TED2011
Dennis Hong: Making a car for blind drivers
丹尼斯·洪：设计盲人驾驶的车
Filmed:
Readability: 4.3
923,134 views
使用机械技术，激光测距仪，全球定位系统和智能回馈工具，丹尼斯·洪正在设计一辆盲人驾驶的车。这不是一辆“自动驾驶”的车，他仔细的注明，这车而是一辆盲人能决定速度，车距和路程的车--同时也能独立驾驶的车。
Dennis Hong - Roboticist
Dennis Hong is the founder and director of RoMeLa -- a Virginia Tech robotics lab that has pioneered several breakthroughs in robot design and engineering. Full bio
Dennis Hong is the founder and director of RoMeLa -- a Virginia Tech robotics lab that has pioneered several breakthroughs in robot design and engineering. Full bio
Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.
00:15
Many believe driving is an activity
0
0
3000
很多人认为开车是一件
00:18
solely reserved for those who can see.
1
3000
2000
仅仅那些能看见的人才能做的事情。
00:20
A blind person driving a vehicle safely and independently
2
5000
3000
盲人想单独的安全的驾驶一辆车
00:23
was thought to be an impossible task, until now.
3
8000
3000
直到现在，也被认为是一件不可能的任务。
00:26
Hello, my name is Dennis Hong,
4
11000
2000
大家好，我叫丹尼斯·洪，
00:28
and we're bringing freedom and independence to the blind
5
13000
2000
我们为了盲人的自由和独立
00:30
by building a vehicle for the visually impaired.
6
15000
3000
制造了一辆针对视觉障碍有问题的人们而设计的汽车。
00:33
So before I talk about this car for the blind,
7
18000
3000
在我讲述这辆盲人用的车之前，
00:36
let me briefly tell you about another project that I worked on
8
21000
2000
让我简略的说一下我曾经做过的另外一个项目
00:38
called the DARPA Urban Challenge.
9
23000
2000
叫做美国国防部高级研究计划局城市挑战赛。
00:40
Now this was about building a robotic car
10
25000
2000
这是关于制造一辆能自己驾驶的
00:42
that can drive itself.
11
27000
2000
机械车。
00:44
You press start, nobody touches anything,
12
29000
2000
你按下开始键，不再碰任何东西，
00:46
and it can reach its destination fully autonomously.
13
31000
3000
它也能完全自动的到达它的目的地。
00:49
So in 2007, our team won half a million dollars
14
34000
3000
在2007年的挑战赛上，我们团队赢得了50万美元
00:52
by placing third place in this competition.
15
37000
2000
获得比赛的第三名。
00:54
So about that time,
16
39000
2000
大概那个时候，
00:56
the National Federation of the Blind, or NFB,
17
41000
2000
全国盲人协会，或盲协，
00:58
challenged the research committee
18
43000
2000
对设计团队提出了挑战
01:00
about who can develop a car
19
45000
2000
关于谁能设计出一辆
01:02
that lets a blind person drive safely and independently.
20
47000
2000
能让盲人独立安全驾驶的汽车。
01:04
We decided to give it a try,
21
49000
2000
我们觉得要尝试一下，
01:06
because we thought, "Hey, how hard could it be?"
22
51000
2000
因为我们觉得，哎，这个会难到哪里去呢。
01:08
We have already an autonomous vehicle.
23
53000
2000
我们已经有了辆自动的汽车。
01:10
We just put a blind person in it and we're done, right?
24
55000
2000
我们只要让盲人做到里面开车，那不就完事啦，对吧？
01:12
(Laughter)
25
57000
2000
（笑声）
01:14
We couldn't have been more wrong.
26
59000
2000
但是我们错的不靠谱了。
01:16
What NFB wanted
27
61000
2000
盲协想要的
01:18
was not a vehicle that can drive a blind person around,
28
63000
3000
不是一辆能载着盲人乱逛的车，
01:21
but a vehicle where a blind person can make active decisions and drive.
29
66000
3000
而是一辆盲人能主动做出选择并驾驭的一辆车。
01:24
So we had to throw everything out the window
30
69000
2000
所以我们不得不放弃我们原有的所有东西
01:26
and start from scratch.
31
71000
2000
从头开始做起。
01:28
So to test this crazy idea,
32
73000
2000
为了测试这个疯狂的想法，
01:30
we developed a small dune buggy prototype vehicle
33
75000
2000
我们设计出了一个小型沙地车的原型车
01:32
to test the feasibility.
34
77000
2000
来测试其可行性。
01:34
And in the summer of 2009,
35
79000
2000
在2009年暑期，
01:36
we invited dozens of blind youth from all over the country
36
81000
3000
我们邀请了全国很多盲人青年
01:39
and gave them a chance to take it for a spin.
37
84000
2000
并给他们次机会用这车来兜风。
01:41
It was an absolutely amazing experience.
38
86000
2000
这绝对是一个炫酷的体验。
01:43
But the problem with this car was
39
88000
2000
但是这车的问题在于
01:45
it was designed to only be driven in a very controlled environment,
40
90000
3000
它的设计只能让盲人在很有限的环境下驾驶，
01:48
in a flat, closed-off parking lot --
41
93000
2000
像一个封闭的停车场--
01:50
even the lanes defined by red traffic cones.
42
95000
2000
甚至能在用红色交通锥搭成的小路上行驶。
01:52
So with this success,
43
97000
2000
所以有了这次成功，
01:54
we decided to take the next big step,
44
99000
2000
我们决定进行重要的下一步，
01:56
to develop a real car that can be driven on real roads.
45
101000
3000
制造一辆能在真正马路上行驶的真正的车。
01:59
So how does it work?
46
104000
2000
那它怎么运作的呢？
02:01
Well, it's a rather complex system,
47
106000
2000
嗯，这是个相对复杂的系统，
02:03
but let me try to explain it, maybe simplify it.
48
108000
3000
但是让我来解释一下，来简化一下。
02:06
So we have three steps.
49
111000
2000
我们有三个阶段。
02:08
We have perception, computation
50
113000
2000
我们有感应阶段，计算阶段
02:10
and non-visual interfaces.
51
115000
2000
和非视觉界面。
02:12
Now obviously the driver cannot see,
52
117000
2000
驾驶员明显是看不见的，
02:14
so the system needs to perceive the environment
53
119000
2000
所以系统必须能感知周围环境
02:16
and gather information for the driver.
54
121000
2000
并为驾驶员收集数据。
02:18
For that, we use an initial measurement unit.
55
123000
3000
这点，我们使用初始计量元件。
02:21
So it measures acceleration, angular acceleration --
56
126000
2000
它测量加速度，角加速度--
02:23
like a human ear, inner ear.
57
128000
2000
就像人耳，内耳。
02:25
We fuse that information with a GPS unit
58
130000
2000
我把这信息和全球定位系统结合在一起
02:27
to get an estimate of the location of the car.
59
132000
3000
来预测车辆所处的位置。
02:30
We also use two cameras to detect the lanes of the road.
60
135000
3000
我们还用两个摄像头来探测行车的路径。
02:33
And we also use three laser range finders.
61
138000
2000
我们还用三个激光测距仪。
02:35
The lasers scan the environment to detect obstacles --
62
140000
3000
激光扫描环境来探测障碍物--
02:38
a car approaching from the front, the back
63
143000
2000
从前方，后方靠经的车辆
02:40
and also any obstacles that run into the roads,
64
145000
3000
同时还有闯进路上的任何障碍物，
02:43
any obstacles around the vehicle.
65
148000
2000
在车辆周围的任何障碍物。
02:45
So all this vast amount of information is then fed into the computer,
66
150000
3000
所有海量的信息接着汇总到电脑中，
02:48
and the computer can do two things.
67
153000
2000
电脑会做两件事。
02:50
One is, first of all, process this information
68
155000
3000
首先的，一件事是处理信息
02:53
to have an understanding of the environment --
69
158000
2000
来了解周围环境--
02:55
these are the lanes of the road, there's the obstacles --
70
160000
3000
哪些是行车路径，哪些是障碍物--
02:58
and convey this information to the driver.
71
163000
2000
并转化这些信息给驾驶者。
03:00
The system is also smart enough
72
165000
2000
这系统也是十分智能化
03:02
to figure out the safest way to operate the car.
73
167000
2000
能算出最安全的行车路径。
03:04
So we can also generate instructions
74
169000
2000
我们也能发出指令
03:06
on how to operate the controls of the vehicle.
75
171000
2000
关于如何操作车辆的运行程序。
03:08
But the problem is this: How do we convey
76
173000
2000
但是问题是：我们怎么才能把
03:10
this information and instructions
77
175000
2000
信息和指令
03:12
to a person who cannot see
78
177000
2000
够快又够准确地传输
03:14
fast enough and accurate enough so he can drive?
79
179000
3000
给盲人来确保他能驾驶？
03:17
So for this, we developed many different types
80
182000
2000
为此，我们设计了很多种不同的
03:19
of non-visual user interface technology.
81
184000
3000
非视觉用户界面技术。
03:22
So starting from a three-dimensional ping sound system,
82
187000
2000
最初的三维平音响系统，
03:24
a vibrating vest,
83
189000
2000
震动背心，
03:26
a click wheel with voice commands, a leg strip,
84
191000
3000
声控齿轮，腿带，
03:29
even a shoe that applies pressure to the foot.
85
194000
2000
甚至给脚施压的鞋子。
03:31
But today we're going to talk about
86
196000
2000
但是今天我们讲的是关于
03:33
three of these non-visual user interfaces.
87
198000
2000
其中三样非视觉用户界面技术。
03:35
Now the first interface is called a DriveGrip.
88
200000
3000
第一个界面叫做驾驶手柄。
03:38
So these are a pair of gloves,
89
203000
2000
这是一对手套，
03:40
and it has vibrating elements on the knuckle part
90
205000
2000
在指节部它有震动元件，
03:42
so you can convey instructions about how to steer --
91
207000
3000
以此你能传输如何行驶的指令--
03:45
the direction and the intensity.
92
210000
2000
方向和幅度。
03:47
Another device is called SpeedStrip.
93
212000
2000
另外一个设备叫做速度震带。
03:49
So this is a chair -- as a matter of fact, it's actually a massage chair.
94
214000
3000
这个车椅--实际上，这是个按摩椅。
03:52
We gut it out, and we rearrange the vibrating elements in different patterns,
95
217000
4000
我们把它拆出来，我们重组不同模式的震动元件。
03:56
and we actuate them to convey information about the speed,
96
221000
3000
我们让它们来传输速度的信息，
03:59
and also instructions how to use the gas and the brake pedal.
97
224000
3000
同时也有如何使用油门和刹车的指示。
04:02
So over here, you can see
98
227000
2000
在这里，你能看到
04:04
how the computer understands the environment,
99
229000
2000
电脑如何理解周围环境。
04:06
and because you cannot see the vibration,
100
231000
2000
因为你无法看出震动，
04:08
we actually put red LED's on the driver so that you can see what's happening.
101
233000
3000
我们实际在驾驶员身上安装了红色发光二极管，所以他能看到什么正在发生。
04:11
This is the sensory data,
102
236000
2000
这是感应的数据，
04:13
and that data is transferred to the devices through the computer.
103
238000
3000
这数据从感应器被传输到电脑里。
04:16
So these two devices, DriveGrip and SpeedStrip,
104
241000
2000
所以这两种设备，驾驶手柄和速度震带，
04:18
are very effective.
105
243000
2000
是很有效的。
04:20
But the problem is
106
245000
2000
但是问题是
04:22
these are instructional cue devices.
107
247000
2000
这些是指令暗示装置。
04:24
So this is not really freedom, right?
108
249000
2000
所以这不是真正意义上的自由，对吧？
04:26
The computer tells you how to drive --
109
251000
2000
电脑告诉你如何驾驶--
04:28
turn left, turn right, speed up, stop.
110
253000
2000
左转，右转，加速，刹车。
04:30
We call this the "backseat-driver problem."
111
255000
2000
我把这叫做副驾驶问题。
04:32
So we're moving away from the instructional cue devices,
112
257000
3000
所以我们正避免指令暗示装置，
04:35
and we're now focusing more
113
260000
2000
并更关注于
04:37
on the informational devices.
114
262000
2000
信息装置。
04:39
A good example for this informational non-visual user interface
115
264000
2000
这种非视觉信息界面的一个典型例子是
04:41
is called AirPix.
116
266000
2000
叫做空图。
04:43
So think of it as a monitor for the blind.
117
268000
2000
把这个看成盲人的显示器。
04:45
So it's a small tablet, has many holes in it,
118
270000
2000
这是个小桌面，有很多孔在上面，
04:47
and compressed air comes out,
119
272000
2000
压缩空气从中排除，
04:49
so it can actually draw images.
120
274000
2000
以此它就能描述成图片。
04:51
So even though you are blind, you can put your hand over it,
121
276000
2000
所以即使你是盲人，你把手放在它上面，
04:53
you can see the lanes of the road and obstacles.
122
278000
2000
你也能感应到行径路线和障碍物。
04:55
Actually, you can also change the frequency of the air coming out
123
280000
3000
实际上，你还能改变空气中释放出的频率
04:58
and possibly the temperature.
124
283000
2000
有可能还有温度。
05:00
So it's actually a multi-dimensional user interface.
125
285000
3000
这实际就是一个多维的用户界面。
05:03
So here you can see the left camera, the right camera from the vehicle
126
288000
3000
这里，你能看到左，右两边的摄像头
05:06
and how the computer interprets that and sends that information to the AirPix.
127
291000
3000
以及电脑如何解析并传送这些信息给空图。
05:09
For this, we're showing a simulator,
128
294000
2000
就这样，我们正展示一个模拟程序，
05:11
a blind person driving using the AirPix.
129
296000
3000
一个盲人正在用空图驾驶。
05:14
This simulator was also very useful for training the blind drivers
130
299000
3000
这个程序在依据不同种类的非视觉用户界面方面对于训练盲人驾驶者
05:17
and also quickly testing different types of ideas
131
302000
2000
和快速地测试不同的理论
05:19
for different types of non-visual user interfaces.
132
304000
2000
有很大的帮助。
05:21
So basically that's how it works.
133
306000
2000
这就是基本上它如何运作的。
05:23
So just a month ago,
134
308000
2000
就在一个月前
05:25
on January 29th,
135
310000
2000
1月29日，
05:27
we unveiled this vehicle for the very first time to the public
136
312000
2000
我们第一次把此车向大众公布
05:29
at the world-famous Daytona International Speedway
137
314000
3000
在世界著名的代托纳国际赛道
05:32
during the Rolex 24 racing event.
138
317000
2000
举办劳力士24小时赛车活动期间。
05:34
We also had some surprises. Let's take a look.
139
319000
3000
我们也收获了一些惊喜。一睹为快吧。
05:37
(Music)
140
322000
10000
（音乐）
05:47
(Video) Announcer: This is an historic day in January.
141
332000
4000
（录像）播音员：这是个历史性的一天。
05:51
He's coming up to the grandstand, fellow Federationists.
142
336000
4000
他转向主看台，伙计们。
05:55
(Cheering)
143
340000
6000
（欢呼）
06:01
(Honking)
144
346000
3000
（汽车喇叭声）
06:04
There's the grandstand now.
145
349000
2000
现在他到主看台了。
06:06
And he's [unclear] following that van that's out in front of him.
146
351000
4000
他跟随着前方的那辆货车。
06:10
Well there comes the first box.
147
355000
2000
那第一个箱子出现了。
06:12
Now let's see if Mark avoids it.
148
357000
3000
让我们看看马克能不能躲开它。
06:15
He does. He passes it on the right.
149
360000
3000
他做到了。他从右侧穿过了它。
06:20
Third box is out. The fourth box is out.
150
365000
3000
第三个箱子出现了。第四个箱子出现了。
06:23
And he's perfectly making his way between the two.
151
368000
3000
他完美地从中间穿了过去。
06:26
He's closing in on the van
152
371000
2000
他接近货车
06:28
to make the moving pass.
153
373000
3000
准备超车过去。
06:32
Well this is what it's all about,
154
377000
2000
这就是它的全部，
06:34
this kind of dynamic display of audacity and ingenuity.
155
379000
4000
这种大胆而独创的激情的表演。
06:39
He's approaching the end of the run,
156
384000
3000
他接近最后的终点了，
06:42
makes his way between the barrels that are set up there.
157
387000
5000
从那设障的塑料桶中间穿过成功抵达。
06:47
(Honking)
158
392000
3000
（汽车喇叭声）
06:50
(Applause)
159
395000
3000
（掌声）
06:56
Dennis Hong: I'm so happy for you.
160
401000
2000
丹尼斯·洪：我为你感到高兴。
06:58
Mark's going to give me a ride back to the hotel.
161
403000
2000
马克等会儿会开车送我回旅馆的。
07:00
Mark Riccobono: Yes.
162
405000
2000
马克·里科博诺：没错。
07:05
(Applause)
163
410000
9000
（掌声）
07:14
DH: So since we started this project,
164
419000
2000
丹尼斯·洪：自此我们开始这个项目，
07:16
we've been getting hundreds of letters, emails, phone calls
165
421000
3000
我们已经收到了
07:19
from people from all around the world.
166
424000
2000
来自全世界的人们的上百封来信，邮件，电话。
07:21
Letters thanking us, but sometimes you also get funny letters like this one:
167
426000
3000
有的信感谢我们，但是有时候你也会收到些有趣的信比如这个：
07:24
"Now I understand why there is Braille on a drive-up ATM machine."
168
429000
4000
“现在我知道为什么布莱叶点字法(盲人用点字法)会使用在自动取款机上了。”
07:28
(Laughter)
169
433000
2000
（笑声）
07:30
But sometimes --
170
435000
2000
但是有时--
07:32
(Laughter)
171
437000
2000
（笑声）
07:34
But sometimes I also do get --
172
439000
2000
但是有时我也会收到--
07:36
I wouldn't call it hate mail --
173
441000
2000
我不觉得它是带有攻击性的信--
07:38
but letters of really strong concern:
174
443000
2000
而是些十分强烈关注的信：
07:40
"Dr. Hong, are you insane,
175
445000
2000
“洪博士，你疯了吗，
07:42
trying to put blind people on the road?
176
447000
2000
试着让盲人开车上路？
07:44
You must be out of your mind."
177
449000
2000
你肯定是疯了。”
07:46
But this vehicle is a prototype vehicle,
178
451000
2000
但是这车是一个模型车，
07:48
and it's not going to be on the road
179
453000
2000
它也不会上路
07:50
until it's proven as safe as, or safer than, today's vehicle.
180
455000
2000
除非它被证明和如今的汽车一样驾驶安全，或者更安全而言。
07:52
And I truly believe that this can happen.
181
457000
3000
我真地坚信这会发生。
07:55
But still, will the society,
182
460000
2000
但是，社会是否，
07:57
would they accept such a radical idea?
183
462000
2000
它们是否能接受这个激进的想法呢？
07:59
How are we going to handle insurance?
184
464000
2000
我们将如何来处理保险呢？
08:01
How are we going to issue driver's licenses?
185
466000
2000
我们将如何签发驾照呢？
08:03
There's many of these different kinds of hurdles besides technology challenges
186
468000
3000
在技术挑战的背后还有很多各种不同的障碍
08:06
that we need to address before this becomes a reality.
187
471000
3000
在其真正成为现实前我们需要去解决。
08:09
Of course, the main goal of this project
188
474000
2000
当然，这个项目的主要目的
08:11
is to develop a car for the blind.
189
476000
2000
是设计一辆盲人驾驶的车。
08:13
But potentially more important than this
190
478000
2000
但是潜在的比这更重要的
08:15
is the tremendous value of the spin-off technology
191
480000
3000
是这个项目中的副产品中
08:18
that can come from this project.
192
483000
2000
蕴含的巨大价值。
08:20
The sensors that are used can see through the dark,
193
485000
2000
能用来透视黑暗，雨雾的
08:22
the fog and rain.
194
487000
2000
传感器。
08:24
And together with this new type of interfaces,
195
489000
2000
以及这新种类的界面，
08:26
we can use these technologies
196
491000
2000
我们能利用这些技术
08:28
and apply them to safer cars for sighted people.
197
493000
2000
让它们为可视人群提供更安全的车辆。
08:30
Or for the blind, everyday home appliances --
198
495000
3000
或者为了盲人，每天生活上的家用装置--
08:33
in the educational setting, in the office setting.
199
498000
2000
教育设施，办公设施应用服务。
08:35
Just imagine, in a classroom a teacher writes on the blackboard
200
500000
3000
想象下，在课堂上老师在黑板上写笔记
08:38
and a blind student can see what's written and read
201
503000
3000
盲人学生也能用这些非视觉界面
08:41
using these non-visual interfaces.
202
506000
2000
来了解和阅读老师所写的东西。
08:43
This is priceless.
203
508000
3000
这是极其珍贵的。
08:46
So today, the things I've showed you today, is just the beginning.
204
511000
3000
今天，我所展示给大家的，只是一个开始。
08:49
Thank you very much.
205
514000
2000
非常感谢。
08:51
(Applause)
206
516000
11000
（掌声）
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Dennis Hong - RoboticistDennis Hong is the founder and director of RoMeLa -- a Virginia Tech robotics lab that has pioneered several breakthroughs in robot design and engineering.
Why you should listen
As director of a groundbreaking robotics lab, Dennis Hong guides his team of students through projects on robot locomotion and mechanism design, creating award-winning humanoid robots like DARwIn (Dynamic Anthropomorphic Robot with Intelligence). His team is known as RoMeLa (Robotics & Mechanisms Laboratory) and operates at Virginia Tech.
Hong has also pioneered various innovations in soft-body robots, using a “whole-skin locomotion” as inspired by amoebae. Marrying robotics with biochemistry, he has been able to generate new types of motion with these ingenious forms. For his contributions to the field, Hong was selected as a NASA Summer Faculty Fellow in 2005, given the CAREER award by the National Science Foundation in 2007 and in 2009, named as one of Popular Science's Brilliant 10. He is also a gourmet chef and a magician, performing shows for charity and lecturing on the science of magic.
Dennis Hong | Speaker | TED.com