Mexico City – A group of innovative students from Mexico’s National Polytechnic Institute (IPN) has designed a smart cane named Safe Step, created to help visually impaired individuals navigate their surroundings with greater safety and independence.
The device uses proximity sensors to detect obstacles at various body levels – including the head, arms, and legs – and alerts the user through distinct handle vibrations as objects get closer. For additional safety, the cane features an emergency button that instantly sends the user’s real-time location to a trusted contact when trouble arises.
The invention took top honors among projects developed by 40 IPN students during an academic stay at Tsinghua University in Beijing, China. Participating in the institute’s Leaders, Entrepreneurship and Leadership Training Program, the student team, known as Cinco Estrellas (Five Stars), was tasked by the host university to build a tech-focused business project. Rather than focusing strictly on commercial appeal, the group chose to prioritize social impact and human well-being.
The multi-disciplinary team behind the project includes Julianna Inzunza, Víctor Manuel Olguín Castillo, José Ángel Muñoz Cabrera, Gilberto Vallejo Alcalá, Kenia Guadalupe Córdova Domínguez, Luz Erandi Jiménez Toral, Víctor Alejandro García Azuara, and Montserrat Plascencia Pérez.
Representing various IPN campuses and fields of study, the students combined their specialized skills to bring the concept to life. During their final presentation before a panel of Tsinghua professors and corporate executives, they demonstrated how Safe Step functions using a smartphone app and a modified selfie stick to simulate the experience.
Access to the prestigious program in China was coordinated through IPN’s Commission for Operation and Promotion of Academic Activities. Apolo Rodríguez, head of the institute’s Fundraising Department, noted that the initiative forms part of a broader international effort to offer top-performing students global educational opportunities.
Selection for the program is reserved for students who demonstrate high academic standing, strong initiative, and dedication to their studies. While abroad, the cohort completed coursework in leadership, negotiation, emotional intelligence, and teamwork, alongside cultural experiences.
For the members of Cinco Estrellas, the international recognition represents years of hard work coming to fruition. Inzunza shared that the concept originally began when the students first entered IPN, noting that winning first place proved their dedication could produce technology with the genuine potential to transform lives.
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