PROJECT DETAILS

Bus Identification and Homing System for the Visually Challenged

Motivation
For the visually challenged individuals, public transport is the only viable mobility option. In the
bus transport system, the route number is generally displayed on the front top panel of the bus.
Thus, a visually challenged person has to rely on a fellow traveller to obtain the route number of
the bus. The situation gets difficult at less-frequently used bus stops where the person might be
alone. Also, the user would like to know about all the buses that arrive at the bus stop so as to
make a choice between them. It is commonly observed that a number of buses arrive together
and line up arbitrarily at the bus stop. Thus, even after identification the user cannot navigate
towards the bus since he/she is unsure about its physical location. At present there is no
affordable solution that can be effectively applied in developing countries.

System Description
This device consists of two modules: (i) User Module, carried by the user, (ii) Bus Module,
placed at the entry of each bus. Once the user hears a bus approaching the bus stop, he presses
the Query Button on the User Module which transmits a radio-frequency (RF) signal to all the
buses in the vicinity. Each bus module responds by transmitting its route number. All numbers
received are sequentially spoken out by the user module.

Figure1: User queries all buses for route number. Numbers received are spoken out to the
user.

The user selects the bus number of interest by pressing the Select Button after that number is
read out. This triggers voice output of the bus number from the entry of the selected bus that acts
as an auditory cue and assists the person in moving towards the gate of the bus.

Figure 2: User selects the bus of interest to trigger an auditory cue from its entry

System Features

Pre-selection mode: User can enter and store the route number of buses that he or she
frequently boards. Once the user presses the selection button, an auditory cue is produced
from the entry of the bus if its route number is present in the preferred set of route
numbers.

Auto Query mode: The device automatically scans for route numbers and informs the
user about the buses approaching the bus stop.

System Control: The system is entirely user controlled. No extra burden on the bus
driver.

Bus module installation: Can be retrofitted onto the existing bus with minimal
installation costs.

Rechargeable batteries: User module runs on rechargeable Li-ion batteries like a mobile
phone.

Affordable Device: The projected cost for the user module is less than Rs. 1000/- .

Programming Unit: This unit allows the depot manager to assign the current route
number to the bus.

Language independent device: Voice output is based on pre-recorded samples. Hence,

one can record in any language and dialect.

Suitable for the Indian Traffic Scenario: Minimal installation cost for buses. The
system can operate in scenarios where multiple buses can arrive together and line up
arbitrarily on the bus stop.

Useful for senior citizens and individuals with low vision

Current Status

The system has been installed on two IIT Buses and tested on four real bus stops in Delhi.
Users with prior training were able to board the buses successfully. Four visually
challenged users had participated in this trial.

The system has been tested by 20 users from the National Association for the Blind, New
Delhi, at a small bus stop inside IIT. All individuals were able to successfully able to
select and reach the entry of the bus. The feedback was extremely positive from the
volunteers.

(a) (b)

(c)

Figure 3: (a) Communication module installed near drivers controls (see arrow), (b) User
module (left) and bus module (right) (c) Speaker module placed near the bus entry door. A
visually challenged user at a bus stop boards the bus independently with the user module.

Patent

The system has been fully developed at IIT Delhi. Patent has been filed in the Indian Patent
office titled: User triggered duo-module destination identification system for the visually
challenged in the Indian Patent Office, 2007 (Application: 1355/DEL/2007).

Future Plan
The next phase is conducting a pilot trial on public buses in Delhi. The trial would be for a
period of one month and involve about 10 buses with 30 visually challenged bus commuters. We
are in the process of identifying an industry partner for developing prototypes for the field trial
stage. We have also in touch with Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) and Delhi Integrated
Multi-modal Transit System Limited (DIMTS) to obtain permissions for field trials.