24-11-2012, 05:33 PM
an electronic eye
ABSTRACT
This paper proposes a method for detecting frontal pedestrian crossings from image data obtained with a single camera as a travel aid for the visually challenged. This would be mounted on a pair of glasses, will be capable of detecting the existence and location of a pedestrian crossing, to measure the width of the road, and to detect the color of the traffic lights. The process of detecting a crossing is a pre-process followed by the process for detecting the state of the traffic lights. It is important for the visually challenged to know whether or not a frontal area is a crossing. The existence of a crossing is detected in two steps. In the first step, edge detection and pattern detection are employed to identify the crossing. In the second step, the existence of a crossing is detected by checking the periodicity of white lines on the road using projective invariants. Then the traffic light detector is used to check the pedestrian light and the time display. The calculated time is then compared with the average time needed for a blind person to cross. The observations are relayed through voice signals using the voice vision technology. Thus, this effective technology aids mobility for the visually impaired throughout the globe.