Review on LiDAR-Based Navigation Systems for the Visually Impaired

Visual impairment is a condition that hinders the ability to navigate effectively through surroundings in day-to-day life. Many tools have been designed to help those who are visually impaired navigate. One of the most popular tools is the white cane. However, with the advancement in technology, it became evident that the cane was not the most efficient method for navigation. Hence, in recent years, many technological changes have taken place in this field. More recently, LiDAR sensors are being used to perform indoor and outdoor navigation. In this review, we have covered the recent studies done on navigation systems using LiDARs for the visually impaired. The manuscript elaborates on the work done and discusses the ongoing trends. This review will help understand the different technologies and algorithms that were used and thus make decisions to improve the systems. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.