Addition of RFID-Based Initialization and Object Recognition to the Navigation System TANIA

The system was originally developed to provide visually impaired people with a navigation device which could be used independently indoors and outdoors, without any pre-installed infrastructure. TANIA utilizes a movement sensor, a GPS sensor, and detailed maps of the current environment. Its maps are augmented by guiding grids to insure safe navigation even in large open areas without physical cues, and by text information specific to each environment. Navigation and environmental information is presented acoustically or in Braille [5].