title: Design and Realization of an Electromagnetic Guiding System for Blind Running Athletes.
abstract: Nowadays the technologies aimed at improving the quality of life of people affected by visual diseases are quite common; e.g., devices to support walking or reading. Surprisingly, there is a lack of innovative technologies aimed at helping visually impaired athletes during physical activities. An example is represented by blind runners who need to be physically linked to a sighted guide by means of non-stretchable tethers during races; with consequent limitations in terms of performance and independence. This paper wants to investigate the possibility of realizing a system able to guide blind runners along a complex path, paving the way for the realization of an innovative device designed to improve their independence during training or competitions. The system consists of: (1) a mobile unit, which is placed before the runner and generates two "electromagnetic walls" delimiting the way; (2) a receiving unit (worn by the athlete) that provides vibro-tactile warnings every time the user is going outside the safe area so as to encourage him to move toward the central position. The feasibility and the utility of the system proposed are demonstrated by means of tests carried out thanks to the collaboration of a blind volunteer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Information Engineering, Università Politecnica delle Marche, via Brecce Bianche, Ancona 60131, Italy. marco.pieralisi@univpm.it.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pieralisi
authors.affiliation: Department of Information Engineering, Università Politecnica delle Marche, via Brecce Bianche, Ancona 60131, Italy. v.petrini@univpm.it.
authors.forename: Valerio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Petrini
authors.affiliation: Department of Information Engineering, Università Politecnica delle Marche, via Brecce Bianche, Ancona 60131, Italy. v.dimattia@univpm.it.
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Di Mattia
authors.affiliation: Department of Information Engineering, Università Politecnica delle Marche, via Brecce Bianche, Ancona 60131, Italy. g.manfredi@univpm.it.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Manfredi
authors.affiliation: Department of Information Engineering, Università Politecnica delle Marche, via Brecce Bianche, Ancona 60131, Italy. a.deleo@univpm.it.
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De Leo
authors.affiliation: Department of Industrial Engineering and Mathematical Science, Università Politecnica delle Marche, via Brecce Bianche, Ancona 60131, Italy. l.scalise@univpm.it.
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Scalise
authors.affiliation: Department of Information Engineering, Università Politecnica delle Marche, via Brecce Bianche, Ancona 60131, Italy. paola.russo@univpm.it.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.affiliation: Department of Information Engineering, Università Politecnica delle Marche, via Brecce Bianche, Ancona 60131, Italy. g.cerri@univpm.it.
authors.forename: Graziano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cerri
mesh_terms: D001766:Blindness / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D012420:Running
keywords: aid for visually impaired athletes; antenna design; electromagnetic sensors