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

Use Scenario

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%

Project Plan

3 Week Plan

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.

Action Items

• Schedule meeting with ABVI to learn about manufacturing by the blind/visually impaired.

• Acquire an Ultracane and/or SmartCane to analyze.