Project

# Title Team Members TA Documents Sponsor
14 Acoustic Spoke Tensiometer for Bicycle Wheels
Design Award
 Andrius Bobbit
Sakeb Kazi
Xi Li
 Thomas Galvin design_document0.pdf
final_paper0.pdf
presentation0.pdf
proposal0.pdf
Our project aims to design a tensiometer for bicycle wheels based on the audible frequencies emitted by the spokes when they are being struck. Currently available mechanical meters require clamping of the spokes in order to determine the tension based on the physical deflection of the spokes. This method is time consuming and highly dependent on the proper calibration of the meters.

Frequencies resonated by bicycle spokes when struck are between 300-1000Hz. Since they are dependent on the spokes' lengths and tension, the measured audible frequency of a spoke would tell the user whether the spoke is under-tensioned or over-tensioned (assuming the lengths are uniform for all spokes measured). Correctly tuned spokes would emit a certain desired frequency.

The device would have an infrared sensor to measure the effective spoke length and users would also be required to input other parameters (e.g. butted/non-butted spokes, wheel lacing pattern). The device would take into account all these variables and calculate the optimal tension. Additionally, the device would have an "automated plucker" that strikes the wheel consistently as it is being spun so that tension measurements can be done quickly and stored into memory, automating the process.

Wireless IntraNetwork

Daniel Gardner, Jeeth Suresh

Wireless IntraNetwork

Featured Project

There is a drastic lack of networking infrastructure in unstable or remote areas, where businesses don’t think they can reliably recoup the large initial cost of construction. Our goal is to bring the internet to these areas. We will use a network of extremely affordable (<$20, made possible by IoT technology) solar-powered nodes that communicate via Wi-Fi with one another and personal devices, donated through organizations such as OLPC, creating an intranet. Each node covers an area approximately 600-800ft in every direction with 4MB/s access and 16GB of cached data, saving valuable bandwidth. Internal communication applications will be provided, minimizing expensive and slow global internet connections. Several solutions exist, but all have failed due to costs of over $200/node or the lack of networking capability.

To connect to the internet at large, a more powerful “server” may be added. This server hooks into the network like other nodes, but contains a cellular connection to connect to the global internet. Any device on the network will be able to access the web via the server’s connection, effectively spreading the cost of a single cellular data plan (which is too expensive for individuals in rural areas). The server also contains a continually-updated several-terabyte cache of educational data and programs, such as Wikipedia and Project Gutenberg. This data gives students and educators high-speed access to resources. Working in harmony, these two components foster economic growth and education, while significantly reducing the costs of adding future infrastructure.