Hikane

What it does

The white cane is a great tool helping visually impaired individuals; unfortunately, it fails to detect obstacles above the user's waist. We are developing an assistive device designed to enhance the mobility and safety of visually impaired individuals.

Your inspiration

We started this project because there is a significant gap in the tools available to visually impaired individuals, who are often overlooked in our society. It was important to us to create a durable and reliable assistive device that not only enhances their mobility and safety but also empowers them with greater independence. We believe that everyone deserves access to high-quality, affordable products, and we are committed to developing a solution that addresses the unique challenges faced by the visually impaired community. By focusing on durability and affordability, we aim to make a meaningful and lasting impact on their daily lives.

How it works

Our product is an innovative assistive device designed for the visually impaired, which attaches to any standard white cane. Utilizing advanced LiDAR technology, it accurately detects obstacles at and above waist level. A unique vibration feedback system informs users of the position and distance of obstacles, empowering them with greater spatial awareness and safety. This device allows our customers to significantly reduce the amount of accident and contribute to a greater safety feeling.

Design process

Our journey began with in-depth discussions with visually impaired individuals to understand their challenges and needs. We identified a critical problem: the white cane has significant limitations in detecting obstacles above waist level, requiring an intuitive and reliable solution. With these insights, we built our first proof of concept. The initial prototype, although functional, was bulky and heavy. Despite this, it validated our core idea of a haptic feedback system coupled with a LiDAR sensor to enhance mobility and safety. Recognizing the need for a user-friendly design, we focused on making our device ergonomic and lightweight. We optimized our PCB design to create a compact device without compromising functionality. We spent considerable time developing a new casing that is aesthetically pleasing and ergonomic for visually impaired users, integrating seamlessly with their white cane grip. Furthermore, we also implemented our own LiDAR sensor tailored to our specific requirements, reducing the device size without compromising range detection. Finally, we developed a custom magnetic attachment system, ensuring easy and secure mounting on any white cane.

How it is different

Our design stands out due to several key innovations. Firstly, our custom magnetic attachment system allows for easy and secure mounting on any white cane, providing versatility. Secondly, our custom LiDAR sensor maintains a small form factor while offering exceptional detection capabilities. This keeps the device compact and lightweight without compromising performance, ensuring comfortable long-term use. Finally, our unique haptic feedback system provides clear, intuitive signals to enhance spatial awareness and navigation. Ground roughness can transmit vibrations that interfere with haptic feedback. To address this, our feedback mechanism is decoupled from these vibrations, ensuring precise information about the surroundings. By combining ergonomic design, advanced sensor technology, and innovative feedback systems, our device offers a distinctive and effective solution for visually impaired individuals.

Future plans

In the coming months, our focus will be on refining our product based on feedback from the latest iteration, conducting thorough testing, and preparing for CE certification. By the end of the year, our goal is to finalize a manufacturing partnership for electronic board production and device assembly. Upon obtaining CE marking, our strategy includes launching the product in targeted EU markets, followed by expanding our marketing initiatives and establishing strategic partnerships with relevant organizations, distributors, and healthcare professionals.

Awards

List of the award we won : Prix du Jeune Entrepreneur - Young Entrepreneur Award. Venture Kick stage 1. EPFL Blaze Startup accelerator grant. Oikos impact challenge. Global Student Entrepreneur Award.