Earlier this month, the University of Glasgow, in collaboration with industry and charity partners, introduced RoboGuide, an AI-powered robotic service dog designed to aid visually impaired individuals. This innovative robot combines artificial intelligence and advanced sensors to help users navigate and interact with their environment effectively. RoboGuide, which uses computer vision and simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) algorithms, can map surroundings accurately and avoid obstacles in real time. Additionally, it features a large language model (LLM) similar to ChatGPT, allowing it to communicate interactively with users.
“Robots which use GPS to navigate, for example, can perform well outdoors, but often struggle in indoor settings, where signal coverage can weaken,” said Dr. Olaoluwa Popoola, the project’s principal investigator at the University of Glasgow’s James Watt School of Engineering. “Others, which use cameras to see, are limited by line of sight, which makes it harder for them to safely guide people around objects or around bends.”
Unlike previous robotic assistants, RoboGuide addresses navigation and communication challenges, providing a more dynamic support system for the visually impaired. In its first real-world test in December 2023, visually impaired volunteers successfully used RoboGuide at the Hunterian Museum in Glasgow, demonstrating its potential to enhance mobility and information access. The research team aims to refine RoboGuide further, with the goal of eventually commercializing it.
“We use computer vision and 3D technology, where it scans the whole environment and it understands where each object, each pillar, each obstacle is,” said Dr. Wasim Ahmad, project co-investigator.
The results were promising. “One hundred percent I would use this in the future,” said study participant Kyle Somerville. “As well, there are a lot of people I know that would definitely either want to try this or would definitely use it.”
Ahmad stated that their ultimate goal is to develop a comprehensive system that can be adapted for robots of various shapes and sizes. This system would assist blind and partially sighted individuals in numerous indoor environments. He expressed hope for creating a robust commercial product capable of supporting the visually impaired in any situation where they might need additional assistance.
Featured image: RoboGuide uses sophisticated sensors and AI to help visually impaired users interact with the world around them. Credit: Royal National Institute of Blind People
