Virtual Booth

Visual impairment significantly affects an individual's ability to move safely and independently in daily life. Although the white cane remains one of the most widely used mobility aids, it has limitations in detecting obstacles above ground level and providing early warnings of approaching hazards. This project introduces O.C.U.L.A (Obstacle and Collision Ultrasonic Light Assistant), a wearable smart glasses prototype designed to enhance obstacle detection and improve environmental awareness for visually impaired individuals. The system is developed using an Arduino Nano microcontroller integrated with three ultrasonic sensors positioned at the front, left, and right sides to detect obstacles from multiple directions. A sound sensor is incorporated to detect loud environmental sounds such as vehicle horns. When an obstacle is detected within a predefined distance, the Arduino Nano processes the sensor data and activates a piezo buzzer to produce warning sounds. Different warning patterns can indicate the presence of nearby obstacles, allowing users to respond more effectively while navigating their surroundings. The device is lightweight, portable, affordable, and designed using readily available electronic components, making it suitable for educational innovation and future commercial development. O.C.U.L.A demonstrates how embedded systems and ultrasonic sensing technology can be integrated into wearable assistive devices to improve mobility and safety for visually impaired individuals. Future improvements include integrating artificial intelligence, GPS navigation, rechargeable batteries, and object recognition technology to enhance detection accuracy, usability, and overall system performance.5