Robo-9: Indoor Travel Companion for the Visually Impaired

Visually impaired often face various difficulties when traveling, especially in unfamiliar environments where they struggle to find their destination. While white canes or guide dogs can safely guide visually impaired individuals, they cannot provide location information or guide users to specific destinations.

What is Robo-9?

Robo-9 is an indoor navigation robot equipped with various navigation technologies. It is designed to assist visually impaired individuals in their travels by providing real-time positioning information and guidance, helping users accurately navigate and reach their desired destinations.

Robo-9 can store different indoor maps in advance and set multiple landmarks on the map. This allows users to familiarize themselves with the venue information in advance, such as facilities in a shopping mall. Users only need to select their destination in the mobile application, and Robo-9 will guide them to the location. During the guidance, the detection devices inside Robo-9 continuously monitor the surrounding environment and can avoid obstacles, providing users with a safe navigation experience. Through Robo-9, visually impaired individuals can travel more conveniently and reduce the inconveniences they encounter when going out.

Equipment required for the Robo-9 solution:
•    Robo-9: A navigation robot that utilizes various visual and sensing technologies for navigation and obstacle avoidance. Besides the above functions, it also emits sound prompts to alert others and the user that it is in operation and moving.
•    Mobile application: Provides venue information. Users can select Robo-9's destination through the mobile application, and Robo-9 will move according to the user's selection.

Applications of Robo-9:
Robo-9 can be applied to various indoor venues. We can set multiple landmarks based on the type of venue:
1.    Shopping malls: The map can set different stores as locations, allowing users to freely explore different shops and enabling visually impaired individuals to enjoy the pleasure of shopping.
2.    Schools: The map can set classrooms and recreational areas as locations. It can also define restricted areas on the map, such as staff rooms. Robo-9 can avoid these designated areas based on saved map to prevent students from accidentally entering them. 
3.    Exhibition venues: Through Robo-9, visually impaired individuals can easily reach different corners of the exhibition, reducing the time spent finding their way and enhancing their touring experience.

Recognition of Robo-9:
Robo-9 was awarded the Bronze Award at the Geneva International Exhibition of Inventions in 2022. The Geneva International Invention Exhibition is one of the largest global innovation exhibitions held since 1973, where institutions from around the world showcase their inventions, research outcomes, and new products. Additionally, Robo-9 also received the Silver Award at the 3rd Asia International Innovation Invention Exhibition organized by the Hong Kong Federation of Innovative Technologies and Manufacturing Industries in 2023.