I am a newbie. want to create some kind of rangefinder for my blind daughter. I know the HC-SR04 is a decent range finder but is there something smaller? What I am trying to do is this:
a micro or extremely small rangefinder device that allows her to hold and it makes a beep sound… from say 12 feet to 1 foot. it will either beep or tell her that the object is close by.
It can also vibrate or possibly just only to make it vibrate stronger and stronger when the object is closer.
What do I really need. Please let me know and I will buy everything that is needed. I want the device to be able to be package into a small little box or handle or even possible something as a arm band since she does not like to carry things around.
Do I need a motion sensor or rangefinder or both? Won’t then it will be too big to package it into a small box? Let me know of also the cables, micro rechargeable batteries and wires, etc…
She is a young child.
Something not too hard to do and quick and can be put into a case easily using batteries or rechargable
Such a project was brought to our attention not too long ago. We’ll see if we can reach out to the inventor.
There’s a range of sensors which visually impaired people can make use of, including:
]Infrared / ultrasonic distance sensors/:m] ]Regular light sensors/:m] ]Color sensors/:m] ]Thermal sensors (non contact)/:m] ]… and more/:m]
The ideal device might be a combination of a variety of sensors, worn on the top of the hand like a glove, with a few buttons, connected via Bluetooth to an earpiece.
Press one button to give the reading from the distance sensor, press another to get temperature, another to get color etc. This takes mostly software development though.
I’m building an Infrared commercial blind-aid device similar to what you’re describing, but due to low funds it will be roughly half a year before my device will be ready.
Infrared is good for smaller size and much more accuracy & focus but only has 3 to 6 feet range. Ultrasonic is good for longer range or to detect large obstacles that aren’t directly in front of you, and because there are already many designs available for building an Ultrasonic blind-aid device. If you don’t want to build it yourself, you can buy a MiniGuide for around USD$600 that vibrates as objects get closer, but it’s not wearable and it uses an Ultrasonic sensor so it’s good for detecting big obstacles but not good for detecting the exact location of something, because it has a very wide view angle. Or you can build your own one for between $10 - $150 of parts (depending mostly on how much experience you have in finding cheap parts. Since it’s for a child, you might consider making it a jacket or clothing item, so it leaves their 2 hands to be free and let’s them look more normal, such as “http://www.instructables.com/id/Bats-Have-Feelings-Too/?ALLSTEPS”
