Mobility Assistance for Visually impaired People through Collaborative Acoustic Positioning – MAPV

The Mobility Assistance for Visually Impaired People through Collaborative Acoustic Positioning (MAPV) project aims to improve the mobility and independence of visually impaired people (VIP) by providing an accurate, infrastructure-free, and privacy-focused positioning framework. Over 2.2 billion people globally face vision impairment, and many recent VIP avoid traditional aids like white canes due to concerns about drawing unwanted attention, preferring independent navigation.

Existing GPS-based systems lack the accuracy needed for safe mobility, and other solutions often require extensive infrastructure. MAPV enhances Pedestrian Dead Reckoning systems by integrating collaborative, sound-based positioning powered by artificial intelligence (AI). The project leverages wearable devices to form Collaborative Positioning Systems, where nearby devices measure distances using sound signals and share positional data through encrypted transmissions, requiring no direct user intervention. AI-driven sound recognition will improve spatial awareness by identifying environmental landmarks and obstacles. Optimized sound frequencies will also ensure comfort and avoid interference with natural sound perception of VIP and of their guide dogs.

The expected impact of MAPV is significant: improving VIP mobility, maintaining privacy, and minimizing infrastructure needs. Additionally, the project will contribute to the development of AI-sound-based positioning technologies and train future researchers in this advanced field.