eWalk is a smartphone-based system that assists pedestrians at signalized intersections, improving pedestrian safety by using connected vehicle technologies.
eWalk is specifically designed to help visually and otherwise impaired individuals in safely navigating through intersections. The eWalk system includes three main functions for pedestrians:
- Intersection Information -
The eWalk App provides information to the pedestrian as they approach the intersection. The app lets them know when they have reached a crosswalk and provides them via audio and visual prompts with intersection information to help them understand the layout of the intersection.
- Intersection Control -
Once the pedestrian is near the crosswalk, the eWalk app lets the user “press the pedestrian cross button” right from their phone. The pedestrian no longer has to try find the physical button at the intersection. The app then provides information on when it is safe to cross and when it isn’t.
- Crosswalk Support -
In addition, the eWalk app has a positional correction algorithm that helps keep the pedestrian in the crosswalk as they cross the street. This algorithm is used to improve pedestrian location estimation and overcome GPS positioning challenges as the pedestrian navigates through the crosswalk and provides haptic, vibration, warnings if they begin to leave the crosswalk area.