The DUT-AC group from the Da Nang University of Science and Technology have won the first prize at the recent national-level Engineering Projects in the Community Service (EPICS) programme for their creation of a smart walking stick for the elderly and visually impaired. The competition took place in January at the Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Education.

The DUT-AC group wining the first prize at the recent national-level Engineering Projects in the Community Service (EPICS) programme

Inspired by the fact that the elderly are at high risk of fall-related injuries whilst moving around, the creation of the smart walking stick aims to help the elderly and visually impaired move more convenient and safer manner.

The DUT-AC group leader, Le Quoc Tin, a 4th-year student from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering in the Da Nang university said, in terms of structure, this smart walking cane consists of 3 main parts: the handle, 4 sensors, and the control box.

In particular, a sensor is installed at the base of the stick to detect small obstacles, whilst the remainder are placed in the middle to detect larger ones. These sensors detect if there is an obstacle in front of blind at about between 2m and 3m distance to prevent users from falling that may cause many injuries. Sticks will warn the user of the appearance of an obstacle through vibration modes on the handle, the closer the object is, the stronger the vibration is.

In addition, this smart stick also features other convenient features, such as the handle equipped with the lighting, the horn aimed at drawing attention from surrounding people, and the transceiver to send the warning signal to the smartphone to take timely measures to avoid the potential incidents facing seniors.

The device is used based on the angle of inclination. When the user fall over, the stick will activate the loudspeaker system, and then send notifications to the smartphone users who are the relatives of this advantaged people.

The walking stick is expected to cost around 1 million VND which is much cheaper than the similar foreign product.

Two DUT-AC members besides their smart walking stick for the elderly and visually impaired

EPICS is an international award-winning, design-based, service-learning programme founded at Purdue University in 1995. During EPICS, student teams partner with a community organisation to design, build and deploy systems to solve engineering-based problems. The programme guides student teams through design innovation, team management, testing, and presenting in technical English. EPICS projects span the spectrum, including finding solutions to challenges in health care, energy, sustainability, and more

More than 150 participating STEM (Science-Technology-Engineering-Maths) students from 6 engineering and technology universities presented their innovative ideas at this year’s national-level competition.

This is the third EPICS programme held in Viet Nam and the second year of collaboration with the Dow Viet Nam STEM Programme which provided funding for students’ projects, faculty support, and industry-based mentoring.

The DUT-AC group has passed the interview round of Orange Fab Asia Pitch Competition in Viet Nam 2019, and is preparing to join the next round of appealing for foreign investment.