Haptic distance sensor

Описание: http://people.ece.cornell.edu/land/co...
The device delivers spatial information about a small area in front of the user via haptic feedback: range information from time-of-flight (TOF) sensors is mapped to the vibration intensity of vibration motors against the user’s skin. This device is intended to be an Electronic Travel Aid (ETA) to assist in the mobility of a visually impaired pedestrian. The sensing module contains six time-of-flight distance sensors arranged horizontally at relative angles to measure distance from the user’s hand to six points along an arc in front of him or her. The sensing module is held in the user’s head. The total angular range across the distance sensor is about 25 degrees, which gives information across a spread of one meter at one meter of distance from the sensor module. Six vibration motors convey the sensor information to the user through haptic feedback using a one-to-one mapping of sensors to vibration motors. Vibration intensity is varied through pulse-width modification (PWM). If an object is detected within range by one of the sensors, the motor corresponding to that sensor vibrates, allowing the user to identify an object’s location and general profile. Various strength of vibration are used to indicate proximity so that the user can sense the change in distance and steer away from obstruction.