Jennifer Shields– North Reading High School

Nikhil Nathwani– Chelmsford High School

Philip Bailey– Chelmsford High School

ATDF

The Fifth sense

Team PB N’ J

Client: Garrett Burgess•Blind—ruptured optical nerve (happened 4 months ago during unrelated surgery)

•Wheelchair-bound – He was hit by a car when he was 4 years old

•16 yrs old

•Tends to bump into things with his wheelchair (He can’t use a cane)

•Enjoys: Playing videogames, browsing the internet, and Hanging out with his friends(Before becoming blind)

•Now he enjoys listening to TV, books on tape, and music

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 it2.) Hands-free product

Weaknesses:1.) Can be easily damaged2.) Dangerous to other people in the same room as the client3.) Can break objects in room

Distance sensors andVibrating warning device :

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.

Distance sensors andVibrating warning device :

PING)))™ ultrasonic sensor

Sound-producing device

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 liked this idea best

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

Parts list & Cost Analysis:

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

• Flat full volume speaker (2 pack): $1.00 + $2 shipping

• Other small circuit parts: $10• Sheets of laser cutter plastic: $12 x 2• Arduino chip: $24 + $2 shipping• Management reserve: $22.00• Total cost: $150.00

Client feedback

• Liked the rod idea because it would be at constant length, but it could be dangerous.

• He did not like the glasses/hat idea because it would be difficult for him to wear/annoying to wear.

• He liked the sonar distance sensors, but thought the vibrating would be annoying– He did like a “ping” sound idea though.

Deciding factors:

• Ease/convenience of use – Hat/sunglasses were hard to use– Vibrating could be annoying

• Effectiveness– The rods could easily break objects– Hat/sunglasses would have to be too big