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
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 Agenda
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 Can detect obstacles in front of and above the user. High and Low Range detection settings Cons Expensive (~$1000 retail) 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 ce Source Function Engr. Requirement (metric) Unit of Measure S1 3 C1 Detection Differentiates between obstacles, overhangs, and walls yes/no yes S2 3 C1 Detection Response time seconds 0 0.25 1 S3 3 C1 Detection Percentage of false negatives/positives (accuracy of detection) % 0 5 10 S4 3 C2 Detection Detection range (length) feet 6 7 13 S5 3 C2 Detection Detection angle/arc (at maximum length) degrees ( ) 2 3 3 S6 3 C3 Feedback Percentage 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 Fabrication Maximum 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 129 134 139 S12 2 C8 Dimensions Cane handle circumference centimeters 10.8 11.4 12 S13 1 C9 Battery Battery recharge cycle hours 2 2 3 S14 1 C10 Storage Cane length (when collapsed) centimeters 0 20 20 S15 1 C10 Storage Cane width (when collapsed) centimeters 0 20 20 Min Value Target Value Max Value
9% 9% 18% 9% 9% 9% 6% 1% 8% 4% 4% 1% 1% 4% 9% 9 9 18 9 9 9 6 1 8 4 4 1 1 4 9 Customer Weights Differentiates between obstacles, overhangs, and walls Percentage of false negatives/positives (accuracy of detection) Detection angle/arc (at maximum length) Detection range (length) Response time Percentage of feedback correctly interpreted by user Battery life Battery recharge cycle Maximum weight of feedback and detection components Cane length (when in use) Cane handle circumference Cane length (when collapsed) Cane width (when collapsed) User assembly time Materials cost House of Quality Engineering Metrics Customer Requirements 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 3 Raw score Relative Weight
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 Ultra Cane Indian Institute of Technology Sound Foresight Technology $50.00 Yes Yes N/A $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.