Second-Gen Blind Car Destined for Daytona
Wednesday, July 7th, 2010Minnesota Public Radio and the National Federation of the Blind are reporting that Daytona International Speedway will play host to the trials for the second-generation prototype of a car designed for blind drivers, early next year.
Roughly a year ago, technology allowing blind people to drive independently was first implemented on a dune buggy. This year, Virginia Tech and the NFB, partners in the project, will present the technology on a Ford Escape, with testing planned within the next six months.
Unlike some prototypes, which are driverless, this vehicle would be completely controlled by its visually impaired driver, using technology that relies on non-visual interfaces which relay information about the car’s surroundings. Such cues may include vibrating chest plates, tactile gloves, and audible commands, or even something called the “AirPix” which uses bursts of air through a sheet of paper to create a sort of 3-D rendering of what’s going on.
The planned test, using a blind driver, is scheduled for January 29, 2011, just before the 2011 Rolex 24 race.