{"684700":{"#nid":"684700","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Georgia Tech Team Designing Robot Guide Dog to Assist the Visually Impaired","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EPeople who are visually impaired and cannot afford or care for service animals might have a practical alternative in a robotic guide dog being developed at Georgia Tech.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBefore launching its prototype, a research team within Georgia Tech\u2019s School of Interactive Computing, led by Professor \u003Cstrong\u003EBruce Walker\u003C\/strong\u003E and Assistant Professor \u003Cstrong\u003ESehoon Ha\u003C\/strong\u003E, is working to improve its methods and designs based on research within blind and visually impaired (BVI) communities.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThere\u2019s been research on the technical aspects and functionality of robotic guide dogs, but not a lot of emphasis on the aesthetics or form factors,\u201d said \u003Cstrong\u003EAvery\u003C\/strong\u003E \u003Cstrong\u003EGong\u003C\/strong\u003E, a recent master\u2019s graduate who worked in Walker\u2019s lab. \u201cWe wanted to fill this gap.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETraining a guide dog can cost up to $50,000, and while there are nonprofit organizations that can cover these costs for potential owners, there is still a gap between the amount of available guide dogs and BVI individuals who need them. Not all BVI individuals are able to care for a dog and feed it. The dog also has fewer than 10 working years before it needs replacement.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGong co-authored a paper on the design implications of the robotic guide dog that was presented at the 2025 International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA) in Atlanta in May.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe consensus among the study\u2019s participants indicates they prefer a robotic guide dog that:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003Eresembles a real dog and appears approachable\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003Ehas a clear identifier of being a guide dog, such as a vest\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003Ehas built-in GPS and Bluetooth connectivity\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003Ehas control options such as voice command\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003Ehas soft textures without feeling furry\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003Ehas long battery life and self-charging capability\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cA lot of people said they didn\u2019t want the dog to look too cute or appealing because it would draw too much attention,\u201d said \u003Cstrong\u003EAviv Cohav\u003C\/strong\u003E, another lead author of the paper and recent master\u2019s graduate.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cMany people have issues with taking their guide dog to places, whether it\u2019s little kids wanting to play with the dog or people not liking dogs or people being scared of them, and that reflects on the owners themselves. We wanted to look at what would be a good balance between having a functional robot that wouldn\u2019t scare people away or be a distraction.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe researchers also had to consider the perspectives of sighted individuals and how society at large might view a robotic guide dog.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAn example of this is the amount of noise the dog makes while walking. The owner needs to hear the dog is active, but the clanky sound many off-the-shelf robots make could create disturbances in indoor spaces that amplify sounds. To offset the noise, the team developed algorithms that allow the robot to move more quietly.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWalker and his lab have examined similar scenarios that must take public perception into account.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe like to think of Georgia Tech as going the extra mile,\u201d Walker said. \u201cLet\u2019s not just make a robot, but a robot that\u2019s going to fit into society.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cTo have impact, the technologies we produce must be produced with society in mind. This is a holistic design that considers the users and all the people with whom the users interact.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ETaery Kim\u003C\/strong\u003E, a computer science Ph.D. student, began working on the concept of a robotic guide dog when she came to Georgia Tech in 2022. She and Ha, her advisor, have authored papers on building the robot\u2019s navigation and safety components.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWhen I started, I thought it would be as simple as giving the guide dog a command to take me to Starbucks or the grocery store, and it would just take me,\u201d Kim said. \u201cBut the user must give waypoint directions \u2014 \u2018go left here,\u2019 \u2018turn right,\u2019 \u2018go forward,\u2019 \u2018stop.\u2019 Detailed commands must be delivered to the dog.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhile a real dog has naturally enhanced senses of hearing and smell that can\u2019t be replicated, technology can provide interconnected safety features during an emergency. The researchers envision a camera system equipped with a 360-degree field of view, computer vision algorithms that detect obstacles or hazards, and voice recognition that recognizes calls for help. An SOS function could automatically call 911 at the owner\u2019s request or if the owner is unresponsive.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EKim said the robot should also have explainability features to enhance communication with the owner. For example, if the robot suddenly stops or ignores an owner\u2019s commands, it should tell the owner that it\u2019s detecting a hazard in their path.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EManufacturing a robot at scale would initially be expensive, but the researchers believe the cost would eventually be offset because of its longevity. BVI individuals may only need to purchase one during their lifetime.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo introduce a prototype, the multidisciplinary research team recognizes that it needs to enlist experts from other fields to adequately address the various implications and research gaps inherent in the project.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWalker said the teams welcome additional partners who are keen to tackle challenges ranging from design and engineering to battery life to human-robot interaction.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETeam member \u003Cstrong\u003EJ. Taery Kim\u003C\/strong\u003E was supported by the National Science Foundation\u0027s Graduate Research Fellowship Program (NSF GRFP) under Grant No. DGE-2039655.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech researchers from the School of Interactive Computing are using survey information from individuals who are blind or visually impaired (BVI) to develop a robotic service dog.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Researchers rely on feedback from blind and visually impaired (BVI) communities to create service animal prototype."}],"uid":"32045","created_gmt":"2025-09-10 12:57:59","changed_gmt":"2025-09-17 16:44:07","author":"Ben Snedeker","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-09-10T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-09-10T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"677956":{"id":"677956","type":"image","title":"Georgia Tech researchers test their prototype of a robotic guide dog. Photo by Terence Rushin\/College of Computing.","body":null,"created":"1757509562","gmt_created":"2025-09-10 13:06:02","changed":"1757509562","gmt_changed":"2025-09-10 13:06:02","alt":"Georgia Tech researchers test their prototype of a robotic guide dog. Photo by Terence Rushin\/College of Computing.","file":{"fid":"261920","name":"Robotic-Seeing-Eye-Dog_86A0019-Enhanced-NR.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/09\/10\/Robotic-Seeing-Eye-Dog_86A0019-Enhanced-NR.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/09\/10\/Robotic-Seeing-Eye-Dog_86A0019-Enhanced-NR.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":221759,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/09\/10\/Robotic-Seeing-Eye-Dog_86A0019-Enhanced-NR.jpg?itok=WEOIHeFO"}},"677957":{"id":"677957","type":"image","title":"A graphic depicts design considerations for the prototype.","body":null,"created":"1757509677","gmt_created":"2025-09-10 13:07:57","changed":"1757509677","gmt_changed":"2025-09-10 13:07:57","alt":"A graphic depicts design considerations for the prototype.","file":{"fid":"261921","name":"Robotic-Dog-Story-01-20-.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/09\/10\/Robotic-Dog-Story-01-20-.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/09\/10\/Robotic-Dog-Story-01-20-.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":109946,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/09\/10\/Robotic-Dog-Story-01-20-.jpg?itok=VSx4JbmF"}}},"media_ids":["677956","677957"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/youtu.be\/4CzDPxaVWkI?feature=shared","title":"VIDEO: Robotic guide dogs could reshape the future for the blind and visually impaired"}],"groups":[{"id":"1278","name":"College of Sciences"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"443951","name":"School of Psychology"}],"categories":[{"id":"135","name":"Research"},{"id":"152","name":"Robotics"}],"keywords":[{"id":"10199","name":"Daily Digest"},{"id":"181991","name":"Georgia Tech News Center"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"188087","name":"go-irim"},{"id":"667","name":"robotics"},{"id":"172970","name":"go-neuro"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193656","name":"Neuro Next Initiative"},{"id":"39521","name":"Robotics"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ENathan Deen, Communications Officer\u003Cbr\u003ESchool of Interactive Computing\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003Enathan.deen@cc.gatech.edu\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}