Man’s metal best friend? Visually impaired people test robot guide dogs
In China, visually impaired people are trying out robot guide dogs.
The robot pups can respond to human voices and communicate with them through a voice interaction system to ensure they move safely.
A trial in Chengdu in China’s Sichuan Province saw a woman ‘taking the lead’ as the four-legged robot guided her down the street.
A camera mounted on four ‘legs’ has an antenna and sensors that feed information back to the robot guide to give it a view of its surroundings.
Robots can mimic the real thing by manipulating stairs, slopes and uneven surfaces.
China has been developing this technology for years; A six-legged ‘robo-dog’ roughly the size of an English Bulldog has been created in 2024.
Its cameras and sensors enabled blind and visually impaired people to navigate and even recognize traffic signals.
That year, it was reported that there was a serious shortage of guide dogs in the country, with only 400 guide dogs available for the blind population of approximately 20 million.
A robot guide dog helps a visually impaired woman in Chengdu, China
China faces shortage of guide dogs for its blind population and hopes technology will solve the problem
A similar model was developed in China in 2024 and tested on blind and visually impaired people.
Join the discussion
What do you think about robots playing a larger role in supporting the independence of the visually impaired?
China also has strict rules about where people can walk pets; This means that workplaces and public spaces generally do not allow dogs.
Chinese couple Li Fei and Zhu Sibin were part of the testing process of the six-legged dog.
Li told BBC News: ‘If this robot guide dog comes to market and I can use it, it could at least solve some of the problems I have when traveling alone.
‘For example, if I want to go to work, the hospital or the supermarket, I cannot go out alone and need family or volunteers to accompany me.’
There’s also a robot guide dog brought closer to home – RoboGuide Robbie, developed by the University of Glasgow two years ago.
Robbie used sensor and artificial intelligence technologies to describe environments to its users.
RoboGuide’s principal investigator at the time, Dr. Olaoluwa Popoola said the model is not intended to replace guide dogs, but to complement them and eliminate deficiencies.
Dr Popoola added: ‘Assistive technologies such as RoboGuide have the potential to give blind and partially sighted people greater independence in their daily lives in the coming years.
‘A significant drawback of many existing quadruped, bipedal and wheeled robots is that the technology that allows them to find their way around can limit their usefulness as assistants for the visually impaired.
‘For example, robots that use GPS to navigate can perform well outdoors, but often struggle in indoor environments where signal coverage can be poor.
‘Others who use cameras to “see” have limited field of view, making it difficult for them to guide people safely around objects or around bends.’
