$3,000 raised
TARGET $10,000
Please support this cause
$
AUD
About the project
We are a passionate and motivated team from the Melbourne School of Engineering and the Melbourne Business School, and our vision is to develop an affordable and user-friendly device to revolutionise the way the mobility-impaired navigate their surroundings. Whether it is to get to work or to a social event, this device will enable them to access the community, safely and independently. Please join us in bringing our device to life.
Worldwide, 1.3 billion people, that’s 19% of the global population have some form of disability. Within this segment, 243 million people rely on mobility aids such as walking sticks, walking frames, blind canes and wheelchairs, to navigate their surroundings. These numbers are only going to grow with our aging population.
For those that rely on mobility aids, the most difficult challenge they face is the ability to travel independently and safely. Uneven surfaces are an everyday nightmare whereby potholes, cracked footpaths, uneven grates and sudden drop-offs such as train platforms can impact on safety and limit independence.
Unlike protruding hazards, there is no existing commercialised technology capable of recognising sudden shifts in gradient. Many would need to rely on caregivers to help navigate their surroundings.
But there is an answer – and it will improve the quality of life for the 243 million people who rely on mobility aids.
The Solution
Our vision is to develop SenseSEE - a novel device that uses laser technology and data analytics to identify and inform users of hazards arising from uneven surfaces such as sudden drop-offs, potholes, and descending kerbs. The detection of uneven surfaces has never been achieved in a commercial assistive device before. Positioned in front of wheelchairs and walking aids, SenseSEE allows users to explore new routes independently with ease at any time of day. Structured lasers cast patterns on surfaces, recognising terrain variations not picked up by conventional ultrasound hazard detection technology.
Users are then alerted of potential trip hazards and directed to use alternative routes through an integrated mobile application – giving users back their independence and helping to prevent falls for people with temporary or ongoing mobility impairment.
Not only this but, detected hazards are then fed to a ‘cloud’, which allows future users to navigate the same path safely. So in other words, many users can collectively crowdsource hazard data to ensure the safety of others in the community. This real-time technology prevents onerous travel preparation, making users confident that they can trust their chosen journey.
Where we are at
So far, we have successfully developed an IoS platform-based mobile application that displays uneven surface hazard locations within a 500 m radius of the user. When the user approaches a hazard that is inside 5 meters, the mobile application alerts them through audio and vibrational feedback. As they continue to approach the hazard, the alert grows louder and vibrates faster. This new hazard location will be shared and can be visualised by other users on their mobile application within 30 seconds of uploading.
Why we need your help
We still have a long way to go and limited resources. Your support will help us to produce the hardware design, development, and integration with the mobile application. Over the next 6 months, our aim is to prototype the complete device so that it is ready for testing across multiple user groups – users, their caregivers, service providers as well as government agencies. Their feedback will inform product refinement, leading to a small, easy-to-use and affordable solution to the uneven surface hazards that hinder the safety and independence of 243 million people worldwide.
Please support us
We are not just building a device. We want to empower those with a mobility impairment to navigate safely and independently at all times and help them access the community for employment and for social purposes.
Please give today to play an active role in making SenseSEE a reality. In doing so, you are taking us a step closer to increased independence and safety for all.
Double your impact! - Thanks to the generous support of the Melbourne School of Engineering, every dollar you give will be matched dollar for dollar until we reach our target.
We are a passionate and motivated team from the Melbourne School of Engineering and the Melbourne Business School, and our vision is to develop an affordable and user-friendly device to revolutionise the way the mobility-impaired navigate their surroundings. Whether it is to get to work or to a social event, this device will enable them to access the community, safely and independently. Please join us in bringing our device to life.
Worldwide, 1.3 billion people, that’s 19% of the global population have some form of disability. Within this segment, 243 million people rely on mobility aids such as walking sticks, walking frames, blind canes and wheelchairs, to navigate their surroundings. These numbers are only going to grow with our aging population.
For those that rely on mobility aids, the most difficult challenge they face is the ability to travel independently and safely. Uneven surfaces are an everyday nightmare whereby potholes, cracked footpaths, uneven grates and sudden drop-offs such as train platforms can impact on safety and limit independence.
Unlike protruding hazards, there is no existing commercialised technology capable of recognising sudden shifts in gradient. Many would need to rely on caregivers to help navigate their surroundings.
But there is an answer – and it will improve the quality of life for the 243 million people who rely on mobility aids.
The Solution
Our vision is to develop SenseSEE - a novel device that uses laser technology and data analytics to identify and inform users of hazards arising from uneven surfaces such as sudden drop-offs, potholes, and descending kerbs. The detection of uneven surfaces has never been achieved in a commercial assistive device before. Positioned in front of wheelchairs and walking aids, SenseSEE allows users to explore new routes independently with ease at any time of day. Structured lasers cast patterns on surfaces, recognising terrain variations not picked up by conventional ultrasound hazard detection technology.
Users are then alerted of potential trip hazards and directed to use alternative routes through an integrated mobile application – giving users back their independence and helping to prevent falls for people with temporary or ongoing mobility impairment.
Not only this but, detected hazards are then fed to a ‘cloud’, which allows future users to navigate the same path safely. So in other words, many users can collectively crowdsource hazard data to ensure the safety of others in the community. This real-time technology prevents onerous travel preparation, making users confident that they can trust their chosen journey.
Where we are at
So far, we have successfully developed an IoS platform-based mobile application that displays uneven surface hazard locations within a 500 m radius of the user. When the user approaches a hazard that is inside 5 meters, the mobile application alerts them through audio and vibrational feedback. As they continue to approach the hazard, the alert grows louder and vibrates faster. This new hazard location will be shared and can be visualised by other users on their mobile application within 30 seconds of uploading.
Why we need your help
We still have a long way to go and limited resources. Your support will help us to produce the hardware design, development, and integration with the mobile application. Over the next 6 months, our aim is to prototype the complete device so that it is ready for testing across multiple user groups – users, their caregivers, service providers as well as government agencies. Their feedback will inform product refinement, leading to a small, easy-to-use and affordable solution to the uneven surface hazards that hinder the safety and independence of 243 million people worldwide.
Please support us
We are not just building a device. We want to empower those with a mobility impairment to navigate safely and independently at all times and help them access the community for employment and for social purposes.
Please give today to play an active role in making SenseSEE a reality. In doing so, you are taking us a step closer to increased independence and safety for all.
Double your impact! - Thanks to the generous support of the Melbourne School of Engineering, every dollar you give will be matched dollar for dollar until we reach our target.
Fundraising For
Helping a Friend in Need (HAFIN)
Helping A Friend in Need (HAFIN) ABN 86611164197 disburses tax deductible donations to individuals and families for the direct relief of poverty, sickness, suffering, distress, misfortune, disability, destitution or helplessness. Donations are tax deductible and are disbursed directly to the beneficiary.Be the first to donate to this cause!
CREATOR Melbourne School of Engineering
SINCE Apr 2019
0
Donations
$3,000 raised
TARGET $10,000
Please support this cause
$
AUD
Fundraising For
Helping a Friend in Need (HAFIN)
Helping A Friend in Need (HAFIN) ABN 86611164197 disburses tax deductible donations to individuals and families for the direct relief of poverty, sickness, suffering, distress, misfortune, disability, destitution or helplessness. Donations are tax deductible and are disbursed directly to the beneficiary.CREATOR Melbourne School of Engineering
SINCE Apr 2019
0
Donations