Interaction Techniques with a Navigation Robot for the Visually Impaired

Robotic technology has long been seen as a potential mobility aid for the visually impaired, and the latest advancements in sensing and artificial intelligence have made it a reality. Before starting the project, we researched the capabilities of, and user interactions with guide dogs. We discovered that the rich haptic interaction with the "handle" allows users to comfortably follow a guide dog.

We then began designing a navigation robot with a handle that is small and slim enough to be followed in a similar body posture. Our goal was to make the robot natural and seamless in an urban environment, leading us to the concept of the AI Suitcase, a suitcase-shaped robot. In this presentation, after reviewing the capabilities of a guide dog, we will explain the concept, design, and implementation of the AI Suitcase and interaction techniques with the robot. We will also discuss the challenges of implementing such new robotic technologies in the real world, including technical challenges, infrastructure challenges, business models, and social acceptance.

BIO: Dr. Chieko Asakawa is an IBM Fellow, working in the area of accessibility. Her initial contribution to the field started from braille digitalization and moved onto the Web accessibility, including the world's first practical voice browser. Since 2010, Chieko is focusing on real world accessibility to help the visually impaired to better comprehend their surroundings and navigate the world by the power of AI. Her latest project is the development of the AI suitcase, a navigation robot for the visually impaired. She has been serving as an IBM Distinguished Service Professor at Carnegie Mellon University since 2014. Dr. Asakawa started to concurrently serve as Chief Executive Director of the Japanese National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation (Miraikan) since April 2021. In 2013, the government of Japan awarded the Medal of Honor with Purple Ribbon to Dr. Asakawa for her outstanding contributions to accessibility research. She was elected as a foreign member of the US National Academy of Engineering in 2017, inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame (NIHF) in 2019. She also received American Foundation for the Blind 2020 Helen Keller Achievement Award.