Initiative details
Blind and elderly people are higly vulnerable road users. While cooperating in the Hamburg Teststrecke für Autonomous and Vernetztes Fahren (TAVF), we experienced that their needs are hardly being addressed. Furthermore, projects addressing their needs never seem to go beyond a short project state. The "Routago" map for blind people has gone bankrupt, just like few manufacturerers of e-walkers (e. g. ello).
Blind people's only orientiation is limited to a 80 € cane without any sensors while cars are having lane changing systems, park assistants etc.
Blind people's only orientiation is limited to a 80 € cane without any sensors while cars are having lane changing systems, park assistants etc.
Initiative date
to
Who was/is your target audience?
Seniors
Micromobility riders
Pedestrians
Topic
Improve vehicles and infrastructure
Provide alternative solutions
Organisation details
HAW Hamburg
School / Research centre
Germany
Hamburg
Contact name
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Henner Gärtner
Telephone number
017675522211
henner.gaertner@haw-hamburg.de
Project activities
If you work together with external partners, list the most important partners and briefly describe their role.
1. Blinden- und Sehbehindertenverein Hamburg e. V -> blind people giving requirements, valuable feedback, and motivation to move on
2. Senior Residency "Augustinum" -> seniors giving feedback
3. TAVF Teststrecke für Autonomes Fahren Hamburg TAVF providing infrastructure for autonomous driving in open traffic (working together with Continental, Telecom, an IT company "ConsiderIT", the Hamburg "Landesbetrieb Straßen, Brücken, Gewässer LSBG")
4. Politicians from local and national government sponsoring the idea
5. An industrial partner HAKO who is seeking to let their cleaning vehicles run autonomously in future
6. Many media like N3, Deutsche Welle, Evangelischer Pressedienst spreading the news about the "Shared Guide Dog 4.0"
2. Senior Residency "Augustinum" -> seniors giving feedback
3. TAVF Teststrecke für Autonomes Fahren Hamburg TAVF providing infrastructure for autonomous driving in open traffic (working together with Continental, Telecom, an IT company "ConsiderIT", the Hamburg "Landesbetrieb Straßen, Brücken, Gewässer LSBG")
4. Politicians from local and national government sponsoring the idea
5. An industrial partner HAKO who is seeking to let their cleaning vehicles run autonomously in future
6. Many media like N3, Deutsche Welle, Evangelischer Pressedienst spreading the news about the "Shared Guide Dog 4.0"
Please describe the project activities you carried/are carrying out and the time period over which these were implemented.
As part of the Shared Guide Dog 4.0 project, we undertook a wide range of interdisciplinary activities aimed at developing a technical assistance system to support blind and visually impaired individuals in urban environments. The project began by identifying key user groups, specifically seniors, blind individuals, and people with dementia, and assessing their unique mobility needs.
A key milestone was the technical setup of the first prototype of an autonomous driving walker, which serves as the foundation for the Shared Guide Dog 4.0. We integrated advanced technologies such as GNSS and Ultra-Wideband positioning, LIDAR, stereo cameras, and navigation based on OpenStreetMap. Further, we applied machine learning techniques to tasks such as puddle detection for safe maneuvering, semantic segmentation of walkways, and development of a pathfinding algorithm to ensure navigation on the correct side of the pavement. We also focused on the implementation and testing of critical safety features. These included V2X communication between the Guide Dog unit and roadside infrastructure (such as traffic lights), collision warning systems for interaction with equipped bicycles, and object avoidance capabilities. Each feature was tested to ensure improved safety and autonomy. To foster inclusion and awareness, over 80 engineering students were engaged directly with blind and elderly individuals during their bachelor’s and master’s theses and projects.
Throughout the project, we actively communicated our progress and insights at various conferences.
The overall goal of the Shared Guide Dog 4.0 is to provide a cost-effective, shared mobility aid—akin to bike-sharing—for blind and visually impaired users. The name "Shared Guide Dog 4.0" refers to a "guide dog" for blind people, but more according to nowadays "industry 4.0". Therefore it is more of an autonomously navigating guide robot which interacts with its user. It can be borrowed like a bicycle or a car, therefore it is "shared".
A key milestone was the technical setup of the first prototype of an autonomous driving walker, which serves as the foundation for the Shared Guide Dog 4.0. We integrated advanced technologies such as GNSS and Ultra-Wideband positioning, LIDAR, stereo cameras, and navigation based on OpenStreetMap. Further, we applied machine learning techniques to tasks such as puddle detection for safe maneuvering, semantic segmentation of walkways, and development of a pathfinding algorithm to ensure navigation on the correct side of the pavement. We also focused on the implementation and testing of critical safety features. These included V2X communication between the Guide Dog unit and roadside infrastructure (such as traffic lights), collision warning systems for interaction with equipped bicycles, and object avoidance capabilities. Each feature was tested to ensure improved safety and autonomy. To foster inclusion and awareness, over 80 engineering students were engaged directly with blind and elderly individuals during their bachelor’s and master’s theses and projects.
Throughout the project, we actively communicated our progress and insights at various conferences.
The overall goal of the Shared Guide Dog 4.0 is to provide a cost-effective, shared mobility aid—akin to bike-sharing—for blind and visually impaired users. The name "Shared Guide Dog 4.0" refers to a "guide dog" for blind people, but more according to nowadays "industry 4.0". Therefore it is more of an autonomously navigating guide robot which interacts with its user. It can be borrowed like a bicycle or a car, therefore it is "shared".
In terms of implementation, what worked well and what challenges did you need to overcome?
Testing single technologies always turned out to be successful. The main challenge is the integrative work and to keep all features running while aiming at implementing a robust product for the future.
Evaluation
Please summarise how you have evaluated the initiative’s impact (e.g. social media reach, survey, feedback forms, statistics).
We have a huge impact. The project is running into open doors wherever we go. The combination of a technical engineering project solving a social problem of inclusion is very well seen. Moreover, the actual topics of urban mobility, and shortage of skilled workers are being addressed.
We received attention via:
1. Several videos (N3 live TV, Deutsche Welle Insta, and website post, Evangelischer Pressedienst video, Spotify Podcast on Deutscher Blinden- und Sehbehindertenverein)
2. +20 articles (Die Welt, Morgenpost, Augsburger Nachrichten, Lübecker Nachrichten etc.)
3. 80+ students who are interested to join the project
We received attention via:
1. Several videos (N3 live TV, Deutsche Welle Insta, and website post, Evangelischer Pressedienst video, Spotify Podcast on Deutscher Blinden- und Sehbehindertenverein)
2. +20 articles (Die Welt, Morgenpost, Augsburger Nachrichten, Lübecker Nachrichten etc.)
3. 80+ students who are interested to join the project
What has been the effect of the activities?
A start-up company is yet to be founded, the product is yet to be rolled out. Therefore, road safety has not yet been improved.
But testing with Continental gave quality to their app.
And we have brought the issue out "to the world":
4 events in Berlin at BMBF, BMDV, BMAS (ca. 200 people each), 3 congresses at HAW Hamburg (ca. 250 people each), ITS and UITP (ca. 2.000 people each), ca. 2.000 students at HAW Hamburg, ca. 400 people in total at smaller events (e. g. TAVF, ARIC, LSBG, BSVH)
But testing with Continental gave quality to their app.
And we have brought the issue out "to the world":
4 events in Berlin at BMBF, BMDV, BMAS (ca. 200 people each), 3 congresses at HAW Hamburg (ca. 250 people each), ITS and UITP (ca. 2.000 people each), ca. 2.000 students at HAW Hamburg, ca. 400 people in total at smaller events (e. g. TAVF, ARIC, LSBG, BSVH)
Please briefly explain why your initiative is a good example of improving road safety.
The blind people are one of the most vulnerable road users. Who needs more assistance and safety than them?
If we understand their high level requirements and provide systems to fulfill, then our infrastructure is ready to providing road and sidewalk safety to users with similar or less requirements.
Example: They have a need for good data (e. g. obstacles on the sidewalk) which all future autonomous micrombiles like delivery robots or cleaning robots also need for their navigation.
If we understand their high level requirements and provide systems to fulfill, then our infrastructure is ready to providing road and sidewalk safety to users with similar or less requirements.
Example: They have a need for good data (e. g. obstacles on the sidewalk) which all future autonomous micrombiles like delivery robots or cleaning robots also need for their navigation.
How have you shared information about your project and its results?
The information is shared on public videos, news, newspapers, scientific articles in German and English language with a national focus on Germany. Via internet, they can be viewed worldwide.
Presented on BMDV, BMBF, BMAS congresses in Berlin, congresses with worldwide attention like ITS Intelligent Transport Systems 2021, UITP 2025, local congresses like Themenkongress Mobilität HAW Hamburg 2023+24+25, hey/mobility Hamburg 2023+24
Presented on BMDV, BMBF, BMAS congresses in Berlin, congresses with worldwide attention like ITS Intelligent Transport Systems 2021, UITP 2025, local congresses like Themenkongress Mobilität HAW Hamburg 2023+24+25, hey/mobility Hamburg 2023+24
Supporting materials
