Selin Alara Ornek, a high school senior from Istanbul, Turkey, has developed an innovative robot guide dog using NVIDIA's Jetson platform for edge AI and robotics.
Ornek's project, named IC4U, aims to provide a technological alternative to traditional guide dogs for visually impaired individuals. The robot dog utilises advanced AI and machine learning capabilities to assist users in navigating their environment.
Key features of IC4U include:
1. Sound sensors in the robot's ears for directional awareness
2. A ZED 2i Wide-Angle 3D AI camera for comprehensive visual data capture
3. NVIDIA Jetson Nano developer kit for high-quality image processing
4. Ability to detect city objects like stop signs, traffic light colours, and paper money denominations
5. A shopping feature powered by web scraping technology
Ornek explained her motivation: "I started to think about if a visually impaired person lost their dog, not only would they lose their best friend, but their eyes." Her late dog, Korsan, also inspired the project.
The young inventor has already gained international recognition for her work. She placed first in the 2021 Istanbul Bosphorus Robot Cup and third at the 2023 OpenCV AI Competition. Ornek is also a member of AI4ALL, a nonprofit program promoting diversity and inclusivity in AI.
Looking ahead, Ornek plans to study computer science at the University of British Columbia on a full scholarship. She hopes to deploy IC4U in smart cities and spaces, and aims to encourage other youth, especially girls, to engage with technology.
This project showcases the potential of AI and robotics in creating assistive technologies, as well as the important contributions young innovators can make to the field.