Post on 23-Jan-2022
P15044 – Intelligent Mobility Cane
Name Major Role
Allan Andranikian ME Lead Engineer
Andrew Greeley ME Vibrations Lead
Ben Stewart EE Sensors Lead
Dan Chianucci CE Controls Lead
Justine Nichols IE Project Manager
Marisa Ashour EE Customer Contact
Agenda
• Current/Desired State
• Project Deliverables
• Stakeholders
• Use Scenario
• Customer Requirements
• Engineering Requirements
• House of Quality
• Project Plan • 3 Week Plan
• Team Values and Norms • Benchmarking
• Project Concerns
• Lessons Learned
• Action Items
What is a “Smart Cane”? An Intelligent Mobility Cane, or “Smart Cane” is a cane designed for
the visually impaired which can offer the user the ability to navigate
their surroundings, rather than simply avoid hitting things.
Smart Canes offer the Blind and Visually Impaired:
• A means of independent personal mobility outside of the home, at a
normal walking speed
How?
• Using sensors to detect both low overhanging objects , and objects
that are directly in front of the user
• Relaying the information back to the user via feedback
Current State: Ultracane
Pros Cons
Can detect obstacles in front of and above the user.
Expensive (~$1000 retail)
High and Low Range detection settings
Not ergonomic (heavy, and bulky to use)
Audio output for notifications
Battery Powered
Desired State : P15044 Cane
Essentially, our prototype will be a lighter, cheaper, more user friendly version of the Ultracane
• Sub $125 manufacturing cost • Maximum weight of additional systems (sensors,
feedback, etc…) is 1 lb. • Rechargeable power source • Better obstacle detection at low range • More intuitive feedback • Haptic feedback • Ergonomic and easy to use handle
Project Deliverables
• A functioning first prototype that meets the
Engineering Requirements
• User’s guide for operation of the prototype
• Documentation of schematics, drawings,
code and test data with corresponding
revision level
• Test data verifying correct design
Stakeholders • Investors
• Dr. Patricia Iglesias
• Joe Kells (ABVI)
• Individuals • Gary Werth
• Tom Oh
• Gary Behm
• Users • Blind-deaf individuals
• Designers • Multidisciplinary Senior Design Team
P15044
Customer Requirements Customer Rqmt. # Importance Description
C1 3 Accurately detects overhangs, obstacles, and walls
C2 3 Adequate detection range
C3 3 Haptic feedback
C4 3 Low manufacturing cost
C5 2 Easy user assembly
C6 2 Lightweight
C7 2 Extended battery life
C8 2 Ergonomically designed for the average American male
C9 1 Rechargeable
C10 1 Cane collapses for easy storage
Engineering Requirements
rqmt. #Importan
ceSource Function Engr. Requirement (metric)
Unit of Measure
Min Value
Target Value
Max Value
S1 3 C1 DetectionDifferentiates between obstacles, overhangs, and walls yes/no
S2 3 C1 Detection Response time seconds 0 0.25 1
S3 3 C1 DetectionPercentage of false negatives/positives (accuracy of detection) % 0 5 10
S4 3 C2 Detection Detection range (length) feet 6 7 13S5 3 C2 Detection Detection angle/arc (at maximum length) degrees (°) 2 3 3
S6 3 C3 FeedbackPercentage of feedback correctly interpreted by user % 80 90 100
S7 3 C4 Fabrication Materials cost $ 0 125 125
S8 2 C5 Use User assembly time seconds 30 60 90
S9 2 C6 FabricationMaximum weight of feedback and detection components ounces 4 4 16
S10 2 C7 Battery Battery life hours 8 8 /S11 2 C8 Dimensions Cane length (when in use) centimeters 129 134 139S12 2 C8 Dimensions Cane handle circumference centimeters 10.8 11.4 12S13 1 C9 Battery Battery recharge cycle hours 2 2 3
S14 1 C10 Storage Cane length (when collapsed) centimeters 0 20 20S15 1 C10 Storage Cane width (when collapsed) centimeters 0 20 20
yes
House of Quality Engineering Metrics
Customer Requirements Cu
sto
mer W
eig
hts
Dif
fere
nti
ates
bet
wee
n o
bst
acle
s, o
verh
angs
, an
d w
alls
Per
cen
tage
of
fals
e n
egat
ives
/po
siti
ves
(acc
ura
cy o
f d
etec
tio
n)
Det
ecti
on
an
gle/
arc
(at
max
imu
m le
ngt
h)
Det
ecti
on
ran
ge (
len
gth)
Res
po
nse
tim
e
Per
cen
tage
of
fee
db
ack
corr
ectl
y in
terp
rete
d b
y u
ser
Bat
tery
life
Bat
tery
rec
har
ge c
ycle
Max
imu
m w
eigh
t o
f fe
ed
bac
k an
d d
etec
tio
n c
om
po
nen
ts
Can
e le
ngt
h (w
hen
in u
se)
Can
e ha
nd
le c
ircu
mfe
ren
ce
Can
e le
ngt
h (w
hen
co
llap
sed
)
Can
e w
idth
(w
hen
co
llap
sed
)
Use
r as
sem
bly
tim
e
Mat
eria
ls c
ost
Accurately detects overhangs, obstacles, and walls 3 3 3 3
Adequate detection range 3 3 3
Fast response time 3 3
Haptic feedback 3 3
Extended battery life 2 2
Rechargeable 1 2 1
Lightweight 2 2
Ergonomically designed for the average American male 2 2 2 2
Cane collapses for easy storage 1 1 1
Easy user assembly 2 2
Low manufacturing cost 3 3Raw
score 9 9 18
9 9 9 6 1 8 4 4 1 1 4 9
Relative
Weight 9%
9%
18%
9%
9%
9%
6%
1%
8%
4%
4%
1%
1%
4%
9%
Team Values and Norms • Punctuality
• Team members will be early to all meetings, and customer meetings. Will respond to emails/texts/phone calls in a timely manner. Members will inform others of absences, or reasons for being tardy, as that shows that you own your own work.
• Engineering Application • Figures and Equations will have proper labeling, and all work will have some sort of
commenting to show the direction the work is heading.
• Documentation • We should strive to keep our team’s progress as neat and organized as possible. It was agreed
upon that all documentation would go through and be sorted by the team’s Edge Master.
• Shared Worked and Knowledge • We encourage our members to assist each other when it comes to problem solving, helping to
provide a resource, and providing expertise in unknown areas.
• Addressing Conflicts and Unmet Expectations • The whole group will meet outside of class to discuss the issue(s). Team members will voice
their concerns to the team member not meeting expectations. Constructively suggest ways for the person to improve, and don't hesitate to offer help; it is important that the team is functioning well as a whole. If after all of this the team member continues to not meet expectations, a meeting with the guide and professor may be necessary.
Benchmarking Canes
Name Producer Cost Aids Visually
Impaired? Aids Hearing
Impaired? Collapsible
White Cane Aofeite $44.99 Yes No Yes
SmartCane Indian Institute of
Technology $50.00 Yes Yes N/A
Ultra Cane Sound Foresight
Technology $985.00 Yes Yes Yes
Laser Cane N-8
Nurion Industries $2,650.00 Yes Yes No
SmartPhon Cane
Indian Institute of Technology
$1000.00 Yes Yes N/A
Benchmarking
• Detection sensors (Infrared, Laser, Ultrasonic)
• Haptic feedback methods (Eccentric Rotating Mass, Linear Resonant Actuator, Piezoelectric)
• Microcontrollers (Atmega328P, MSP430, AT32UCL016)
Project Concerns
• General
• Parts do not arrive on time.
• Team member(s) do not complete deliverables on time.
• Systems design does not satisfy customer requirements.
• Customer requirements change.
• Cannot fulfill major goals within the constraints assigned (such as weight).
• Specific
• Are not able to analyze the UltraCane or SmartCane.
• Sensors are not available that can accomplish our engineering requirements.
Lessons Learned
• Control customer interviews.
• Don’t get caught up on trivial details.
• Learn from past MSD projects, such as 14043 (the last Smart Cane team).
• Fiberglass is brittle and hard to machine. It also may leave particles embedded in the users hand.
• Use a different material, or coat the fiberglass.
• Circuit stopped working.
• Verify there is no noise on ground connection, if there is, resolve
• Project went over budget due to unforeseen issues.
• Budget for mishaps.