Bengala eletrônica: tecnologia assistiva para deficientes visuais

Abstract

The autonomy and social inclusion of visually impaired people represent a continuous challenge, in which Assistive Technology (AT) plays a crucial role in the development of innovative solutions. Although the long cane is a fundamental mobility aid, it presents a significant limitation in detecting suspended obstacles above the waistline, such as branches, signs, and other objects that compromise user safety. Given this gap, this Final Project (TCC) established as its general objective the development of a low-cost Electronic Cane prototype, capable of identifying and alerting the user to the presence of obstacles both below and, primarily, above the waist. The methodology employed focused on the design and construction of an efficient embedded system. For this purpose, the ESP32 microcontroller was used, selected for its recognized efficiency and low energy consumption. Obstacle detection was performed using ultrasonic sensors (HC-SR04), strategically positioned on the device. The alert system was designed to provide discrete and immediate tactile feedback, implemented through a vibrating motor (Vibracall 1027), which signals the proximity of an object to the user. The practical results obtained demonstrated the effectiveness of the prototype in detecting obstacles in different environments, validating the functionality of the tactile alert system. The choice of a 1.5-meter height for sensor installation proved satisfactory for the detection of suspended obstacles, reinforcing the device's capacity to significantly increase safety and autonomy in user mobility.