The experimental “Batcane” is designed to help the visually handicapped form a “vision” of their surroundings.
(Photo courtesy of Cambridge Consultants Ltd.)
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Bats Give 'Vision' to the Blind
Bats flying at top speed easily dodge obstacles and chase down moving insects even on the darkest of nights. Now bats' remarkable sonar system has inspired a British invention that may give new mobility to humans who cannot see.
A “Batcane,” developed by Sound Foresight Ltd. and Cambridge Consultants Ltd., directly mimics bats' echolocation by emitting ultrasonic pulses of sound (beyond the reach of human hearing) and analyzing the echoes that bounce back from nearby objects. Obstacles trigger vibrations on one of four pads in the cane's handle. The closer the object, the faster the vibration.
The unique cane is designed to allow the blind to build a sort of mind-map of their immediate surroundings, locating obstacles at both ground level and head height to their front and sides. Similar in appearance to the traditional white cane, the Batcane requires no programming and runs on conventional AA batteries.
Trials with prototype models are under way in the United Kingdom, the U.S., Canada, and Germany. A CCL spokesman said preliminary results are very encouraging.
The connection to bats is no coincidence. The spokesman said Sound Foresight's Board of Directors includes Dr. Dean Waters, a senior Lecturer in the University of Leeds' School of Biology. Bat echolocation is among Waters' major research topics, and he has published extensively in the scientific literature.
Go to BCI Website
BCI is a nonprofit organization, dedicated to the conservation of bats and bat habitats worldwide, and is recognized as the international leader in bat conservation, research and management initiatives. The organization employs a staff of 39 and is supported by 14,000 members in 70 countries.
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