Budget Friendly Smart Stick with Auditory Feedback for Blind Assistance in India

The primary aim of this study is to enhance traditional walking sticks by developing a budget-friendly, sensor-enabled walking aid for visually impaired individuals. Conventional aids provide basic physical feedback but lack the ability to inform users about obstacles at a distance or within a broader field of view. Our proposed smart stick integrates an Arduino, ultrasonic sensors, and a buzzer to detect obstacles within a defined range, offering auditory feedback through variable beep intervals and tones based on proximity. Testing in both controlled and outdoor environments demonstrated that the system reliably provides faster, higher-pitched beeps as obstacles draw nearer, allowing users to distinguish between different distances. This real-time feedback design enables visually impaired users to gauge their surroundings and navigate independently. The product offers an affordable, accessible assistive tool that empowers users with enhanced spatial awareness and confidence.