"CROSSINGB"

Safe crossing for the visually impaired

          The project uses sensors that will be placed before pedestrian lanes on avenues, streets and highways where there aren't traffic lights. The sensors will detect the presence of cars and in case of being safe for the pedestrian crossing will be emitted a sound signal near the lane. Our project aims to assist blind people and people with visual impairment.

Operation of the Project:

Step 1 - Detecting the User

       Next to the pedestrian lane, we will place a short pillar with a loudspeaker and a sensor. This first sensor will be responsible for triggering the other sensors whenever it detects if there is a person standing within its area. This scene takes place whenever the person is trying to cross the street. In case there is a person standing in the lane, the first sensor will start the process along with the other two sensors, and as a system, they will identify whether or not the street is safe to cross.

Step 2 - Verifying if Vehicle is Stopped

      Just behind the pedestrian lane, there is a white line signalling where cars must stop for giving way for pedestrians to cross. This is the place where the second sensor is positioned, just before this white line on the sidewalk. This second sensor will detect the presence of vehicles and, in case the vehicle is stading still for longer than 4 seconds, an alarm goes off. This alarm sound lets the pedestrian know it is safe to cross the street. But in case the car quickly stops for less than 4 seconds, the alarm does not go off and the countdown is reset to zero.

Step 3 - Verifying if there is no Vehicle

      In addition to the first and second sensors, a third sensor will be place 20 meters away from the pedestration lane - a safe distance to avoid accidents. This third sensor makes sure there is no car in moviment towards the crosswalk, in which case an alarm goes off to let the pedestrian know it is safe to cross because there isn't any car running along the street. However, the alarm only goes off 10 seconds after the pedestrian approaches the crosswalk, a fundamental safety requirement to avoid an ultimate blind spot - an eventual car moving between the second and third sensors.

The beep of the speaker will have a time of 15 seconds and will be faster as time goes by, to inform the pedestrian that it must cross fast.