This article comes from the UK.
Just for reference.
80 British Pounds is equal to $146.00
>Manchester News
>Monday, 8th March 2004
>
>The robot guide dog takes a bow
>
>by Deborah Haile
>
>GETTING used to the maze of corridors and classrooms at secondary school can
>be a daunting task for new arrivals.
>
>But for blind schoolboy Richard Howarth the change will bring additional
>challenges.
>
>The 10-year-old is still a year away from making the move to Stockport
>Grammar School. But headboy Matthew Wilson has set
>about easing the transition, by designing and developing a robotic guide
>dog.
>
>The battery-powered machine - named `Wilson' - detects walls, steps and
>kerbs with a system of laser beams.
>
>When it is fitted with a solid `lead,' Richard will be able to use it around
>school just like a real guide dog.
>
>"This sounds great," said Richard, from Oldham, who relies on a support
>worker or his white stick to get around.
>
>"I would like to use this because people leave bags lying on the ground
>where you don't expect them and sometimes there are
>metal or concrete pillars which are difficult to recognise.
>
>"If I was going to a new place on my own it would be useful then. It would
>be good when blind people are visiting a new
>school or a new place - like a friend's house - or if you're moving house."
>
>Regulations
>
>Matthew, 18, who is planning to read physics at Oxford University next year,
>started to design the robot last summer during
>work experience at Salford University's laser photonics laboratory.
>
>He says the machine costs less than £80 to make - far less than the
>thousands of pounds needed to train a guide dog.
>
>And it could be used on holiday - where quarantine regulations may make it
>too difficult to travel with a real dog.
>
>"This wouldn't be expensive, but training a guide dog costs a lot of money,"
>said Matthew.
>
>Stockport Grammar's head of physics, Peter Giblin, says it's remarkable for
>an A-level student to come up with such a
>sophisticated machine.
>
>He said: "I think it is very exciting that Matthew should have been working
>at Salford University on a project that is far
>beyond A-level."
>
>Ray Davies, from Salford University's physics department, is also impressed.
>He said: "He was one of the brightest and most
>thorough students we have ever had in. He was very impressive."
>
>Deborah Flint, who will support Richard at Stockport Grammar, believes the
>invention could have a significant impact.
>
>She said: "The hope is that that this could be used by visually impaired and
>blind people, who are going to a new environment
>or who are staying in a hotel, to give them the support they need."
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