Last edit: 31.05.2023

Information:
- Read this document carefully before using the device
- Pay particular attention to the terms of use and caution messages
- In case of doubt, visit this document regularly
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Foreword:
Welcome to biped’s user manual guide. This guide will give you key information on how to use biped optimally. It is available both as in written format and in audio format.

biped was developed by a team of dedicated and passionate engineers, together with our partners and testers, since day 1. You are about to experience the output of nearly 2 years of collaboration, research and development. biped’s mission is to empower end-users in their daily navigation tasks. We want to think of limited accessibility and movement as a thing from the past.We thank you for joining the growing biped community. We sincerely hope that you will enjoy using biped as much as we do. Your feedback is what matters the most. You can share a feedback or ask questions at any time using the following email address: hello@biped.ai

‍biped is developed by Fusion Lab Technologies Sàrl (CHE-388.584.292), based in 6-8 Route de la Corniche, 1066 Epalinges, Vaud, Switzerland. The trademarked name of the company is “biped”.

1. Definitions
OBSTACLE: Any type of object that has a direct risk of collision with you.
OBJECT: Any element among categories biped recognizes, that you should know about but does not represent a direct obstacle. Detected objects are pedestrians, vehicles (car, bus, scooter, trucks, bicycles, motorcycles) and urban elements (crosswalk, traffic light, dustbin, bus stop).
NAVIGATION: Understand GPS navigation instructions.
SPATIAL AUDIO: A short sound played with a special effect in the headphones to make you feel like the sound is coming from a certain angle and a certain distance.
BONE CONDUCTION HEADPHONES: A specific type of headphones, included with biped, that sits just in front of your ears, and not in your ears, in order to avoid filtering surrounding sounds.
3D CAMERAS: Cameras embedded in the biped device that can identify distances of surroundings elements, day and night.FOV: Field of view of the camera system.
HARNESS: Refers to the biped device itself.

2. General introduction
biped is a smart and discrete harness, worn on the shoulders, with super wide-angle cameras working like a pedestrian-level self-driving car. biped generates intuitive 3D spatial sounds to warn you about the position of important obstacles, vehicles, pedestrians or urban elements based on risk of collision. It also provides GPS instructions. biped is delivered with bone-conduction headphones, worn around the ears, to generate non-intrusive sound feedback. biped is meant to be used as a complement to your white cane or your guide dog.

biped identifies all sorts of obstacles, holes or head-level danger that the white cane cannot detect. It can also detect electric vehicles, scooters or bicycles that have a risk of collision with you, and warn you using a specific music note for each type of object. You can easily learn the mapping between objects and the sounds biped generates for them in the training module of the smartphone app. Finally, biped can generate GPS instruction by connecting to your phone.

Terms of use

Before using biped, the user needs to complete biped’s own training program delivered by the app. It is also recommended to take orientation and mobility lessons with a certified professional. biped also requires the user to be familiar enough with the use of smartphones.

biped was developed to be used as a complement to your white cane, guide dog, or assistive technology you currently rely on. It is not meant to provide feedback at a very detailed level, and should therefore not be used without a white cane. biped cannot be held responsible, and declines all responsibilities in case of accident or collision.

When wearing biped, the user has to make sure that nothing is  obstructing the camera field (e.g. dust, a crack, smartphone, other clothes such as a scarf or a jacket). Users are also expected to listen to warnings about partial occlusion of cameras or deteriorated performance and adjust behavior accordingly. To understand the feedback produced by biped and interpret them properly, it is necessary that the user has a good sense of hearing and good orientation capabilities.

It is highly recommended to use biped with the Open Run bone conduction headphones. Headphones must allow the translation of spatial audio feedback. Headphones should not completely disconnect the user from the sounds produced by the surrounding environment.

Stakeholders and intended uses

Visually impaired end-users
The device offers assistive navigation features to end-users. We expect end-users:
- to be partially sighted or blind
- to have a good understanding of smartphones and apps to be walking, as we do not handle navigation of users in wheelchairs yet
- to have had basic orientation and mobility training, with and without a white cane
- to be used to GPS navigation system to be frequent white cane users


Orientation and mobility trainers‍
Orientation and mobility (O&M) trainers are supposed to have received basic training on how to use biped. O&M trainers have specific access rights on the app, as they can also visualize the output map of the device, from the app directly. This is meant to help them provide feedback and comment what the user captures from a scene. O&M trainers need to be certified trainers, and to have received our specific training, either online or in-person, on how to use biped.

Distributors
Specific training is required for distributors, especially on maintenance operations. Some maintenance / repair operations can be done by distributors directly, while others will require shipping back the device. Please follow these specific instructions.

Clinical benefits

This is what you can expect from your biped device:
- Avoid surrounding obstacles that are on your trajectory, including head-level obstacles that are not detected by a white cane
- Find obstacle-free ways when there is no sound generated by the device
- Anticipate potential obstacles with vehicles and pedestrian sounds

Contra-indications

In order for biped to work properly, the following rules should be followed:
- Do not use another pair of headphones than the one recommended
- Do not cover the cameras, for example by raising hands or smartphone continuously in front of the camera, in which case the device will not work, or by wearing a jacket or a scarf on top of the cameras, in which case it will not work either
- Do not walk without a guide dog, without a white cane or without any assistive device that you typically use. biped was developped as a complement, not a replacement of your everyday device.
- Do not use biped without ensuring first that the device is properly standing on your shoulders, and the cameras look straight in front of you
- Do not share you biped device with a person who has not received proper training, at least an online training on the app
- Do not use biped device it is has fallen or if it has been severely damaged
- Do not use biped if your smartphone has very low battery, as a continuous bluetooth connection is required

Limitations

The device might work with reduced functionalities in specific conditions. The device will warn you automatically about those conditions. However, as a generic rule, we recommend:
- To not use biped in case of heavy rain, heavy snow, heavy fog, extreme heat, extreme cold, extreme humidity, heavy dust, hazardous conditions
- To expect degraded performance of the device in case of light rain, heavy sun in one of the cameras, night
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Side-effects

biped, as a shoulder-worn harness, can cause pain in the shoulders after a long use. Headphones can also produce pressure on the temples, which might cause headaches after a long continuous use. It is strongly advised to adjust the feedback volume to a medium level, and avoid exposure to loud sounds for a long duration. The harness can finally be itchy and cause irritations around the next in case of continuous use and movement for several hours.

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4. Transportation, storage, handling
biped comes in a closed box. During transportation, the box should not be dropped, be shaken heavily or be exposed to wet conditions. Extreme temperature conditions (over 45 or less than 4 degrees Celsius) should also be avoided.
biped  should be stored in a dry area, that is not exposed to humidity or extreme temperatures. It should also be kept away from dust. In case the device fell or is not working correctly anymore, the device will detect is automatically and warn you with an audio warning.
biped should be handled with care. The bendable structure should not be bent extremely by applying a strong constraint on the harness structure. It should also be protected from potential impacts during usage.
In the unlikely event where your biped device has been damaged or does not work anymore, please contact us by email to run necessary checks with you, at the following email address: hello@biped.ai

5. What's inside the box?
You will find:
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- a biped device (BIPED_001): biped is equipped with a ON/OFF button on right module, a camera system on the left module, and a battery in the back. The straps of biped that are on the left and right shoulder can be partly bent to pack away the device. They are made of rubber with metal structure internally.

- two batteries (BIPED_002) that are removable and can easily be switched
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- a magnetic charging cable (BIPED_003) for the battery
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- a wall plug for the charger of the battery (BIPED_004)
- a pair of external headphones (BIPED_005)
- a travel bag (BIPED_006)
- a QR code leading to this user manual and to a quick start guide

The full scope of the delivery is described in the table below:
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6. Features
Here is the list of features of biped:
- OBSTACLE AVOIDANCE: biped analyzes the scene around you using wide-angle cameras, evaluates the position of all obstacles around, and provides 3D audio feedback on the position of surrounding obstacles. biped is able to identify the position of the obstacle in space, its movement, the elevation of the obstacle, and the risk of collision. When a specific obstacle is identified, users get notified via a short sound, played in the bone-conduction headphones recommended. The sound to warn user about obstacles is a short "bip", played repeatedly the closer the obstacle gets, just like a parking aid of a car. Additionally, the sound can be higher pitch if the obstacle is head-level (a high pitch "bip"), or lower pitch if the obstacle is ground-level (a low pitch "bip"). The sound can also be perceived as coming from the left or from the right, to reflect the position of the obstacle.
- COLLISION PREVENTION: Some obstacles are moving too fast to allow users to react in time before a potential obstacle collision. biped can additionally detect pedestrians in various environments, whether they're running, on an electric scooter, or on a bicycle. It can also detect vehicles such as cars, motorcycles, buses or trucks, using artificial intelligence. As for obstacles, biped only generates a warning if there is a risk of collision based on the trajectory of the object. biped can handle objects moving up to 30km/h in good weather conditions. biped can generate different sounds for obstacles, pedestrians and vehicles, following the same principles than for obstacles. To get used to the different sounds generated by biped, a smartphone app is provided. It contains training levels to allow users to get used to the different sounds and validate their understanding.
- NAVIGATION INSTRUCTIONS: On top of other information, you can enter your destination in biped app, and get turn-by-turn GPS navigation instructions via speech feedback, in the headphones.

In addition to the training included in biped app, we advise following orientation and mobility training with your reference center.

7. How to use it
Setting-up
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Step 1: Charge the battery
Batteries are delivered pre-charged, but charge level might be affect by transportation and storage conditions. Therefore, we advise to start by charging the battery to the maximum level. To do so, take the battery charging cable and plug it in the battery. The battery is a rectangle. You will feel a larger shape at the top, and the connector is at the bottom.

The battery connector is magnetic, so you will feel like the cable will clip automatically. If it’s not clipping automatically, try to flip the cable 180 degrees, and the magnets might be the wrong way round.

To identify the battery level, you will need to pair the device with the mobile app. Once paired, the battery level will be displayed at the top.

To identify whether the battery is loading, a small LED at the tip of the cable will switch on once plugged into the battery. There is no sound or haptic signal for now, but this is planned for biped v2.

Note that you cannot charge the battery when it's plugged in your biped device.

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Step 2: Install biped app

Download the app from the App Store or Play store. Use the QR codes in the box.

You can then open the app and sign-up with your personal details. A confirmation link will be sent to the registered email address to confirm your registration. You will then reach the biped app home page. The biped app has been optimized for accessibility on both iOS and Android, and tested with VoiceOver.

The home screen indicates that you now have 3 steps to get started:
- learn how to use biped
- connect to the biped device
- connect to the headphones recommended
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Step 3: biped training program

In order to get started with biped for the first time, you must follow the initial training. On the app, click on “Learn to use biped”. You will then have to listen to General instructions, then Safety Instructions, and you will be able to listen to the first levels. The training is divided into 10 levels. Each level teaches the end-user about a key concept. After the first 7 levels, the user is able to identify obstacles. It takes another 3 levels to learn about vehicles and pedestrians. After each session, users are asked short questions to validate their understanding. Answers can then be submitted by clicking on "Submit".

It is necessary to complete the first 5 levels before starting biped.

Step 4: Turn on biped and pair it

The next step is to take the battery you just loaded, and slide it in your biped device. In the part of biped that goes behind your neck, you will feel a hole with 2 connectors at its base. This is where you should slide the battery in. The battery has a top and a bottom side. The top of the battery has a part that is thicker than the bottom, and the bottom has placeholders for the 2 connectors. That's how you identify how to slide the battery. Once the battery is in the correct position, you will hear the fan of biped starting.

Open the biped app, and click on the home screen on "Connect to biped". Then, click at the bottom on "Search for biped devices". After a few seconds, your biped device will pop-up at the top of the screen. Click on it, and a small sound will confirm the connection. Then, click on "Home" to move to the next step.
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Step 5: Turn on and pair the headphones

Press the button “Connect headphones” on the home page of the app.Place the headphones on your head. Headphones are supposed to go around the ears. The bar goes behind your head, and the headphones sit right in front of your ears.

To put the headphones in pairing mode, push the « ON » button until you hear « Pairing ». The « ON » button is located on your right ear, the closest button to your ear.

Once headphones are in pairing mode, they should appear on the app. Click on the name of the headphones on the app to confirm pairing.

Once headphones are detected via Bluetooth, select them to confirm pairing. You should hear the word « connected ».
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Step 6: Adjust the harness

Put the harness on your shoulders and correctly adjust it on your chest. The straps are made of rubber and can be bent to match the shape of your torso and shoulders thanks to an internal metal structure. To adjust it, make sure the straps are in contact with your shoulders and that there are no gaps created, and make sure that the battery in the back in also in contact with your back and that there is no gap either. You can pre-bend the straps before placing the device on your shoulders to match the shape of your shoulders. You should feel a light pressure, and the straps should be in contact with your shoulders. The cameras should be pointing in front of you, and remain vertical. If the angle is wrong, you will hear in the headphones the following instructions: "The camera angle is not correct, please adjust it".
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Step 7: Follow basic training on first start

From the home page, click on the button “Learn to use biped”. Listen to the general instructions and start training on the different levels. The training will allow you get familiar with the sounds and to be able to interpret the feedback correctly. The first levels are specialized in obstacle avoidance. By completing the different levels, you will unlock new sounds. You must complete the first 5 levels on the app in order to start using biped.
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Step 8: Define settings

Before going for a walk, you can select your setting preferences and customize your experience. Simply press the button “Start walking” to activate or deactivate the different type of elements you want to be warned about (e.g. pedestrians, cars, navigation instructions, etc.). Your setting preferences will be registered by default for your next walk.
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Step 9: Start walking

Click on the button « Start Walking ». This button will start the device. Make sure the harness sits properly on your chest and the headphones are well connected. At any time, click on « Settings » to change settings, on « report a bug » to provide written feedback, and on « stop walking » to end the session.
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Step 10: Maintenance, error and warning messages

biped device should be handled with care. The cleaning cloth provided should be used to avoid partial occlusion of the camera.

Maintenance

When an update is available, a short audio message saying “Update available” will be played in the headphones. You can trigger it directly from the application.

Error

When biped identifies conditions that do not allow it to operate, an audio error message is played directly in the headphones. This includes:
- When camera signal is damaged, partially covered, or cannot be found. The voice feedback will then say “Cameras occluded, biped cannot operate”. Try to restart biped by pressing the ON/OFF button on the bottom right.
- When the smartphone connection is lost, a message saying “Phone lost”
- When the battery is empty and biped needs to shut down, final message saying “Shutting down” will be played

Warning

When biped identifies conditions that might degrade the performance of the system, an audio warning message is played directly in the headphones. This includes:
- When the device is running low on battery, the voice feedback message will say “Low battery”. Pack another battery to prevent biped from shutting down.
- When the weather conditions are not optimal, a warning message saying “Critical weather” will be played. The device might output corrupted information in case of extreme weather events. Wait for better weather conditions and rely more on your white cane.
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Step 11: Manage your account

The “Profile” button on top of the home page will give you access to your personal informations. Consult your usage statistics (e.g. use time of the device) and activate or deactivate the data sharing to improve our software.
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8. Settings
There are various settings that you can play with on the device directly, and on the app. This sections aims at giving you an exhaustive overview of the settings you have access to and what they’re used for.

‍Device
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The device does not have a physical settings menu. However, various settings can be accessed and modified directly from the smartphone application. When you connect for the first time, you will be asked to fill-in your height for obstacle avoidance, and have the ability to select a couple of specific modes such as "hemispatial neglect", "cochlear implant" or "wheelchair".

‍Headphones
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The volume can be directly changed on the headphones, using the “+” and the “-” buttons. Additionally, the headphones can be paused using the side button, with a single short press.

‍App accessibility
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Accessibility settings can be modified inside the app, either on first launch or in the “Profile” section afterwards. There are two main settings. With the “Contrast” setting, you can either pick a white background and a dark writing, or a dark background and a white writing. With the “Size” setting, you can change the size of the text by default on the app, making it either medium or large.
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10. Bugs, repairs and upgrades
‍Software bug
‍If you face and notice any bug while using biped, please report it by clicking on the button "Send Feedback" from the "Profile" on the app, or after a session on the form that opens automatically.

Hardware repair
‍If your device has been damaged, please write our team at the following address and describe the problem: support@biped.ai.

Upgrades
‍biped provides an update system through user’s phone. In order to upgrade biped, your biped device needs to be connected to your smartphone. First, switch on biped and make sure it has sufficient battery (>50%). Then, connect to your biped device using “Connect to biped” button on the home menu. Then, click on “Profile”, top right of the app, and go to the “Update software” part. First, enter your wifi credentials to let biped connect to your wifi by clicking on the button "Set Wifi Credentials". Once this is done, click on "Search for update". If an update is available, the button will say "Update available". Click on it to start the update. Updates typically take 5 to 10 minutes depending on your wifi. Leave your smartphone next to biped. Do not move biped away from the smartphone. Once the update is ready, a smartphone notification will warn you about it. biped will then restart and you will be ready to go! If new elements require your attention, a popup on your next session will warn you about the latest updates.
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11. Data privacy
‍We are committed to safeguarding the confidentiality, data privacy and security related to the informations shared or generated by our customers in accordance with the General Date Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Biped will not use any personal data unless you chose to activate the data collection program option available in the profile settings section of the app. By activating this option, we will only store and share images captured from the device in order to improve the performance of our software.

To check the privacy policy of our app, please visit this link: https://www.biped.ai/privacy.
To check the full privacy policy of biped, please visit this link: https://www.biped.ai/privacy-policy
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12. Warranty policy
‍We are committed to providing the best navigation experience with biped. For this reason, you satisfaction with the biped device and all external accessories (headphones, battery, charging cable, etc.) is extremely important to us.

A reasonable day-to-day use of biped does not warrant replacement or refund. Under normal use conditions, the cables, the case and the harness structure may suffer minor scratches and scuffs.

biped provides a two (2) years warranty on your biped device and biped branded accessories shall, as of the date of delivery. If the biped device or biped branded accessories do not work properly within warranty period, despite a reasonable use and care, customers are eligible for a replacement.

Customers willing to submit replacement requests should contact biped at the following address: support@biped.ai
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13. End-of-life instructions
‍Once a biped device has reached its end of life or has to be replaced by a new unit, please return the device to your local distributor, or dispose of components and materials in an environment-friendly manner in your local waste center for electronic devices.
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14. Contact
For physical contact
‍biped SA
8 Route de la Corniche, 2nd floor
1066 Epalinges, Vaud
Switzerland

For online contact
‍hello@biped.ai
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We hope that this page answered most of your questions and provided a clear overview of biped. If you have any additional question or feedback, please contact us directly.
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