NAVIS

NAVIS

Inspiration

Millions of visually impaired individuals rely on tools like white canes or guide dogs to navigate the world. However, guide dogs are expensive and limited in availability, and traditional tools cannot always detect complex obstacles or dynamic environments.

We wanted to explore how robotics and sensing technologies could provide an accessible and scalable alternative. Our goal was to design a robotic assistant capable of detecting obstacles and helping visually impaired users move more safely and independently.

NAVIS was inspired by the idea that technology should empower independence and accessibility for everyone.

What it does

NAVIS is a robotic navigation assistant designed to help visually impaired individuals detect obstacles in their path.

Using sensors and onboard processing, the robot scans the environment and identifies obstacles ahead. When an obstacle is detected, the system alerts the user in real time, allowing them to safely adjust their movement.

The system focuses on improving situational awareness, helping users avoid collisions and navigate more confidently in everyday environments.

How we built it

NAVIS was built using a robotics platform equipped with environmental sensors and cameras.

The system processes sensor data to detect obstacles in front of the robot. A simple decision layer determines when an object is within a dangerous distance and triggers an alert for the user.

We integrated:

Sensor-based obstacle detection
Real-time processing
A robotic platform capable of moving and scanning its surroundings

The system was designed to prioritize reliability and simplicity, allowing it to run in real time.

Challenges we ran into

One of the main challenges was balancing functionality with the limited time available during the hackathon.

Integrating multiple sensors while maintaining real-time performance required simplifying some parts of the system. We also had to carefully define the scope of the project to focus on the most impactful feature: obstacle detection and user alerts.

Another challenge was designing a system that could clearly communicate information to the user in a simple and intuitive way.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

We are proud that we were able to design and implement a working prototype of an assistive robotic system within the short timeframe of the hackathon.

Our project demonstrates how robotics can be applied to accessibility problems and shows the potential for assistive technology that is scalable and affordable.

Most importantly, we created a proof of concept that highlights how technology can help improve independence for visually impaired individuals.

What we learned

Throughout the project we learned a great deal about rapid prototyping in robotics and the importance of defining a focused scope in time-limited projects.

We also learned how combining sensors, robotics, and real-time processing can create meaningful assistive technologies.

Finally, this experience reinforced the importance of designing technology with accessibility and real-world users in mind.