Jen Shields– North Reading High School

Nikhil Nathwani– Chelmsford High School

Phil Bailey– Chelmsford High School

ATDF

The Fifth sense

Team PB N’ J

Client: Garrett Burgess

Blind—ruptured optical nerve

Wheelchair-bound

16 yrs old

Tends to bump into things with his wheelchair

Enjoys: Playing videogames, browsing the internet, and Hanging out with his friends.

Requirements & Constraints

• Safety! Can not have sharp edges or anything that may harm the client or others.

• Price must be under 150 dollars. • Efficiency. • Quality of materials. • Durability. • Time.• Must be usable with wheelchair

Possible Ideas:

Distance Sensor in sunglasses or hat, with a beeping/vibrating mechanism on wheelchair

Pros:-allows client to sense walls in all directions around him simply by turning his head, eliminating the need for more than one distance sensor-plays upon senses other than eyesight (i.e. touch)-gets the job done.-not expensive-very small device

Cons:-client would be required to wear the glasses, hat-the sunglasses/hat would have to be pretty large and clunky to fit the circuitry, so it wouldn’t be visually appealing -beeping/vibrating can easily get annoying for him-humans passing by in hallway will make device vibrate continuously-distance sensors will not sense obstacles on the ground

Touch sensor “antennas”A long rod will be connected to

the wheelchair through the arm rests. A rubber like material will be attached to the very end of the rod along with a touch sensor.

When the rod bumps into the wall or other obstacles, signals will produced to activate a vibration or sound that will get the attention of the client.

Strengths:1.) Will sense the wall before the wheelchair/client hits it.2.) Hands-free product.

Weaknesses:1.) Can be easily damaged.2.) Dangerous to other people in the same room as the client3.) Break objects in room

Our original Idea

PING)))™ ultrasonic sensor

Sound-producing device

Wall

Wall

Pros:-Plays upon one of his senses other than eyesight (i.e. hearing)-Gets the job done.-Not expensive-Very small device and attaches to the wheelchair.-The client this idea best than the other proposing ideas.Cons:-Beeping can easily get annoying for him and others.-Humans passing by in hallway will make device beep continuously.-Distance sensor will not sense an obstacle above or below its field of vision; thus multiple distance sensors needed.-Either the client or other objects could get in the way of the distance sensor.

Flow Chart for the Idea

Vibrates when wall is near

Pros:-Plays upon one of his senses other than eyesight (i.e. touch)-Solves the problem.-Not expensive-Rather small device that can be attached to the wheelshair/hands-free.-No one can hear it.

Cons:-Vibrating can easily get annoying for him-humans passing by in hallway will make device vibrate continuously-Distance sensor will not sense an obstacle above or below its field of vision; thus multiple sensors needed-Objects/client can get in the path of the sensor.-Limited view angle of the wall.

Vibrating warning device:

Parts list & Cost Analysis:

• PING))) Ultrasonic Sensor: $30 x 2 + $5 shipping

• Cell Phone Vibrator: $0.80 x 2 + $2 shipping

• Other small circuit parts: $10• Sheets of laser cutter plastic: $12 x 2• Arduino chip: $24 + $2 shipping

*Total cost: $128.60*