A New Russian Innovation Will Help People With Visual Impairments ‘See’ the World
A cutting-edge lidar–sonar assistant now in development in Russia promises to help people with visual impairments navigate the world more safely and independently
A High-Tech Spatial Assistant
Rostec State Corporation will showcase several advanced medical technologies at the 2025 Russian Healthcare Week. Among them is a lidar–sonar assistant (LISA) being developed by the Ulyanovsk Instrument Engineering Design Bureau, designed to help people with visual impairments orient themselves in space.
Special sensors continuously scan the surrounding environment. Software-based analytics convert the collected data into audio cues delivered through a small speaker and into vibration signals transmitted via wrist bracelets. An integrated camera enhances functionality by reading and voicing text, recognizing familiar objects, and even identifying faces.
Entering the Testing Phase
The first prototype is currently being assembled at the plant, where its core functions are undergoing testing.
Sergey Dmitrochenko, CEO of RT-MedTech, noted that Rostec’s portfolio includes more than 200 registered medical devices covering nearly every field of healthcare—from resuscitation and surgery to diagnostics, prosthetics, and pharmacology.
