RaahiSense

Safer steps, spoken out loud. Raahi means “traveller”. RaahiSense is a free Android app for people who are blind or have low vision. It uses the phone’s camera and on-device AI to spot obstacles and speak a warning, such as “pothole ahead, very close.” It works fully offline, in multiple languages. It is made for anyone, anywhere.

Status: early version (prototype). Coming soon to Google Play. An iPhone version is in early development.

RaahiSense supports a white cane. It never replaces one.

Watch the introduction video

Read the video transcript

Meet RaahiSense. Raahi means traveller. It is a free phone app for people who are legally blind or have low vision.

According to the World Health Organization, at least 2.2 billion people worldwide have a near or distance vision impairment. On busy streets, potholes, open drains and traffic make every walk risky.

RaahiSense uses the phone’s camera and on-device AI to spot obstacles and speak a warning out loud. For example: pothole ahead, very close.

Carry it hands-free in a shirt pocket, with the camera facing forward and peeking over the top, or simply hold it in your hand while you walk.

Every warning tells you the direction, left, ahead or right, and how close it is: very close, near, or far.

It is trained on tens of thousands of images of real street obstacles, from potholes and open drains to auto-rickshaws and cows.

RaahiSense helps at home, too. It warns about chairs, tables, sofas and beds, stairs, and people or pets in the way, so moving around the house is easier.

It works fully offline, with no Wi-Fi or mobile data, on low-cost, everyday Android phones. So it fits places where connectivity is patchy.

Control is hands-free. Just say, Hey Guide, then a command like: what’s in front of me, repeat, louder, or change language.

On noisy streets, simply long-press a volume key, double-tap anywhere on the screen, or shake the phone.

It keeps running with the screen off in your pocket or bag, speaks warnings in multiple languages starting with English, and it is completely free.

And RaahiSense keeps getting smarter. As more people use it, it learns from real streets and homes, with sharing always optional and private.

Coming next: a standalone RaahiSense device with a small camera that clips onto your shirt, so no smartphone is needed.

RaahiSense. Safer steps, spoken out loud. A project by Dr. Chindanoor Rajesh. Reach us at raahisenseapp@gmail.com.

How it works

Spoken warnings

Every warning gives the direction (left, ahead or right) and how close it is: very close, near or far. It keeps watching, so you don’t have to tap for each scene.

Walls and unknown objects

Trained on tens of thousands of images of real obstacles, from potholes, open drains, stairs, curbs and poles to auto-rickshaws, handcarts and cows. It also warns about walls and objects it can’t name.

Approaching objects

It warns when something is coming toward you, such as a person or a vehicle.

Darkness and auto flashlight

When it gets dark, RaahiSense can switch on the phone’s flashlight by itself so the camera can keep seeing.

“Hey Guide”, plus buttons

Say “Hey Guide”, then a command: “what’s in front of me”, “repeat”, “louder”, or “change language”. On noisy streets, long-press a volume key, double-tap anywhere on the screen, or shake the phone.

Works offline

No Wi-Fi or mobile data needed. The AI runs on the phone itself, on low-cost, everyday Android phones, and keeps running with the screen off.

Pocket or handheld

Carry it hands-free in a shirt pocket with the camera peeking over the top, or hold it in your hand at chest height while you walk.

Many languages

Warnings start in English, with more languages on the way.

How to use it

1. Carry the phone in a shirt pocket with the camera facing forward and peeking over the top, or hold it in your hand at chest height.
2. Walk with your white cane as usual. Listen for warnings. Each one says the direction (left, ahead or right) and how close it is (very close, near or far).
3. To ask the app something, say “Hey Guide”, then “what’s in front of me”, “repeat”, “louder” or “change language”.
4. On noisy streets, long-press a volume key, double-tap anywhere on the screen, or shake the phone.
5. You can turn the screen off. RaahiSense keeps running in your pocket or bag.

At home, too

RaahiSense helps indoors. It warns about chairs, tables, sofas, beds, stairs, and people or pets in the way, so moving around the house is easier.

Gets smarter over time

As more people use RaahiSense, it can learn from real streets and homes. Your privacy comes first:

• Strictly opt-in. Sharing is off by default, and you can turn it off or delete what you shared at any time.
• Still frames only, never whole videos, and only when the app is unsure or you say it missed something.
• Private on the phone. Faces and number plates are blurred before anything leaves the phone. No location is attached.
• Wi-Fi only, so sharing never uses your mobile data. Warnings always stay fully offline.

Coming next

A standalone RaahiSense device with a small camera that clips onto your shirt, so no smartphone is needed.

Get RaahiSense

RaahiSense is coming soon to Google Play. There is no download link yet. You can also visit the RaahiSense website.

About

RaahiSense is a project by Dr. Chindanoor Rajesh. It is free for everyone, built to run on everyday Android phones, and designed to work alongside the white cane.

Contact

Questions or ideas about RaahiSense? Email raahisenseapp@gmail.com.

RaahiSense. Safer steps, spoken out loud. A project by Dr. Chindanoor Rajesh.