SBIR Phase I: A System for Indoor Navigation to Assist the Visually Impaired

Koronis Biomedical Technologies（KBT）的这项小型企业创新研究第一阶段研究将开发一种低成本的室内个人导航系统。 需要室内导航技术来支持视障人士的无缝移动。 已经创建了许多定位设备，但到目前为止，它们都有限制其广泛使用的主要缺点。 一个人在公共和商业建筑内自由行动的能力是在教育机构和工作环境中融入和独立的一个重要因素。 最近发展的时域超宽带无线技术使得室内导航成为可能。 这项新技术能够在没有任何特殊建筑基础设施的情况下跟踪建筑物内的位置。 提供当前位置、关于室内环境的有用的上下文寻路信息以及到目的地的方向的小型便携式个人导航设备将极大地改善具有低视力的人的访问和独立性。 这种装置将使视障者能够在公共和商业建筑内自由行动。

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I research from Koronis Biomedical Technologies (KBT) will develop a low-cost indoor personal navigation system. Indoor navigation technology is needed to support seamless mobility for the visually impaired. A number of location devices have been created, but thus far they all have major drawbacks that limit their widespread use. The ability of a person to move freely within public and commercial buildings is an important factor for integration and independence in educational institutions and the work environment. Recently developed time-domain ultra-wideband wireless technology makes indoor navigation feasible. This new technology has the capability to track locations inside buildings without any special building infrastructure. A small, portable personal navigation device that provides current position, useful contextual wayfinding information about the indoor environment, and directions to a destination would greatly improve access and independence for people with low vision. Such a device would allow visually impaired persons the freedom of movement within public and commercial buildings.