Engineers at Shanghai Jiao Tong University in China have created an advanced AI-enabled robotic guide dog designed to assist the visually impaired. Equipped with sophisticated optics, this robotic dog can detect environmental changes, avoid obstacles, and recognize traffic signals, enhancing its ability to navigate safely.
The guide ‘dogs’ of the future? Developers in China are creating new robots to help visually impaired people. pic.twitter.com/9Aozn3pZad
— NowThis Impact (@nowthisimpact) July 9, 2024
The robot, developed by the university’s School of Mechanical Engineering under the leadership of Professor Feng Gao, responds accurately to voice commands like “start,” “stop,” and “set a destination” thanks to its deep learning-based speech recognition models. Additionally, it features a unique speed-control cane mounted on its back, which allows users to control movement speed by pushing or pulling.
This innovative guide dog boasts six legs for optimal stability and smooth motion, making it the first of its kind to integrate three interaction modes: auditory, tactile, and force feedback. This allows for a responsive and interactive experience, providing real-time feedback about walking conditions and the environment.
The robot can reach speeds of up to nine feet per second and has the capability to connect to Wi-Fi networks, offering the potential to summon help in emergencies or provide other services. While the robots are still in the development phase with Souchen Robot Co. and not yet in production, their anticipated benefits include cost savings and an answer to the shortage of traditional guide dogs.
New Robot Guide Dogs for the Blind Use AI to Obey Commands
Engineers in China have built a computerized canine that could provide a practical alternative to real guide dogs.
Read more: https://t.co/skSR1us38H pic.twitter.com/cscorvppil— Mars Signals (@MarsSignals) July 10, 2024
Commercial robot dogs like the Unitree Go2 Pro and Boston Dynamics’ Spot are priced from $4,200 to over $70,000 in the U.S., but are not specifically tailored for assisting the blind. In comparison, the cost of training and maintaining a guide dog can reach $50,000 annually, with lifetime costs potentially reaching $500,000. Despite its potentially high initial price, a guide robot could offer significant long-term savings.
However, the development of this helpful robot comes amidst contrasting developments in China, where another type of robot dog equipped with a machine gun was showcased in military drills, highlighting the diverse applications of robotic technology.
Major Points:
- Innovative Design: Engineers at Shanghai Jiao Tong University in China have developed an AI-enabled robotic guide dog equipped with advanced optics to assist the visually impaired, capable of detecting environmental changes and navigating obstacles.
- Voice Command Capable: The robotic dog utilizes deep learning speech recognition models to understand and execute voice commands such as “start,” “stop,” and “set a destination.”
- Interactive Mobility: Featuring a unique speed-control cane on its back, the robot allows users to control their walking pace through a tactile interface, enhancing user interaction with real-time environmental feedback.
- Fast and Connected: The robotic guide dog can move up to nine feet per second and connect to Wi-Fi, providing additional services and the ability to contact emergency services if needed.
- Cost-Effective Potential: While still under development and not yet in production, this robotic guide dog promises significant long-term cost savings over traditional guide dogs, which can be expensive to train and maintain.
James Kravitz – Reprinted with permission of Whatfinger News
