College Students Build Car for the Blind

Next time someone cuts you off and you yell out the window, "Hey buddy, are you blind?" consider this: A new car developed by undergraduate students at Virginia Tech just might make that a possible scenario (thanks to Wired blog Autopia for the heads-up). But this thing is so tricked-out with safety features that its blind operators probably won't be on the receiving end of many road-rage rants.

The prototype is built on the bones of an ordinary dune buggy, using technology grafted from the university's entry in federal defense agency DARPA's (the folks who brought us the Internet) Urban Challenge. "The semi-autonomous vehicle uses a laser range finder, voice software and other sensory technology, and it worked flawlessly when blind drivers took the wheel on a closed course," writes Wired blogger Ben Mack.

According to the article, the project began in 2004 as a challenge from the Jermigan Institute, which is affiliated with the National Federation of the Blind. Virginia Tech was the only organization to accept the challenge and received a modest $3,000 grant to build the blind-friendly car. The Blind Driver Challenge team is part of the Robotics and Mechanisms Laboratory, leveraging the collective efforts of about 10 undergraduates.

Under the hood, the blind buggy boasts a laser-powered range finder that acts as the driver's eyes by constantly scanning the vicinity for any dangers, along with a vibrating vest that gives feedback for speed and the ability to use voice commands. Some of the more subtle points of driving a car still have to be worked out, including the difference between a gentle turn and a sharp turn, but the team considers this challenge its "going to the moon project," although NASA had slightly more than just $3,000 for the Apollo missions.

Now if we can just get drivers with perfect vision to actually pay better attention to the road — you know who you are — we can make the road a little less stressful for the rest of us.

Photo courtesy of Virginia Tech News.