Bocellibot: Robot para asistir en movilidad a personas con limitación visual avanzada

People with disabilities face multiple challenges daily, such as difficulties with social interaction, navigating public spaces, accessing goods and services, using public transportation, and finding employment and educational opportunities, among others. In Colombia, the Ministry of Health and Social Protection has led the development of the National Public Policy on Disability and Social Inclusion, an initiative aimed at implementing strategies to improve the quality of life for people with disabilities and their families. According to the 2018 census, 3,134,036 people (7.1% of the national population) have some form of disability, and within this group, 1,948,332 individuals experience visual impairment, representing a significant challenge to their autonomy and personal development. These individuals struggle to navigate unfamiliar environments due to their visual limitations, which prevent them from recognizing logos, objects, or symbols, and hinder their ability to perceive distances, shapes, depths, or colors. This lack of visual perception negatively impacts their independence and affects critical aspects such as safety, self-esteem, social participation, and self-fulfillment. In this context, this project develops a guide robot with a focus on the Internet of Things, designed to assist people with visual impairments in navigating indoor spaces such as shopping malls, government offices, and health centers. The robot enhances autonomy in decision-making while respecting the user's privacy and freedom. Tests conducted demonstrate that the system safely and efficiently guides users to points of interest, ensuring effective interaction through voice commands and appropriate navigation speeds, thereby contributing to the independence and empowerment of people with visual impairments.