A student team in the Virginia Tech College of Engineering is offering the blind with a chance to drive. A retrofitted four-wheel dirt buggy developed by the Blind Driver Challenge team from Virginia Tech's Robotics and Mechanisms Laboratory uses laser range finders, an instant voice command interface and a host of other innovative, cutting-edge technology to guide blind drivers as they steer, brake, and accelerate. Even though it’s in the early testing stage, the National Federation of the Blind considers the vehicle a major breakthrough for independent living of the visually impaired. Once inside the vehicle, a blind driver can turn the steering wheel, stop and accelerate by following data from a computing unit that uses sensory information from the laser range finder serving as the 'eyes' of the driver, in addition to a combination of voice commands and a vibrating vest as guides. Greg Jannaman, who led the Virginia Tech student team says that the blind drivers actually performed better than their sighted counterparts.

Via - [Newlaunches]