SBIR Phase I: Wearable Augmented Perception for Environmental Recognition

SBIR 第一阶段：用于环境识别的可穿戴增强感知

• 批准号: 1014231
• 负责人: Eric Huber
• 金额: $ 14.99万
• 依托单位: TRACLabs Inc.
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2010
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2010-07-01 至 2010-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1014231&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: SBIR; Phase; Wearable; Augmented; Perception

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project focuses on reducing the footprint of machine vision and human interface solutions in support of a wearable apparatus that will improve environmental awareness of the visually impaired. Computer vision has provided significant capabilities in the robotics domain including object tracking, facial recognition, environmental localization, and hazard detection. In the past, computer vision sensor/software systems have been slow, bulky, and power-hungry. Recent advances in imaging hardware and embedded processing now provide an opportunity to shrink vision systems, including stereo vision and other complex operations, to a size that would allow them to be embedded in a wearable apparatus, similar to wraparound sunglasses. Using an auditory signal to feedback environmental information to the wearer, this device will provide valuable, and previously unimaginable, visual sensing capabilities to the visually impaired. These include: 1) determining distance traveled even in GPS-denied environments; 2) detecting and classifying obstacles, drop-offs, overhangs, and other nearby hazards; and 3) detecting the presence and relative location of nearby people. The broader impact/commercial potential of this project will be a significant breakthrough in the compact combination of computer vision and human interface technologies. The technology developed in this proposal has considerable impact for the visually impaired and strong commercial potential. The needs of the visually impaired are not being met by existing technology. The proposed technology will increase the independence of the visually impaired and improve their quality of life, especially with respect to social interaction. The technology, produced initially to help the visually impaired, has the potential for a much broader scientific and commercial impact. Commercial potential for this product includes robotics, military ground forces, augmented reality, and surveillance. The augmented reality market has particular broad impact beyond the visually impaired. First responders such as fire fighters and police officers can receive additional information via a computer vision prosthetic that enhances their existing perception. Additionally, there exists a strong demand by human interface researchers for this technology in a commercially available device.

这个小型企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段项目的重点是减少机器视觉和人机界面解决方案的足迹，以支持可穿戴设备，提高视障人士的环境意识。计算机视觉在机器人领域提供了重要的功能，包括对象跟踪，面部识别，环境定位和危险检测。 在过去，计算机视觉传感器/软件系统一直是缓慢的，笨重的，耗电的。 成像硬件和嵌入式处理的最新进展现在提供了将视觉系统（包括立体视觉和其他复杂操作）缩小到允许它们嵌入到可穿戴设备（类似于环绕式太阳镜）中的尺寸的机会。使用听觉信号将环境信息反馈给佩戴者，该设备将为视力受损者提供宝贵的、以前无法想象的视觉感知能力。 其中包括：1）即使在GPS拒绝的环境中也确定行进的距离; 2）检测和分类障碍物、落差、悬突和其他附近的危险;以及3）检测附近人的存在和相对位置。该项目更广泛的影响/商业潜力将是计算机视觉和人机界面技术紧密结合的重大突破。 该提案中开发的技术对视障人士具有相当大的影响，并具有强大的商业潜力。 现有技术无法满足视障者的需要。 拟议的技术将提高视障者的独立性，改善他们的生活质量，特别是在社会交往方面。这项技术最初是为了帮助视障人士而开发的，有可能产生更广泛的科学和商业影响。该产品的商业潜力包括机器人，军事地面部队，增强现实和监视。 增强现实市场对视力受损者以外的人有着特别广泛的影响。 消防员和警察等第一反应人员可以通过计算机视觉假肢接收额外的信息，以增强他们现有的感知。 此外，人机界面研究人员强烈要求将该技术应用于商用设备中。