Vision Mate: IoT-Based Intelligent Assistive Walking Stick for Visually Impaired and Elderly Individuals

Mobility for the elderly and visually impaired is often hindered by environmental hazards that traditional white canes cannot detect. This paper presents Vision Mate, an intelligent walking stick designed to enhance spatial awareness and safety through Deep Learning and IoT integration. Utilizing an ESP32 microcontroller, the system employs dual ultrasonic sensors for multi-level obstacle detection—targeting both head-level hazards and ground-level slopes. Furthermore, the integration of an MPU6050 sensor enables real-time fall detection, while a dedicated SOS button provides manual emergency signaling. Experimental results indicate that the system successfully bridges the gap between physical navigation and digital safety monitoring by providing instantaneous alerts to caregivers via Wi-Fi.