Among the many challenges faced by blind and partially sighted people (BPS), mobility is a key issue.
Moving around safely, whether at home or in unfamiliar places, is crucial to their independence and safety. Poorly designed pavements, lack of audible signals at pedestrian crossings, public transport that is poorly adapted or not adapted at all: difficulties and dangers are around every corner! In response to this situation, SII, a digital services and technology consulting company, is currently working on a bold prototype based on an existing device, the vibrating vest, to create a high-performance obstacle detection system (using lidar, cameras and data fusion) designed to facilitate the mobility of people with mobility impairments. Called ‘I CAN SII’, this project – still in the development stage – aims to bring about lasting change in the daily lives of people with mobility impairments by improving their quality of life in a sustainable way.
Obstacle detection for autonomous vehicles... and now available for PAMs
At a time when obstacle detection technologies are becoming increasingly sophisticated – as seen in autonomous cars – 2.2 billion blind and visually impaired people around the world continue to use canes or guide dogs, which are useful but still rudimentary devices.
Created within SII's South-West agency, the ‘I CAN SII’ device offers an ergonomic, reliable and intuitive alternative designed to improve the mobility of PAMs, while avoiding increasing their cognitive load. Unlike existing solutions, which cannot detect objects at height (such as signs), silent moving objects (such as electric scooters) and objects with a small footprint (such as barriers), SII experts have devised a solution that optimises recognition accuracy, obstacle classification, distance measurement, and height and direction measurements, while leaving users' hands free to interact with their environment. This solution also ensures that hearing is not used to relay information, so that users can continue to use this sense, which is essential for them in understanding their environment.
A project developed in partnership with associations that assist blind and visually impaired people.
The ‘I CAN SII’ prototype consists of an RGB camera and a 2D LIDAR, enabling data fusion, as well as an on-board map and a vibrating vest or cuff, enabling information feedback. The integration of data from the camera and LIDAR enables the detection of different types of obstacles (fixed, silent moving, on the ground or overhead), while the information is intuitively relayed to users through vibrations. In this way, the SII Group aims to meet specific needs identified by PAMs during workshops conducted with associations such as Les Auxiliaires des Aveugles and UNADEV (Union Nationale des Aveugles et Déficients visuels).
Project implementation
The development of this project, led by the Toulouse and Bordeaux teams at SII Research, is based on a user-centred approach, with close collaboration between researchers and end users (blind and visually impaired people) throughout the process via co-design workshops, user tests and interviews.
This methodical approach aims to guarantee an effective solution tailored to the real needs of PAMs. Launched in 2023, the ‘I CAN SII’ project is currently under development, with SII teams seeking to multiply and combine approaches: vibratory feedback, obstacle detection based on LIDAR technology and cameras, or exploration of image-only detection, and the development of artificial intelligence at the heart of this device. New user tests will be conducted shortly to assess the impact of this solution on situational awareness and the mental load of PAMs.
A strategic vision driving innovation
At SII, this type of project goes beyond the simple framework of technological innovation. It is part of a strategic approach aimed at preparing engineers for the challenges of their clients' projects by exposing them to cutting-edge technologies and real-world issues.
‘The idea came about simultaneously on both sides of the Atlantic. This collaboration between our team in France and our Canadian partners, which began last year, is based on regular meetings every two weeks. These meetings allow the teams to share their progress and provide each other with technical support to overcome the challenges of the project,’ explains Maryam Boujdaa, R&D Project Manager at SII Sud-Ouest.» précise Maryam Boujdaa, Chef de projet R&D chez SII Sud-Ouest.
In this way, they acquire the technical expertise to develop new systems that will equip the transport systems of the future, with new detection, interaction and autonomy features. Furthermore, the technologies deployed in ‘I CAN SII’ – initially used in the design of land and air vehicles – perfectly illustrate the adaptability of these solutions to other sectors. With ‘I CAN SII’, SII demonstrates its commitment to pushing the boundaries of innovation, while placing people at the heart of its concerns.
‘This ambitious project demonstrates that a shared vision, supported by complementary technologies, can lead to innovative solutions,’ says Philippe Thiels, Director of SII South-West.
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