SBIR Phase I: Wearable Augmented Perception for Environmental Recognition

该小型企业创新研究(SBIR)第一阶段项目专注于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，从而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能力，包括对象跟踪、面部识别、环境定位和危险检测。过去，计算机视觉传感器/软件系统速度慢、体积大、耗电量大。成像硬件和嵌入式处理的最新进展现在提供了一个机会，可以将包括立体视觉和其他复杂操作在内的视觉系统缩小到允许它们嵌入可穿戴设备中的大小，类似于环绕式太阳镜。使用听觉信号向佩戴者反馈环境信息，该设备将为视障人士提供宝贵的、以前无法想象的视觉感知能力。这包括：1)即使在无法使用GPS的环境中也能确定行驶距离；2)检测和分类障碍物、落物、悬挑和附近的其他危险；3)检测附近人群的存在和相对位置。该项目的广泛影响/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。这项建议开发的技术对视障人士有相当大的影响，具有很强的商业潜力。现有技术无法满足视障人士的需求。拟议的技术将提高视障人士的独立性，并改善他们的生活质量，特别是在社交方面。这项技术最初是为了帮助视障人士而生产的，现在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、增强现实和监控。增强现实市场的影响尤其广泛，超出了视障人士的范畴。消防员和警察等急救人员可以通过计算机视觉假肢接收额外信息，增强他们现有的感知能力。此外，人机界面研究人员对商业设备中的这项技术有着强烈的需求。

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.