RDE-FRI : Indoor/Outdoor Blind Navigation and Awareness System for Blind Students

即使在理想的学术环境中，一所大学拥有无限的资源来减少课堂上的挑战，盲人学生也会错过课堂外的无数教育机会。该项目提出了一个使用RFID标签网格的导航和位置确定系统。零售业已经开发了一种低成本的标签系统，以电子方式监控从制造、仓库到消费者的产品。满足零售业需求的设计要求是单位成本低、可靠、无能为力、能够传输广泛的数据。通过利用RFID技术的进步，开发一种利用RFID标签作为基于位置的信息网格的系统是可行的。每个RFID标签都永久安装在地毯、木地板下、走廊装饰的后面、人行道上，以及任何人行道的一部分。每个RFID标签在安装时被编程为具有其X、Y坐标和描述环境的信息。这使得本地化的信息系统不依赖于用于通信的中央数据库或无线基础设施。对于每个标签不到1美元，可以存储250字节的信息，当用户接近标签时可以读取这些信息。使用提出的压缩和灵活的基于XML的协议，房间中的RFID网格可以存储房间对象的完整库存和位置以及有关邻近房间的信息。进入房间后，门口的RFID标签提供房间内容和每个对象的位置的摘要。然后，这些信息被读取到学生的手机或PDA中，当学生需要找到电源插座、电话、桌子、自动售货机等时，系统-根据RFID标签坐标知道其当前位置-可以通过语音提示给出到达对象的路径。

Even in an ideal academic setting in which a University has unlimited resources to reduce the challenges in the classroom, blind students will miss out on the numerous educational opportunities outside the classroom. This project proposes a navigation and location determination system using an RFID tag grid. The retail industry has developed a low cost tagging system to electronically monitor products from manufacturing, warehouse and to the consumer. The design requirements to satisfy the needs of the retail industry are low cost per unit, reliable, powerless and the ability to transmit a wide range of data. By leveraging advances in RFID technology it is feasible to develop a system that utilizes RFID tags as a location based information grid. Each RFID tag is permanently installed under carpet, wood floors, behind trim in hallways, along sidewalks and as part of any pedestrian path. Each RFID tag is programmed upon installation with its X,Y coordinates and information describing the surroundings. This allows for a localized information system with no dependency on a centralized database or wireless infrastructure for communications. For under $1 per tag it is possible to store 250 bytes of information that can be read as the user approaches the tag. Using proposed compression and flexible XML based protocols, an RFID grid in a room can store a complete inventory and location of the room objects and information about neighboring rooms. Upon entry into a room the RFID tags at the door provide a summary of the room's content and the location of each object. This information is then read into the student's cell phone or PDA and when the student needs to find the electrical outlet, telephone, desk, vending machine, etc., the system - knowing its current location based on the RFID tag coordinates - can give the path to the object through voice prompts.