BUDD-e: an autonomous robotic guide for visually impaired users

TL;DR

This paper presents BUDD-e, an autonomous robot designed to assist visually impaired users, demonstrating successful real-world testing and high user acceptance in a healthcare setting.

Contribution

Introduction of a novel autonomous guide robot for visually impaired users with real-world testing and positive user feedback.

Findings

Remarkable performance in real scenario tests

High user acceptance among visually impaired volunteers

Effective assistance demonstrated in healthcare environment

Abstract

This paper describes the design and the realization of a prototype of the novel guide robot BUDD-e for visually impaired users. The robot has been tested in a real scenario with the help of visually disabled volunteers at ASST Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, in Milan. The results of the experimental campaign are throughly described in the paper, displaying its remarkable performance and user-acceptance.