<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/conceptcars/" rel="tag">Concept Cars</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/economy/" rel="tag">Budget</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/suvs/" rel="tag">SUV</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/tech/" rel="tag">Technology</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/videos/" rel="tag">Videos</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/ford/" rel="tag">Ford</a></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/11/prototype-cart-with-feedback-controls-lets-the-blind-drive-w-vi/#continued"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="1" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/07/blind-driver-challenge-630.jpg" alt="" /></a>
<div style="text-align: center;"><em><strong><small>Virginia Tech takes on the Blind Driver Challenge - Click above to watch video <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/11/prototype-cart-with-feedback-controls-lets-the-blind-drive-w-vi/#continued">after the jump</a></small></strong></em></div>
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Researchers at Virginia Tech are teaming with the National Federation of the Blind to build two <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/FordEscape/">Ford Escape</a> test vehicles designed specifically for visually-impaired drivers. After building a small buggy last year equipped with an audio steering wheel and various other "non-visual interfaces," the team decided to take a stab at going full-size. Drivers will use a vibrating vest and gloves, as well as a tablet-type device that shoots puffs of compressed air to represent the road course. <br />
<br />
If you're skeptical about allowing the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/12/blind-belgian-breaks-speed-record-in-borrowed-lamborghini/">blind to drive</a>, you're not alone. Researchers say the end goal of the project isn't to start a blind-driving movement, but to explore and further develop blind-interface technology. The work could lead to innovations that could in turn be applied to other aspects of visually-impaired life. <br />
<br />
\Virginia Tech's <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/Ford/">Ford</a> Escape test vehicles will head to the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/06/10/superformance-shelby-cobra-daytona-coupe-quick-spin/">Daytona</a> International Speedway next January, where they're scheduled to put on a full demonstration. <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/11/prototype-cart-with-feedback-controls-lets-the-blind-drive-w-vi/#continued">Hit the jump</a> to see a quick video on the Blind Driver Challenge.<br />
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[Source: <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/04/prototype-car-with-tactile-feedback-challenges-the-blind-to-driv/">Engadget</a>]<p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/11/prototype-cart-with-feedback-controls-lets-the-blind-drive-w-vi/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Prototype cart with feedback controls lets the blind drive [w/video]</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/11/prototype-cart-with-feedback-controls-lets-the-blind-drive-w-vi/">Prototype cart with feedback controls lets the blind drive [w/video]</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Sun, 11 Jul 2010 13:33:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/11/prototype-cart-with-feedback-controls-lets-the-blind-drive-w-vi/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19542066/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/11/prototype-cart-with-feedback-controls-lets-the-blind-drive-w-vi/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><em><strong><small>Virginia Tech takes on the Blind Driver Challenge - Click above to watch video <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/11/prototype-cart-with-feedback-controls-lets-the-blind-drive-w-vi/#continued">after the jump</a></small></strong></em></div>
<br />
Researchers at Virginia Tech are teaming with the National Federation of the Blind to build two <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/FordEscape/">Ford Escape</a> test vehicles designed specifically for visually-impaired drivers. After building a small buggy last year equipped with an audio steering wheel and various other "non-visual interfaces," the team decided to take a stab at going full-size. Drivers will use a vibrating vest and gloves, as well as a tablet-type device that shoots puffs of compressed air to represent the road course. <br />
<br />
If you're skeptical about allowing the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/12/blind-belgian-breaks-speed-record-in-borrowed-lamborghini/">blind to drive</a>, you're not alone. Researchers say the end goal of the project isn't to start a blind-driving movement, but to explore and further develop blind-interface technology. The work could lead to innovations that could in turn be applied to other aspects of visually-impaired life. <br />
<br />
\Virginia Tech's <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/Ford/">Ford</a> Escape test vehicles will head to the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/06/10/superformance-shelby-cobra-daytona-coupe-quick-spin/">Daytona</a> International Speedway next January, where they're scheduled to put on a full demonstration. <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/11/prototype-cart-with-feedback-controls-lets-the-blind-drive-w-vi/#continued">Hit the jump</a> to see a quick video on the Blind Driver Challenge.<br />
<br />
[Source: <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/04/prototype-car-with-tactile-feedback-challenges-the-blind-to-driv/">Engadget</a>]<p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/11/prototype-cart-with-feedback-controls-lets-the-blind-drive-w-vi/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Prototype cart with feedback controls lets the blind drive [w/video]</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/11/prototype-cart-with-feedback-controls-lets-the-blind-drive-w-vi/">Prototype cart with feedback controls lets the blind drive [w/video]</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Sun, 11 Jul 2010 13:33:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/11/prototype-cart-with-feedback-controls-lets-the-blind-drive-w-vi/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19542066/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/11/prototype-cart-with-feedback-controls-lets-the-blind-drive-w-vi/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>
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