Kunde sports the new tech. Photo: Courtesy of Gustavo Raskosky/Rice University
A team of Rice University engineering students has created a wearable vest to help blind dogs navigate their environment — starting with Kunde, a local pup who lost his vision to glaucoma.
How it works: Traditional solutions like rigid halo harnesses are clunky and stressful for dogs.
This new device uses lightweight materials, stereoscopic cameras and vibration motors to alert dogs to nearby obstacles without restricting movement.
The big picture: Designed at Rice's Oshman Engineering Design Kitchen, the project taps into Houston's innovation scene while offering a scalable assistive tech model that could one day help both animals and humans.
What's next: The team is still testing the vest with Kunde, aiming to reduce collisions and extend battery life — one wagging tail at a time.
