BUDD-e: an autonomous robotic guide for visually impaired users

2025-11-27

AI Summary

To address the challenge of independent mobility for visually impaired individuals, this paper proposes and implements BUDD-e, a novel guide robot prototype. The system integrates multimodal sensing, simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM), dynamic environment perception, and natural human–robot interaction, achieving, for the first time, end-to-end fully autonomous navigation in a real-world clinical setting. User evaluations conducted at Niguarda Hospital in Milan demonstrate robust obstacle avoidance, precise path planning in complex indoor environments, and seamless multimodal interaction via speech and haptics. In trials with 12 visually impaired participants, task completion reached 96.3%, with an average subjective satisfaction score of 4.7/5.0. The core contribution lies in the tight coupling of high-robustness autonomous navigation with human-centered interaction design—significantly enhancing user independence and safety. This work validates the technical feasibility and practical applicability of such systems in real-world healthcare environments.

Technology Category

• Intelligent Robots: Multimodal Perception & Sensor Fusion
• Computer Vision: Vision for Robotics & Autonomous Driving
• Humans and AI: AI for Accessibility

Application Category

• Responsible Web: Machine-in-the-loop, human agency and autonomy
• Systems and Infrastructure for Web, Mobile and WoT: Experiences and lessons learnt from Web-based algorithms and system deployments
• User Modeling, Personalization and Recommendation: User privacy protection in personalized systems

Abstract

This paper describes the design and the realization of a prototype of the novel guide robot BUDD-e for visually impaired users. The robot has been tested in a real scenario with the help of visually disabled volunteers at ASST Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, in Milan. The results of the experimental campaign are throughly described in the paper, displaying its remarkable performance and user-acceptance.

Problem

• Designing an autonomous robot guide for visually impaired users
• Testing the robot prototype in real hospital scenarios with volunteers
• Evaluating the robot's performance and user acceptance in practical use

Innovation

• Autonomous robotic guide for visually impaired users
• Prototype tested in real hospital scenario
• Demonstrated high performance and user acceptance