Blind behind the wheel

Technologies that may lead to the blind being able to drive could also have applications in conventional vehicles. Photo / Supplied

Could a blind person drive a car? Researchers are trying to make that far-fetched notion a reality.

The National Federation of the Blind in the US and Virginia Tech plan to demonstrate a prototype vehicle next year equipped with technology that helps a blind person drive a car independently.

The technology, called "nonvisual interfaces," uses sensors to let a blind driver manoeuvre a car based on information transmitted to him about the surroundings: whether another car or object is nearby, in front or in an adjacent lane.

Advocates for the blind consider it a "moon shot", a goal similar to President Kennedy's pledge to land a man on the moon. For many blind people, driving a car has long been considered impossible. But researchers hope the project could revolutionise mobility and challenge long-held assumptions about limitations.

"We're exploring areas that have previously been regarded as unexplorable," said NFB president D. Marc Maurer. "We're moving away from the theory that blindness ends the capacity of human beings to make contributions to society."

Dr Dennis Hong, a mechanical engineering professor at Virginia Tech who leads the research, said the technology could also be used on conventional vehicles to make them safer or on other applications.

Maurer first talked about building a car that the blind could drive about a decade ago.

"Some people thought I was crazy and they thought, 'Why do you want us to raise money for something that can't be done?' Others thought it was a great idea," Maurer said.

Virginia Tech first created a dune buggy that used sensor lasers and cameras to act as the eyes of the vehicle. A vibrating vest was used to direct the driver to speed up, slow down or make turns.

The NFB was impressed by the results and urged the researchers to keep pushing. The results will be demonstrated in January on a modified Ford Escape sport utility vehicle at the Daytona International Speedway before the Rolex 24 race. The latest vehicle will use nonvisual interfaces to help a blind driver drive the car.

One interface, called DriveGrip, uses gloves with vibrating motors on areas that cover the knuckles. The vibrations signal to the driver when and where to turn.

Another interface, called AirPix, is a tablet about half the size of a sheet of paper with multiple air holes, almost like those found on an air hockey game. Compressed air coming out of the device helps inform the driver of his or her surroundings, essentially creating a map of the objects around a vehicle. It would show whether there's another vehicle in a nearby lane or an obstruction in the road.

Advocates for the blind say it will take time before society accepts the potential of blind drivers and that the safety of the technology will need to be proven through years of testing.