Multimodal Navigation and Virtual Companion System: A Wearable Device Assisting Blind People in Independent Travel

Visual impairment or even loss seriously affects quality of life. Benefited by the rapid development of sound/laser detection, Global Positioning System (GPS)/Beidou positioning, machine vision and other technologies, the quality of life of blind people is expected to be improved through visual substitution technology. The existing visual substitution devices still have limitations in terms of safety, robustness, and ease of operation. The remote companion system developed here fully utilizes multimodal navigation and remote communication technologies, and the positioning and interaction functions of commercial mobile phones. Together with the accumulated judgment of backend personnel, it can provide real-time, safe, and reliable navigation services for blind people, helping them complete daily activities such as independent travel, circulation, and shopping. The practical results show that the system not only has strong operability and is easy to use, but also can provide users with a strong sense of security and companionship, making it suitable for promotion. In the future, this system can also be promoted for other vulnerable groups such as the elderly.