Not Just a Stick
From: Servo Magazine - 11/2014 - page 9

A co-robotic cane developed at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock
promises to make life easier for blind people who now navigate via the
standard aluminum or plastic stick with a rubber tip on the end. The advanced
version “facilitates communication between the environment, the cane, and the
user” via two cameras and Bluetooth audio.

The cameras detect obstacles in the user’s path and provide audio feedback to
facilitate safe travel. In addition, the cane provides guidance via a rolling
tip that points in the proper direction.

Using a computer, it can even store information about the surrounding terrain
and recent pathways to help map out a safe course ahead of time.
Unfortunately, the unit is only a prototype developed under the National
Robotics Initiative and funded by the National Science Foundation and
National Institutes of Health. At this point, there is no word about when a
commercial model might appear. The good news is that the nation's seeing eye
dogs won't be standing in unemployment lines any time soon.

View the article (subscription required) at:
http://servo.texterity.com/servo/201411/?sub_id=BHmR7PDhOyvzE#pg9

Links:
A Co-Robot Cane for the Visually Impaired
http://ualr.edu/cxye/proj10_co-robot_cane.htm

An Autonomous, Self-Steering Robo-Cane, and Other Co-Robots to Come
http://www.popsci.com/blog-network/zero-moment/autonomous-self-steering-robo-cane-and-other-co-robots-come

An Autonomous, Self-Steering Robot Cane for the Blind
http://www.neatorama.com/2013/10/27/An-Autonomous-Self-Steering-Robot-Cane-for-the-Blind/

Developing a 'smart cane' for the blind
http://www.gizmag.com/smart-cane-uses-laser-range-finder/16562/

UALR lands federal grant for Co-Robotic Cane 
http://ualr.edu/www/2013/09/25/federal-funding-supports-research-for-co-robotic-cane/