Robot Guide Dog Takes A Bow

Manchester News
Monday, 8th March 2004
The robot guide dog takes a bow
by Deborah Haile
GETTING used to the maze of corridors and classrooms at secondary school can be a daunting task for new arrivals. But for blind schoolboy Richard Howarth the change will bring additional challenges.

The 10yearold is still a year away from making the move to Stockport Grammar School. But headboy Matthew Wilson has set about easing the transition, by designing and developing a robotic guide dog.

The battery-powered machine - named `Wilson' - detects walls, steps and kerbs with a system of laser beams.

When it is fitted with a solid lead, Richard will be able to use it around school just like a real guide dog.

"This sounds great," said Richard, from Oldham, who relies on a support worker or his white stick to get around. "I would like to use this because people leave bags lying on the ground where you don't expect them and sometimes there are metal or concrete pillars which are difficult to recognise. "If I was going to a new place on my own it would be useful then. It would be good when blind people are visiting a new school or a new place - like a friend's house - or if you're moving to a new house."

Matthew, 18, who is planning to read physics at Oxford University next year, started to design the robot last summer during work experience at Salford University's laser photonics laboratory.

He says the machine costs less than £80 to make - far less than the thousands of pounds needed to train a guide dog. And it could be used on holiday - where quarantine regulations may make it too difficult to travel with a real dog.

"This wouldn't be expensive, but training a guide dog costs a lot of money," said Matthew.

Stockport Grammar's head of physics, Peter Giblin, says it's remarkable for an A-level student to come up with such a sophisticated machine. He said: "I think it is very exciting that Matthew should have been working at Salford University on a project that is far beyond A-level."

Ray Davies, from Salford University's physics department, is also impressed. He said: "He was one of the brightest and most thorough students we have ever had in. He was very impressive."

Deborah Flint, who will support Richard at Stockport Grammar, believes the invention could have a significant impact. She said: "The hope is that that this could be used by visually impaired and blind people, who are going to a new environment or who are staying in a hotel, to give them the support they need."