MAIA

MAIA

ADAS for blind dogs!

Third-Party Dependencies

This project uses the VL53L5CX Ultra Lite Driver (ULD) from STMicroelectronics, licensed under BSD-3-Clause.

The ULD is NOT included in this repository. It is downloaded automatically at build time via the ESP-IDF Component Manager using the manifest at components/drivers/vl53l5cx/idf_component.yml.

• Source: https://github.com/STMicroelectronics/stm32-vl53l5cx
• License: BSD-3-Clause, (c) STMicroelectronics

Integration approach

The ST ULD provides the sensor core logic (vl53l5cx_api.c) and expects the user to implement a platform layer (platform.h) with I2C and delay callbacks.

MAIA provides its own platform.h and vl53l5cx_platform.c using the ESP-IDF v6.0 new I2C master API. The ST porting/ directory is intentionally excluded from the build — only modules/vl53l5cx_api.c is compiled from the ULD.

This keeps the repository 100% Apache 2.0 while the ST ULD is consumed as an external dependency at build time.

Building

idf.py build

The Component Manager downloads the ST ULD automatically. No manual steps required.

⚠️ DISCLAIMER

THIS IS AN EXPERIMENTAL OPEN-SOURCE PROJECT FOR EDUCATIONAL AND RESEARCH PURPOSES ONLY.

No Warranty of Operation: This ADAS system for blind dogs is provided on an "AS IS" BASIS, without warranties or conditions of any kind, either express or implied. ToF sensors are subject to environmental interference, signal noise, blind spots, and false negatives/positives.

Assumption of Risk: The use of this hardware and firmware on animals is at the sole discretion and risk of the user/builder. The author(s) shall not be held liable for any collisions, injuries, property damage, or any other incidents resulting from the use or failure of this device.

Not a Medical or Safety Device: This project is NOT a certified medical or assistive device. It is not a substitute for human supervision, professional veterinary advice, or proper orientation training for visually impaired animals.

Hardware Safety: The builder is responsible for ensuring electrical safety (battery insulation, thermal management) and mechanical integrity (secure attachment to the animal) to prevent risks of shock, fire, or physical harm.