Not dependent on the internet: A new Russian navigation device equipped with artificial intelligence for the blind

An AI-powered navigation system has been developed at Novosibirsk State Technical University to help blind and visually impaired people navigate and identify obstacles.

The university's Public Relations Department confirmed that the system, which stands out from its peers in its ability to operate offline, requires only a smartphone.

"The user downloads the app we developed, turns on the camera, and attaches the device to their chest," explained Igor Avdeev, one of the project's developers. "Then a specially trained neural network comes into play. The AI ​​recognizes the surrounding environment and the distance to potentially dangerous obstacles based on the video stream, and notifies the user via voice."

The developers used a neural network model trained on manually labeled data to recognize obstacles. The AI ​​can warn users of obstacles within five meters to avoid confusion. It can also respond to sudden obstacles such as cars or closed doors, with the app processing frames in 300 milliseconds. This technology differs from its domestic and foreign counterparts in its ability to operate offline and is free of ads or paid subscriptions.