PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To notify of a road surface state such as whether a road surface is smooth or rough in advance when an elderly and a visually handicapped travel by wheelchair or walk with sticks so as to support travelling by wheelchair and walking with sticks.SOLUTION: A road surface state determination and notification device includes: a transmitter for emitting ultrasonic waves to a road surface ahead of a person on a wheelchair or with a stick a receiver for receiving the reflected ultrasonic waves an ultrasonic sensor composed of a measuring device for measuring the intensity of the received ultrasonic waves road surface determination means for determining a road surface state on the basis of the intensity of the ultrasonic waves acquired from the ultrasonic sensor and road surface state notification means for notifying of the road surface state or a change in the road surface state according to the result of the determination by the road surface determination means, and outputs a notification sound, a message, etc. according to the determined road surface state (whether the road surface is smooth or rough, or whether or not there is a puddle on the road surface).COPYRIGHT: (C)2014,JPO&INPIT【課題】高齢者や視覚障害者が車椅子で走行したり、杖を持って歩行したりするときに、事前に路面の表面が滑らかか粗いかといった路面の状態を報知して、車椅子での走行や杖を持っての歩行を支援できるようにすること。【解決手段】車椅子又は杖を持つ人の前方の路面に向けて超音波を発射する発信器と、反射してくる超音波を受信する受信器と、受信した超音波の強度を測定する測定器からなる超音波センサと、該超音波センサから得られる超音波の強度に基づいて路面状態を判別する路面判別手段と、該路面判別手段の判別結果に応じて路面状態又は路面状態の変化を報知する路面状態報知手段を備え、判別した路面状態(路面の表面が滑らかか粗いか水たまりか)に応じた報知音やメッセージ等を出力する。【選択図】図1
