Agriculture
January 10, 2024
EzyStove Wood Cookstove
Read SolutionImplemented by
Veryday (McKinsey Design)
Updated on February 5, 2024
·Created on July 27, 2017
The SmartCane is an electronic device to assist in obstacle detection for the visually impaired.
The SmartCane is an electronic device that fits as a handle on walking sticks or white canes used by visually impaired people. The SmartCane adds additional functionality to the cane or walking stick, which can only detect obstacles up to knee height, by enabling obstacle detection from knee to head height using sonic waves.
Target SDGs
SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being
Market Suggested Retail Price
$90.00
Target Users (Target Impact Group)
Household
Distributors / Implementing Organizations
The SmartCane is distributed by these organizations: Amedia Corporation Akiyama, Access to Success, Distripharm LTD, Bahiru Abas Advertising Company, Namad Fanavari Emrooz Co, Christian Foundation for the Blind, Disability Management Services (DMS), Braille Press Limited, along with many other Indian partners.
Manufacturing/Building Method
The SmartCane is mass produced at Phoenix Medical's Chennai based production facility.
Intellectural Property Type
Patent
User Provision Model
Users may purchase the SmartCane through one of the many distribution partners, through the ADIP scheme in India or through other countries as listed.
Distributions to Date Status
Over 20,000 SmartCanes have been distributed as of 2019.
Height (cm)
0.24 cm
User height (cm)
Any
Weight (kg)
0.136 kg (device and battery)
Weight capacity (kg)
None
Target population
Visually impaired
Power Supply Type
Rechargeable Li-Ion battery
Indispensable equipment for function (Y/N)
White cane
Design Specifications
Device Specifications: - Dimensions (H x W x D): 240 x 53 x 32 mm - Grip Height: 190 mm - Maximum Grip Diameter: 32.5 mm - Sensor-angle Settings : 3 Settings (0°, 17.8° and 35.6°) - White Cane Diameter Range: 12.8 mm to 13.04 mm - SmartCane Material: Polycarbonate - Electrical Protection: Class II, Type BF - Operating Temperature: -10° to +50° C - Storage Temperature: -25° to +70° C - Relative Humidity Range: 15% to 93% (RH) - Storage Humidity Rang: 0% to 95% (RH) - Barometric Pressure Range: 700 to 1060 hPa - Storage Pressure Range: 0 to 1060 hPa - Ingress protection: IP22 - Average Vibration Intensity: 0.8 m/s2 - Minimum Vibration Intensity: 0.6 m/s2 - Maximum Vibration Intensity: 2.3 m/s2 - Audible Alarms: > 65 dB(A) - White Cane Length: 100 cm - Comes with long-range and short-range modes
Technical Support
Training resources are provided in many languages by Saksham. Users may also contact the email an/or phone number provided on the SmartCane website. Often, the SmartCane distributors can provide the device, training, user support, and repair support in their respective country. The warranty for a SmartCaneTM Device lasts for twelve months from the date of purchase.
Replacement Components
Replacements: The battery is rechargeable. However it can be replaced at the manufacturer's authorized service centers if needed. In certain cases the user can request for a replacement of the white cane if does not fit their height requirements.
Lifecycle
A fully charged battery can last for 8 hours of continuous use. The expected service life is five years according to the user manual which can be downloaded here.
Manufacturer Specified Performance Parameters
The designers seek to address the need of alerting the visually-impaired of obstacles above knee-height, especially in crowded countries such as India.
Vetted Performance Status
The National Association for the Blind confirmed proof of concept. The SmartCane has also received the National Award from the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment under the category of “Best Applied Research/Innovation/Product Development Aimed at Improving the Life of Persons with Disabilities”.
Safety
Safety precautions can be found in the FAQ section of the SmartCane website and in the user manual. The user should continue following other safety precautions normally observed during independent cane mobility.
Complementary Technical Systems
Functioning electrical outlets are required to charge the device.
Academic Research and References
Singh, V., Paul, R., Mehra, D., Gupta, A., Sharma, V.D., Jain, S., Agarwal, C., Garg, A., Gujral, S.S., Balakrishnan, M. and Paul, K., 2010, ‘Smart’Cane for the Visually Impaired: Design and Controlled Field Testing of an Affordable Obstacle Detection System, TRANSED 2010: 12th International Conference on Mobility and Transport for Elderly and Disabled Persons, Hong Kong, China, June 1-4, 2010.
Balakrishnan, M., Paul, K., Garg, A., Paul, R., Mehra, D., Singh, V., Rao, P.V.M., Goel, V., Chatterjee, D. and Manocha, D., 2007, Cane Mounted Knee-Above Obstacle Detection and Warning System for the Visually Impaired, Proceedings of the IDETC/CIE, Las Vegas, NV, September 4-7, 2007, ASME Paper No. DETC2007-35238, pp. 143-151.
Rohan, P., Ankush, G., Vaibhav, S., Dheeraj, M., Balakrishnan, M., Kolin, P. and Dipendra, M., 2007, ‘Smart’Cane for the Visually Impaired: Technological Solutions for Detecting Knee-Above Obstacles and Accessing Public Buses, 11th International Conference on Mobility and Transport for Elderly and Disabled Persons (TRANSED) Transport, Montreal, Canada, June 18-21, 2007.
Chitranshi, G. and Yadav, R.K., 2014, Assistive Aids for the Disabled: Past, Present and Future, Confluence The Next Generation Information Technology Summit (Confluence), 2014 5th International Conference, Noida, India, Sept 25-26, 2014.
Elmannai, W. and Elleithy, K., 2017, Sensor-Based Assistive Devices for Visually-Impaired People: Current Status, Challenges, and Future Directions, Sensors, 17(3), p. 565.
SmartCane. “Procurement under ADIP Scheme: Smartcane.” Smartcane Device, 2020.
SmartCane. “Availability – Other Countries: Smartcane.” Smartcane Device, 2020.
SmartCane. “Manufacturing: Smartcane.” Smartcane Device. 2020.
SmartCane. “Specifications: Smartcane.” Smartcane Device. 2020.
SmartCane. “Training Resourses: Smartcane.” Smartcane Device. 2020.
SmartCane. “FAQs: Smartcane.” Smartcane Device. 2020.
RAMAKRISHNAN, AMRIT. “A Smart Solution for the Visually-Impaired.” BusinessLine, January 23, 2018.
Compliance with regulations
The SmartCane design uses ISO certified processes for Design, Manufacture, Sales and Service and the cane is CE marked.
Evaluation methods
Researchers conducted user trials with over 150 people focusing on weight, size, ergonomics, electronics packaging, improving usability, reliability and maintainability of the product. Extensive multi-locations user feedback revealed many new requirements that helped in refining the product. Various grip configurations for the SmartCane were tested with a large group to assess grip ergonomics.
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