CPD employee was involved in the creation of a prototype car that the blind can drive

Sachin Pavithran with Barstow, his guide dog

The CPD's Sachin Pavithran is the CPD's assistive technology specialist and law and policy coordinator. He is also a member of the research and development committee of the National Federation of the Blind—and because of that connection he was involved in the development of a car that can be driven by someone who is blind.

The vehicle, a modified Ford Escape, debuted last month at the Rolex 24 in a pre-race demonstration at Daytona. Driver Mark Anthony Riccobono not only navigated 1.5 miles of the course but also avoided obstacles, some stationary, others thrown randomly from a van in front of the vehicle. Riccobono directs technology, research and education programs for the NFB.

The project grew out of NFB's Blind Driver Challenge, which sought to apply non-visual interfaces to driving. “The consensus was to get something that would give enough information to the driver so they could make decisions on their own,” Pavithran said. They wanted a car that a blind person could drive, not a fully-automated car.

The R and D committee provided feedback to a team of two graduate students and 12 undergraduate students led by Dr. Dennis Hong at Virginia Tech. The NFB committee helped the researchers to understand what would and would not work in a design—and why. Hong said one member of the student team is blind--and that part of the team's research was exploring what it would be like to be blind. They even slept over at NFB's Baltimore headquarters to gain some valuable feedback.

The result of their research was a car that can be driven by a person who cannot see, through a complex, three-part system. First, it receives information from lasers, cameras and global positioning satellite technology. The next step involves computing that information in a way that identifies exactly where the car is on the road. Third, that information is transmitted to the driver in a non-visual way. This was done through DriveGrip, or gloves that vibrate on the knuckles to signal how to steer, and SpeedStrip, a vibrating seat that communicates speed information.

The modified car at Daytona. Photo courtesy of the National Federation of the Blind.

Both Pavithran and Hong said they don't expect a car company to adopt the technology right away. Hong said it won't be available as a product until it's proven to be as safe as—or safer than—a car driven by sighted people. Planes are now flown by autopilot, he said; it's become an accepted practice. Maybe someday the technology developed by the Virginia Tech team will reach that level of development and acceptance.

For now, Hong expects spin-off technologies that will benefit all drivers, like sensors that can detect objects through heavy fog. Other spin-off inventions may be applied to household appliances or the workplace. In these applications they can increase the employability and independence of people with visual disabilities.

“On January 29th we made history,” Hong said. “I've been getting literally hundreds of emails from people all over the world.” Most of them were thank-yous. “It's giving hope to the blind.”

Said Pavithran, “This is another breakthrough in the field of assistive technology for the blind. It indicates that blindness could be overcome if the right tools and skills have been obtained.”

Exhibit featuring Cache Valley families of children with ASD opens tonight.

Madeline Gauthier

An exhibition of photographic art will feature families of Cache Valley children with autism spectrum disorder.  It is one of the faculty projects that will be featured in a Utah State University Department of Art faculty exhibition.

The public is invited to a reception to kick off the event on the evening of February 28, from 5 to 7 p.m. The exhibit remains open through March 25.

The collection of photos is entitled 1 in 110. It takes its name from the statistical probability that a child will be diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, according to a 2009 report from the Centers for Disease Control.

Most researchers agree that the causes of ASD must include an environmental component.  The effects of toxicity in the environment on human health have long interested Christopher Gauthier, an assistant professor of art at USU and the photographer who created 1 in 110. In an invitation letter, Jacqueline and Christopher urged Utahns to support intervention programs provided by the CPD’s Up to 3 program. Their daughter, Madeline, is featured in the exhibit.

Also featured is the CPD’s Janel Preston, lead teacher in the ABC classroom. The ABC class is for families who have a child with an ASD diagnosis or are in the process of getting one.

Dax Drysdale

The photos will be on display in the Fine Arts Visual Gallery 102 on the Utah State University campus as part of the Current Works of USU and CEU Art Faculty exhibit. To find the gallery, go through the north entrance of the Fine Arts visual wing. Gallery 102 is the first door on the left.

The photos included in this story are two of many that will make up the exhibit. They are provided courtesy of Christopher Gauthier.