Chinese University Develops Six-Legged Guide Robot for Visually Impaired
Shanghai, The Gulf Observer: A research team from Shanghai Jiao Tong University has unveiled a groundbreaking six-legged guide robot designed to assist visually impaired people, addressing China’s significant shortage of real guide dogs.
In a press release on Thursday, Professor Gao Feng from the School of Mechanical Engineering stated, “We believe our robot will function as a ‘pair of eyes’ for visually impaired people.”
According to the China Association of Persons with Visual Disabilities, approximately 17.31 million people in China are visually impaired. However, the high costs and lengthy training periods for guide dogs mean there are only about 400 guide dogs in service nationwide, providing just one guide dog for every 40,000 visually impaired individuals.
The new guide robot is poised to be a robust alternative to real guide dogs. It features advanced capabilities, including speech recognition that allows it to respond to blind users in under a second. The robot can walk at a maximum speed of three meters per second while maintaining a stable and quiet gait. It is equipped with visual environmental perception abilities, enabling it to autonomously navigate, avoid obstacles, and recognize traffic lights.
The robot also serves as a home companion and emergency responder, facilitated by internet connectivity. “The primary task of our robot is to establish effective communication with blind individuals to understand their intentions while maintaining coordinated movements,” Gao explained.
To achieve these functionalities, the robot utilizes a multisensory perception system encompassing “seeing, hearing, asking, and touching.” It combines natural language comprehension and speech recognition with force-feedback canes, allowing users to control the robot effectively. Advanced machine learning algorithms enable the robot to avoid both static and dynamic obstacles with high stability and safety. Multiple sensors, including laser radar, enhance its perception accuracy in complex environments, allowing smooth navigation on various terrains, both indoors and outdoors, without needing internet access.
The guide robot is currently in the field testing phase, with visually impaired individuals participating in offline demonstrations and tests. “We have already received orders for 20 units and believe that it will soon be ready for the market,” Gao stated.
This innovative development is expected to provide much-needed assistance to millions of visually impaired people in China, significantly improving their independence and quality of life.
