the NFB's Jer****n
Institute, said when he walks down the street with his 3-year-old
son, many people might think he, as a blind person, is being guided
by his son.
"The idea that a 3-year-old takes care of me stems from what
they think about blindness," Riccobono said. "That will change when
people see that we can do something that they thought was
impossible."
