IoT-Based Smart Stick for Visually Impaired People

Abstract

This paper presents the development of a smart stick to enhance visually impaired individuals' mobility, safety, and independence. The study aimed to integrate various features into a cohesive and user-centric device. The stick incorporates GSM/GPS tracking for continuous user location monitoring. This smart home automation mechanism allows the user to turn utilities ON/OFF with a single button press, obstacle detection using ultrasonic sensors, battery optimization techniques including solar charging and voltage supply to the battery by use of a stepper motor, emergency communication through GSM technology, and stick tracking within a certain radius using RF modules. The study's findings demonstrate the successful integration and functionality of the proposed features, cover the gaps identified with the help of extensive research and critical literature review and extend a gateway into the ocean of future study and diverse feature employment that could be incorporated in the smart stick.