Education news
IIIT Delhi Researchers to Develop Audio AR Technology to Help Visually Impaired
· Source: Amar Ujala
Researchers at IIIT Delhi are working on an audio-based augmented reality technology under the PathSense project to assist visually impaired people in navigating large indoor spaces. Two faculty members have received a research grant of around Rs 62 lakh under the Qualcomm XR University Research Grant-2026 for this three-year initiative.
Grant and Research Overview
Researchers at IIIT Delhi will conduct research to develop audio-based augmented reality technology to help visually impaired and low-vision individuals navigate large buildings, hospitals, and other public places. Two faculty members from the institute, Dr. Richa Gupta and Dr. Anmol Srivastava, have received a grant of approximately Rs 62 lakh under the Qualcomm XR University Research Grant-2026. Dr. Richa Gupta will serve as the Principal Investigator (PI), while Dr. Anmol Srivastava will be the Co-Investigator.
About Project PathSense
The research will be conducted over a duration of three years under a project named PathSense.
- It aims to explore the possibilities of developing audio-based augmented reality technology.
- The objective is to enable visually impaired individuals to identify routes and reach their destinations in large indoor spaces without assistance.
- The research will study how visually impaired individuals perceive their surroundings without sight.
- It will explore how information about the layout and paths of a building or space can be provided through audio and other non-visual cues.
Key Objectives
Dr. Richa Gupta stated that finding paths inside large buildings presents many challenges for visually impaired individuals. Dr. Anmol Srivastava stated that the purpose of the research is not just to provide navigation directions, but also to help people understand the entire structure of the space where they are walking.
Questions
What is the name of IIIT Delhi's research project for the visually impaired?
The project is named PathSense.
How much grant has been awarded for this research project?
A grant of approximately Rs 62 lakh has been awarded under the Qualcomm XR University Research Grant-2026.
Who are the researchers leading the PathSense project?
Dr. Richa Gupta is the Principal Investigator (PI) and Dr. Anmol Srivastava is the Co-Investigator.
What is the duration of the research project?
The research project will be conducted for a period of three years.
Written in English by Disha Stars from the Amar Ujala report (read the original in Hindi). Check dates and links on the official website before you act.
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