Virtual Booth

Team Blind Saber is addressing the challenges faced by the visually impaired community, acknowledging that 1.1 billion people globally lived with vision loss in 2020. These individuals encounter difficulties in mobility and navigation, leading to accidents and reduced quality of life. While traditional tools like the white cane offer tactile feedback, they have limitations in detecting obstacles at head level or further away. To mitigate these challenges, Blind Saber has been developed as a modified white cane with enhanced functionalities. It incorporates ultrasonic sensors and micro servos to detect obstacles within a 180-degree range, addressing obstacles at various levels. The cane emits a beeping sound to alert users and surrounding individuals when obstacles are detected, ensuring safety and awareness. Moreover, Blind Saber features additional functions such as alerting bystanders when the user falls and illuminating dark areas to signal the presence of a visually impaired individual. Compared to guide dogs, Blind Saber is more affordable, costing about RM150, making it accessible to a wider demographic. The design of Blind Saber centres around an Arduino Uno microcontroller attached to a PVC pipe. An ultrasonic sensor mounted on a sweeping servo motor detects obstacles, while another servo motor ensures the sensor assembly remains parallel to the ground. A light-dependent resistor activates LED strips in dark environments, enhancing visibility. Our team aims to implement Blind Saber for all visually impaired individuals, aligning with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 10 and 11 by reducing inequality and promoting sustainable communities. Future improvements include incorporating stable micro servos, integrating solar panels for sustainable energy, and making the cane retractable for portability. Overall, Blind Saber represents a significant advancement in assistive technology, fostering inclusivity and independence for the visually impaired.