University develops robot guide dog to help the blind navigate public spaces

university has developed a talking robot guide dog to help the blind - powered by sophisticated artificial intelligence (AI).

Experts from the University of Glasgow have partnered with charities to develop the Roboguide, designed to help blind people navigate through public spaces independently.

The prototype uses a series of sensors on the dog-shaped body to map and assess its surroundings, paired with software which enables it to interpret the data and avoid obstacles in real time.

It incorporates language model technology so the robot can interpret and respond verbally to questions.

Staff at the university aim to bring a more complete version of the technology to market in the years to come.

Dr Olaoluwa Popoola, of the University of Glasgow's James Watt School of Engineering, is the Roboguide project's principal investigator.

He said: "Assistive technoloa

Roboguide developed by the University of Glasgow’s James Watt School of Engineering gies like the Roboguide have the potential to provide blind and partially sighted people with more independence in the years to come.

"One significant drawback of many current four-legged, two-legged and wheeled robots is that the technology which allows them to find their way around can limit their usefulness as assistants for the visually impaired.

"Robots which use GPS to navigate, for example, can perform well outdoors, but often struggle in indoor settings, where signal coverage can weaken. Others, which use cameras to 'see', are limited by line of sight.”

Roboguide could provide blind and partially sighted people with more independence