Aim: - To design a advanced blind stick using ultrasonic sensor, water sensor, RF

link, LDR and voice recorder and play back module using 8051 microcontroller .

Component Used: Ultrasonic sensor, LDR, Voice recorder and playback module
APR 33A3, speaker, water sensor, RF transmitter, RF receiver, HT12E, HT12D,
Stick, Power Source DC, Buzzer or sounder, Microcontroller AT89C51, IC Base
40 pin, Crystal Oscillator 11.0502 MHz, male-female connectors, Transistors, wide
range of Resistors and Capacitor, Diodes, Voltage Regulator, Transformer, Wega
Port, LED’s , etc.

Software Requirement: - PCB is designing Software (EAGLE/ ORCAD/ DIP

Press/ Express PCB), Code Editor (Keil Uvision), Simulation Software (Proteus),
and Burner Software (WLPRO v2.20).

Block Diagram:
Block Diagram: - Blind Stick

Working:

The Blindness is frequently used to describe severe visual impairments with or

without residual vision. The main problem with blind people is that they can go
anywhere or just stick to their defined area. There is a blind man after every 1350
people in the world according medical studies. So, it is worth if we solve this
problem.
Through this project we are going to solve the problem of blind people by making
them able to detect the environment through various sensors. Our project “ Blind
Stick “helps blind people to move everywhere. There are various features included
in this project which are as follows:

1) Detects object in front( Ultra-sonic sensor ):-

This is main feature of the project by which blind man can detect the object
in their immediate front. Ultrasonic sensor plays main role here. Through
this sensor we send ultrasonic ways in forward direction. If there is any
obstacle in front then the ways reflected back and we put time of reflection
back in the formula to calculate the distance of the obstacle. We have set the
threshold limit of distance e.g. 40 inches. If the obstacle comes closer to
blind man less 40 inches the speaker will sound up to aware the blind man
Working of ultrasonic sensor:-

Outline and detection principle

As the name indicates, ultrasonic sensors measure distance by using ultrasonic

waves.
The sensor head emits an ultrasonic wave and receives the wave reflected back
from the target. Ultrasonic Sensors measure the distance to the target by measuring
the time between the emission and reception.
An optical sensor has a transmitter and receiver, whereas an ultrasonic sensor uses
a single ultrasonic element for both emission and reception. In a reflective model
ultrasonic sensor, a single oscillator emits and receives ultrasonic waves
alternately. This enables miniaturization of the sensor head.

Distance calculation

The distance can be calculated with the following formula:

Distance L = 1/2 × T × C
where L is the distance, T is the time between the emission and reception, and C is
the sonic speed. (The value is multiplied by 1/2 because T is the time for go-and-
return distance.)
Features

The following list shows typical characteristics enabled by the detection system.

[Transparent object detectable]

Since ultrasonic waves can reflect off a glass or liquid surface and return to the
sensor head, even transparent targets can be detected.

[Resistant to mist and dirt]

Detection is not affected by accumulation of dust or dirt.

[Complex shaped objects detectable]

Presence detection is stable even for targets such as mesh trays or springs.

2) Water or Mud sensor( Aluminum contact sensor ):-

This sensor senses the water and the mud. If the stick comes in the contact of
water or mud then it will sound the buzzer to aware the blind man about the
water or mud in front of him. Aluminum contact sensors are used here for
the detection of water or mud.
3) Day night detection ( LDR):-
When a blind person wakes up in the night, he is unable to detect the day or
night. So this feature will tell whether day or night is present. The user just
needs to press a button. If there is day the buzzer will sound otherwise it
won’t. LDR, Light dependent resistor is used to sense the light.
Working of LDR:-
A Light Dependent Resistor (LDR) is also called a photoresistor or a
cadmium sulfide (CdS) cell. It is also called a photoconductor. It is basically
a photocell that works on the principle of photoconductivity. The passive
 component is basically a resistor whose resistance value decreases when the
intensity of light decreases. This optoelectronic device is mostly used in
light varying sensor circuit, and light and dark activated switching circuits.
Some of its applications include camera light meters, street lights, clock
radios, light beam alarms, reflective smoke alarms, and outdoor clocks.

A typical LDR

LDR Circuit Symbol

Variation in resistance with changing light intensity

 Typical LDR resistance vs light
intensity graph

The most common type of LDR has a resistance that falls with an increase in the
light intensity falling upon the device (as shown in the image above). The
resistance of an LDR may typically have the following resistances:
Daylight
= 5000Ω
Dark
= 20000000Ω

4) Wireless module ( RF 433mhz ):-

The user will have a remote by which he can find his stick if misplaced or
hidden by doggy. When the user will press that button on the remote then the
stick will get the wireless signal and starts creating a sound so that the user
can approach it. The Wireless module we have used here is RF 433 MHz.
The range of the module is nearly 250 meter which is more than sufficient.
The battery life of remote switch is nearly 2 year which is great thing.
5) Sound record and playback module(APR 33A3):-
This is module which is used to record the sound and then playback on
requirement. You can record sound in this module any number of times. The
user can records his own sound. A speaker is attached to the module to get
 the recorded data in the form of sound.
Working of the module:-

Offers true solid state storage capability and requires no software or

microcontroller support. It provides high quality recording and playback with 11
minutes audio at 8 Khz Sampling rate with 16 bit resolution. Using on board
jumpers, total duration can be divided in individual triggers of 1,2,4 & 8 segments
which can be triggered by onboard switches or external low trigger like
microcontroller pins.
Features

 11 minutes of recording duration selectable in total 1,2,4,8 segments

 Single chip, high quality voice recording and playback solution
 User friendly, easy to use operation
 Non - Volatile - flash memory technology, no battery backup required
 Audio output to drive a speaker or audio out for public address system
 Can record voice with the help of on-board microphone or via any audio
input like PC

Board Details
Getting Started

 To start using the board, you will need to provide regulated +3V to 6V DC
to the board and connect a speaker to board. Ideally +5V will be just fine as
you use with your controllers.
 Before power on the board select a message mode through mode jumpers.
o There four types of message modes.
o Here below image you can see the jumper is set at message mode 8. It
means there will be eight message of each of 1.3 minutes length.
o If no external audio is connected to line in stereo pin, onboard MIC
will automatically be used for recording.
 Power on the board now.
 Let us assume message mode 8 was selected above. Which will give us 8
messages of approximately 1.3 minutes each
 Put the SW (REC mode switch) to Record Mode. The record mode is
indicated by a RED LED D1 next the switch. If LED is off means the board
is in Play mode. Move it to either side to switch between PLAY and
RECORD mode. While in record mode RED LED will glow indicating it’s
in record mode. Record mode here does not mean recording has started. It
just decides what happens if you press SW1 to SW8.
 Move slide witch in record mode and the RED LED will be glowing due to
that.
  While in record mode press SW1 to SW8 to select a message segment to
record the message. Let us assume we want to record message1, so we will
press SW1 and will keep it press. Now whatever we speak will be captured
by MIC and recorded. The STATUS LED YELOW next to the IC will blink
in record mode indicating that chip is currently recording. Once duration in
full the LED will stop blinking means that segment is full. The SW1 switch
can now be released. If before the duration is full this switch is released,
then that many seconds are recorded and rest duration is kept empty.
 Now let us check what we recorded. Put REC mode switch to Play Mode.
RED LED next to the switch will go off indicating play mode. Press SW1
once to play back the recorded message in message segment 1.
 Same method for recording in Mode 2, Mode 4 & Mode 1.
 In case of Model 1,2,4 only that switches as per mode will be used and rest
will be not used.
Setting Message Modes

 Total duration of 11 minutes of chip is divided into 8 messages of 1.3

minutes
 Total duration of 11 minutes of chip is divided into 4 messages of 2.75
minutes each.
 Total duration of 11 minutes of chip is divided into 2 messages of 5.5
minutes each.
 Total duration is of only 1 message with max 11 minutes of duration

Fixed Message Mode

 If message mode 1 is selected only switches SW1 is for recording or

playback.
 If message mode 2 is selected only switches SW1 and SW2 are used for
recording or playback.
 If message mode 4 is selected only switches SW1 to SW4 are used for
recording or playback.
 If message mode 8 is selected only switches SW1 to SW8 are used for
recording or playback.

Trigger message from external microcontroller

We have brought all eight switch connections to this header to allow you to use it
as trigger from external microcontroller instead of using onboard switch to play
message.
These switches are active low mode means IC gets trigger when you make that pin
LOW.
In idle condition keep the switch in high level. Make sure you keep ground with
the microcontroller and audio board common.

Applications:

1) It can be used in hospitals for the patients.

2) It can be used in homes for the blind individuals
3) It can be used the industry for the blind working labor.

Future Scope:

The project has huge potential if we talk about future. It can be used in every
hospital globally. Because in the world there is a blind man after every 1350
people on a average so if we talk about future our project has a huge scope in
terms of usage.