Redefining Independence With Intelligent Mobility Powered by Sensors
The WeWALK Smart Cane 2 introduces a new standard in assistive technology by expanding the capabilities of the traditional white cane. Developed by WeWALK and empowered by TDK’s advanced sensor solutions, the device integrates motion, sound, and ultrasonic sensing to enable precise navigation, reliable voice interaction, and real-time obstacle detection. These sensors deliver low-power, high-performance operation in a slim, ergonomic design that enhances everyday usability. Created with input from the visually impaired community, WeWALK’s award-winning Smart Cane 2 highlights how TDK’s sensing technologies and WeWALK’s vision together advance inclusive mobility and reflect a shared commitment to improving the quality of life.
A Smarter Cane for a More Inclusive World
Mobility is more than movement—it’s independence. For over 43 million people worldwide living with blindness and many more with low vision, navigating safely in everyday life can be a constant challenge. Traditional white canes, while indispensable, are limited in detecting obstacles above ground level, leaving users vulnerable to hazards at chest or head height.
WeWALK, a UK-based startup, has a mission to “create tailored solutions to meet the unique needs of communities with disabilities.” Inspired by personal and professional experience with visual impairment, they set out to transform the traditional white cane into a connected, AI-powered mobility tool. The result is the WeWALK Smart Cane 2, an innovative assistive device designed to improve safety, confidence, and independence for the visually impaired. Behind its intelligence lies an array of precision TDK sensor technologies helping make WeWALK’s vision possible.
This collaboration has allowed us to redefine mobility and accessibility, creating a truly empowering tool for visually impaired individuals worldwide. TDK’s sensors provide the precision, reliability, and low power we needed to bring our vision to life.
Kürşat Ceylan, co-founder of WeWALK.
A Smart Approach to Safer Mobility
The WeWALK Smart Cane 2 builds on the success of its predecessor with significant enhancements. Using AI-driven voice navigation, ultrasonic obstacle detection, and a modular handle for future upgrades, the Smart Cane 2 delivers an intuitive and responsive experience. It helps users detect objects not just on the ground but in their full path of travel, from low-lying hazards to overhead signs—problems traditional canes can’t address. The ergonomic design and advanced software architecture of the WeWALK Smart Cane 2 enable continuous improvement through regular software updates.
Its inclusive design is the result of close collaboration with the visually impaired community, ensuring features address real-world needs. As a result, the WeWALK Smart Cane 2, used by thousands of blind and visually impaired people across more than 60 countries, has received global acclaim from awards, including Time Best Inventions 2023, The King’s Awards for Enterprise Innovation 2024, Edison Awards 2024, and the iF Product Design Award.
The TDK Technology Inside
TDK’s contribution centers on three advanced sensing solutions:
●SmartMotion® 6-axis IMU sensor
– Combines a three-axis gyroscope and three-axis accelerometer on a single die for reduced noise and high sensitivity. With an integrated pressure sensor and on-board digital motion processor (DMP), it allows the cane to understand orientation and movement in real time, thus helping determine how the cane is being used and providing augmented information back to the user.
The advanced sensor system also serves as a powerful tool for orientation and mobility (O&M) trainers in supporting the learning process of cane use and independent movement for individuals with visual impairments. These sensors provide precise data on the WeWALK Smart Cane 2’s ground contact angle and lateral swipe motion, enabling trainers to monitor their students’ cane techniques remotely through a dedicated dashboard. This allows trainers to deliver personalized, data-driven feedback and track progress over time. By digitizing the orientation and mobility training experience, WeWALK empowers educators and learners alike with more efficient, measurable, and insightful training sessions—redefining how cane proficiency and independent mobility development are observed and enhanced.
●SmartSound™ MEMS microphone sensor
– Adds always-available voice assistance, consuming very little power while supporting reliable command recognition. Paired with AI processing, it enables accurate voice and command input through the cane’s interface, giving users a more natural and convenient way to interact with the device.
●SmartSonic™ ultrasonic ToF sensor
– Provides time-of-flight distance measurements up to 9.5 meters in any lighting condition. With a configurable field of view and an embedded processor for pre-processing tasks like human detection, it delivers real-time obstacle awareness. This dramatically extends perception beyond the cane’s physical length, allowing users to detect hazards well before they are within range.
These components are supported by TDK multilayer chip antennas for connectivity and high-performance inductors for efficient power and signal management. Miniaturization and low power consumption ensure the cane is lightweight, slim, and comfortable for extended use.
By using multiple TDK sensors to help create the intelligence of the Smart Cane 2, WeWALK shows the vast potential for sensor innovation. It’s a perfect example of how precision sensing can make a tangible difference in people’s lives.
Massimo Mascotto, Director of Product Marketing,
InvenSense, a TDK Group Company.
Designed for Real Life
From busy city streets to crowded transit stations, the Smart Cane 2 empowers users to move with greater confidence. Its ergonomic, modular design allows for hardware upgrades over time, ensuring the product evolves alongside technology and user needs.
With four versatile modes — Classic Cane, Enhanced Safety, Navigation, and AI Assistant — the device adapts to individual preferences and various environments. Whether detecting overhead obstacles, receiving turn-by-turn directions, or asking the AI assistant about nearby landmarks, users benefit from a customizable mobility companion engineered for everyday independence.
The Smart Cane 2 has also earned global recognition, including honors from TIME Best Inventions, the Edison Awards, the iF Design Award, The King’s Award for Innovation, and Forbes’ 100 Accessibility list, further validating its impact as a breakthrough in inclusive technology.
A Partnership for Inclusion
For both WeWALK and TDK, this collaboration represents a shared commitment to using technology for societal benefit, following strong attention from the global tech community, including at CES 2025.
We believe WeWALK inspires other engineers to use TDK sensors in creating products that improve lives.
Massimo Mascotto, InvenSense, a TDK Group Company.
Together, we’re helping redefine what mobility means.
Kürşat Ceylan, WeWALK
With ongoing innovation and modular upgrades planned, the Smart Cane 2 is just the start, pointing toward a future where technology supports full participation in society for people of all abilities.
Key Takeaways
●WeWALK Smart Cane 2 is transforming mobility for the visually impaired by adding AI-driven intelligence to a traditional white cane.
●TDK sensors, including SmartMotion® IMUs, SmartSound™ microphones, and SmartSonic™ ultrasonic ToF sensors, power critical navigation, voice, and obstacle detection features.
●The inclusive design of the cane was developed with direct input from visually impaired users, ensuring real-world relevance.
●TDK’s sensor solutions offer high precision, low power consumption, and miniaturized design — all essential for usability and performance.
●The partnership between TDK and WeWALK represents a shared commitment to accessible innovation and continuous product evolution.
●The Smart Cane 2 gained visibility at CES 2025 and CEATEC 2025 Japan, signaling global momentum.
Summary
WeWALK’s Smart Cane 2 reimagines independent mobility for people who are blind or have low vision by integrating AI technology and smart sensors into a familiar form: the white cane. With precise motion tracking, intuitive voice interaction, and ultrasonic obstacle detection, the device addresses both ground-level and overhead hazards, something traditional canes can’t do.
At the heart of the Smart Cane 2 are advanced sensing components from TDK, including a 6-axis IMU, MEMS microphone, and ultrasonic ToF sensor. Together, they enable real-time feedback and smart navigation while maintaining low power usage and ergonomic design. Developed in collaboration with visually impaired users, the Smart Cane 2 exemplifies inclusive engineering and purposeful innovation.
The collaboration between WeWALK and TDK showcases how sensor technology can dramatically improve the quality of life, making mobility safer and smarter. With a modular design that supports future upgrades, the Smart Cane 2 is just the beginning of a broader vision for accessible, connected solutions.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What is the WeWALK Smart Cane 2?
A: It’s a next-generation mobility tool for the visually impaired that integrates AI voice navigation, ultrasonic obstacle detection, and precision sensors to enhance safety, awareness, and independence. You can learn more at https://wewalk.io.
Q: How do TDK sensors power the Smart Cane 2?
A: TDK’s SmartMotion® IMU tracks orientation and movement, SmartSound™ MEMS microphones enable voice control, and SmartSonic™ ultrasonic ToF sensors detect physical obstacles, including overhead objects.
Q: Why is this device considered an improvement over traditional white canes?
A: Traditional canes only detect ground-level obstacles. The Smart Cane 2 identifies hazards at multiple heights and offers voice navigation, making travel safer and more intuitive.
Q: How was the visually impaired community involved in the development?
A: WeWALK engaged users with blindness and low vision to test features and provide feedback, ensuring the product solves real-world challenges.
Q: What makes TDK an ideal partner for WeWALK?
A: TDK offers high-precision, miniaturized, and low-power sensor technology, which is crucial for a portable, always-on assistive device like the Smart Cane 2.
Q: Where can I see the Smart Cane 2 in action?
A: Watch TDK’s video with WeWALK here: https://youtu.be/MxbAWXUyms0
Q: What’s next for the WeWALK Smart Cane?
A: Its modular design allows future hardware and software upgrades. WeWALK aims to continuously enhance the Smart Cane experience through software updates and future hardware advancements. The goal is to evolve alongside user needs and expand accessibility globally.
