Introducing the Ultrasonic WeWalk Smart Cane 2

TDK’s ultrasonic sensors are key components behind WeWalk’s smart cane.

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Oct. 2, 2025

2 min read

Massimo Mascotto, TDK’s Marketing Director for Ultrasonic and Range Sensors, highlights the technology inside WeWalk’s Smart Cane 2 in this video (above). It targets the visually impaired who can utilize an advanced mobility companion to help navigate their environment with feedback from Invensense sensors.

The WeWalk Smart Cane 2 (see figure) utilizes a collection of TDK sensors including SmartMotion MEMS sensors, SmartSound MEMS microphones, and SmartSonic Ultrasonic Time-of-Flight. Users employ the cane in a fashion similar to using a dumb cane, but there’s the added feedback of sensors to enhance the ability to locate surrounding obstacles.

The microphones tie into an intelligent voice assistant while the motion sensors track the movement of the cane. The ultrasonic sensor in the handle allows for tracking of objects above, rather than those below that would be detected when the tip of the cane touches the object.

The cane can tie into Bluetooth devices that enable audio feedback via earbuds or headphones, which can be useful in a noisy environment instead of resorting to an on-board speaker. Custom verbal commands can make it possible to quickly access information about destinations. In addition, buttons on the handle can be used to interact with the on-board processor.

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William G. Wong

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