Continuing with where we left off last week, we met with Dr. Carter last Friday to get his final input on the device. We were specifically interested in his thoughts on our software with a GUI interface and the hardware specifically with questions about the mobility, comfortability, and flexibility of three of our designs. Our first design was for a finger set up using cable clamps as the predominant fixture point for the potentiometer. The second design utilized goggle straps to secure the potentiometer. The last design we presented was for the wrist using a slide potentiometer fixed onto the wrist with velcro and bungee cords. Dr. Carter suggested that we do what we can to increase processing time and make the interface with the software as intuitive and simple as possible. This week, Chris helped us pivot and adapt to meet this requests by switching our data processing from Matlab to Arduino. Dr. Carter also emphasized making the hardware component as realistic and viable in a clinical setting as possible. He preferred that we focus on developing our finger design with goggle straps over both the more rigid cable clamp design and the wrist set up. Since the priority thoroughly is accurate feedback through a flexible device that suits a patient’s condition, Dr. Carter suggested we just focus on developing the finger components and if need be, ignore the wrist. Earlier this week, we talked with Dr. Yin to clarify aspects in the report such as what he meant by ethical issues and evaluation of meeting our specifications. Dr. Yin confirmed that while the client may be ok with adjusting his requirements for the completed project, we would still be judged at the end of the day whether we met our original design specifications that we covered in our verification and validation report. Currently, the group is working on building the mechanical design and testing the device. In addition, we are preparing the final report and presentation.
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Over the weekend, the team continued to work on different designs using pulley potentiometers, slide potentiometers, and flex/bend sensors. The team then met with Professor Klaesner on Monday morning to get his thoughts on the various designs that were worked on in parallel last week. From this discussion, two major ideas were generated: using a trough-like support structure to mount the potentiometer mechanism onto and ironing out the main outputs our client, Dr. Carter wants. We met with Dr. Carter Monday afternoon and we decided our core priority is to construct any design that we can (we had presented 2 at the meeting) and produce a singular working prototype by Friday. We had asked Dr. Carter if he prefers that we aim to (a) create a mechanical design and software specifically aimed to get accurate angular displacement data or (b) to create solution that collects relative movement data. Solution (a) we believe is better supported by the design where the potentiometer is fixed in the same plane as the joint. Meanwhile solution (b) we believe is better supported with a slide potentiometer design measuring tension in a string based on movement generated along the slide mechanism. This week, we worked to create any prototype that could work. We used a variety of materials over the course of the week (rubber straps from goggles, graduated tubes, 3 oz travel size bottles, velcro, and more) to produce a working support structure. We plan to meet up with Dr. Carter again on Friday. Currently the team is trying multiple solutions in parallel including trying out the flex sensor, slide potentiometer, knob potentiometer, and a pulley potentiometer. Chris and Galen are thinking about using Allen wrenches for each of the joints to measure angle potentially. Chris and Galen went to Gateway Electronics to check out available parts and come up with ideas. After going there, we were able to collect a few slide potentiometers of small size than Professor Widders, and some spring systems. In addition, we were able to find the size of the Allen wrench (5/64”) that fits Professor Widder’s potentiometer. Chris has also been working on the Matlab GUI to use for the device. In its current state, the GUI can set a threshold angle, calibrate to the resting angle, measure the angle of the potentiometer, and deliver visual and auditory feedback. The visual feedback is now changing the color of an RGB LED as opposed to the brightness which should be easier for the patient to distinguish between levels. The audio feedback is a beep that decreases in pause interval until it becomes almost continuous at the threshold angle. Olivia talked with Kristina to hear her thoughts on our Validation and Verification paper, and bought some sensors and LEDs.
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AuthorJust your average engineering students -- solving problems yet to be solved Archives
April 2018
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