Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ir. Siti Fauziah binti Toha @ Tohara
Associate Professor
Department of Mechatronics Engineering
Kuliyyah of Engineering
International Islamic University of Malaysia
tsfauziah@iium.edu.my

NO	NAME	INSTITUTION	FACULTY/SCHOOL/ CENTRE/UNIT
1	Dr. Hazlina Md Yusof	IIUM	Kuliyyah of Engineering
2	Dr. Nik Nur Wahidah Nik Hashim	IIUM	Kuliyyah of Engineering
3	Assoc. Prof. Dr. Norsinnira Binti Zainul Azlan	IIUM	Kuliyyah of Engineering

2 years (15 August 2017 - 14 August 2019)

The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported that there are 246 million low vision and 39 million blind people worldwide. Persons who are visually impaired (including those who are blind and those who have low vision) support their mobility basically in four different ways. They use the assistance of a (sighted) human guide, or enhance their independent travel with the aid of a long (white) cane, a dog guide or Assistive Mobility Aids (AMA). Improving the performance of AMA is closely connected with enhancing the mobility of visually impaired people and hence increasing self-motivation in their daily life. By using a low cost, easy operation, less maintenance, dual communication capability system, it helps encourage their motivation to explore a new, unfamiliar route, making them confident to travel alone or in a communicative group. With the obstacle avoidance mechanism based on Particle swarm optimisation prediction embedded in the system, it provides assurance for accident-free situations due to tipping or falling on uneven surfaces. Moreover, it also could assist maneuvering within rough terrain and stair climbing. In the early stage of research, the dynamic of path planning robots with obstacle avoidance capability has been studied and the proof of concept unit has been successfully designed. Yet, to apply the concept into real environment, a better upscale prototype, and optimisation need to be conducted on the existing platform, thus this research will carry out the development of obstacle avoidance and stair climbing robot which will be upscaled and optimized, thus capable to provide traveling aid for visually impaired people. The proposed robot has significant potential to be commercialized and the modular function of the system can provide answers for each affected user. Persatuan Orang Cacat Penglihatan Islam Malaysia has agreed to provide feedback and field testing to ensure product readiness and marketability for commercialisation.

1. To upgrade and optimise the existing platform of RoBlind by using the lightweight materials and equipped the system with better sensors and actuators.
2. To integrate and implement the controllers into the new improved prototype and electronic control unit.
3. To perform field testing analysis with the visually impaired people from PERTIS in both familiar and unfamiliar route.

1. Intellectual Property (IP) :
   

   Proposed	Achieve
   1	1

   
   
   • Copyright No. LY2019006405
2. Product/Prototype:
   • ROVISION : An Assistive Travelling Device For Visually Impaired People (VIP)
3. Publication : Article in Indexed Journals
   • Two-wheel balancing robot; review on control methods and experiments (2019) - SCOPUS

• Workshop, Exhibition and Competition Related to The Person with Disability and Elderly, ORKID WEC (2017) – Silver Medal

1. An affordable user friendly and easy to use travelling assistance for visually impaired people.
2. Focus group discussion with the Society of the Blind Malaysia (SBM).
3. Collaboration between Academia and NGO of Blind People which is Persatuan Orang Cacat Penglihatan Islam Malaysia (PERTIS).
4. Shortlisted for MTDC Robotics Accelerator Programme 2018.
5. Prototype testing with 7 members of SBM.
6. In line with the ‘2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development which Person with Disabilities of Disability are specifically mentioned for 11 times.