No, we're not helping you do high-altitude, low-opening parachute jumps. Instead, we will bring to your attention a device that offers Haptic Assistance for the Location of Obstacles. User 'polymythyic' created a system using ultrasonic distance sensors, motors, an Arduino Mega and related circuitry that allows the blind to walk and avoid obstacles. Worn on the user's head - the sensors each have a matching motor, and as an obstacle becomes closer to a particular sensor, the motor will spin with relation to the distance. Here is a demonstration video of the HALO system at work:
This is a fantasic project and also won the creator the grand prize in a competition. It also has other applications and could be used as a base for autonomous vehicles and other intelligent designs. For more information and a complete set of instructions, visit here. To build your own HALO or other complex project, consider using our Freetronics EtherMega. Apart from being fully Arduino Mega2560-compatible, it includes onboard Ethernet, microSD card socket and optional power-over-Ethernet support:
