There's considerable literature in this area so I would go digging into that, and what's already been developed like:

https://imerciv.com/

Thanks for the replies guys :)

Blind guy here: No it won't. Thanks for asking though!

Can you make a proximity sensor that alerts sighted people driving cars about the fact that I have a white stick that means I outrank most pedestrians and they need to EFFING STOP if I'm trying to cross at a crosswalk?

I'd buy the *crap* out of one of those.

Maybe slap a small radio broadcaster to a paintball gun.

BRB starting a kickstarter.

It's been done, and while it's great tech , it's not very popular. Most of us do fine with O&M training and a cane, a few lucky ones get guide dogs.

Check out the Sunu Band, it protects upper body and it does not replace the white cane