HATSEYE

never be so out of touch

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Inspiration

We were inspired by the idea of giving visually impaired people more confidence and independence while navigating everyday environments. Many existing tools don’t fully address obstacles, hazards, and context at once, so we wanted to build something wearable, intuitive, and hands-free.

What it does

HATSEYE is a smart hat that helps visually impaired users better understand their surroundings. Ultrasonic sensors detect nearby objects and communicate distance through gentle vibrations. An AI voice assistant can identify objects and describe what’s around the user, while computer vision looks for hazards like cracks or uneven ground to help prevent accidents.

How we built it

We combined hardware and software into a single assistive system. Ultrasonic sensors and vibration motors provide real-time physical feedback, while a Python-based backend handles vision and voice processing. We used AI-powered computer vision for object and text recognition, and ElevenLabs to deliver clear, natural-sounding voice responses that are easy to understand in real-world settings.

Challenges we ran into

One of the biggest challenges was getting everything to work smoothly in real time. Sensor noise, AI response delays, and voice reliability all required careful tuning. Balancing accuracy, speed, and usability was especially important since this is a safety-focused tool.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

  • Building a working prototype that blends touch, sound, and vision
  • Creating an experience that feels natural and hands-free
  • Delivering clear and friendly audio feedback with ElevenLabs
  • Designing with accessibility as the top priority

What we learned

We learned that assistive technology has to be intuitive above all else. Small delays or confusing feedback can make a big difference. We also gained valuable experience integrating hardware with AI systems and designing for real users, not just demos.

What's next for HATSEYE

Moving forward, we want to improve hazard detection, reduce latency, and make the system more compact and power-efficient. Our goal is to turn HATSEYE into a lightweight, everyday wearable that people can rely on with confidence.

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