Project

# Title Team Members TA Documents Sponsor
2 Seeing Ⓘ Hat
 Matthew Esses
Mitchell Gilmer
Shreya Venkat
 Sanjana Pingali design_document1.pdf
design_document2.pdf
final_paper1.pdf
presentation1.pptx
proposal1.pdf
# Seeing Ⓘ Hat
Team Members
Shreya Venkat (shreyav3)

Mitchell Kalogridis Elekzandros Varik Gilmer (gilmer2)

Matthew Esses (messes2)

# PROBLEM
Individuals with visual impairments encounter difficulties in independent navigation of their surroundings, causing lowered spatial awareness and concern with their personal safety.While there are solutions such as canes or seeing eye dogs, there is an issue with detecting range for objects further than a meter out. Seeing eye dogs only take the owner into a certain direction and are used to make sure the user stays in a straight line from their directions. Dogs can unfortunately become distracted by things like food or children petting the, even with training. Also, there are likely people allergic to dogs or with traumatic experiences that wouldn't want one, while the dog requires being taken care of constantly as a pet.


# SOLUTION
We want to make a hat designed to empower blind individuals by offering a 360-degree field of view. It will use advanced LiDAR sensors for wayfinding and dead reckoning, and Doppler RADARs for collision detection. This technology translates the surrounding environment into real-time spatial data, allowing users to navigate their surroundings with newfound independence. The hat also includes vibration motors strategically placed to indicate the direction of the nearest objects, aiding users in easily navigating their environment.
# SOLUTION COMPONENTS

# Subsystem 0: Microcontroller processing unit
- **STM32F401:** Microcontroller with 11 PWM outputs, massive processing power
## SUBSYSTEM 1: IMAGING AND SENSING SYSTEM
This subsystem focuses on capturing real-time spatial data
- **LIDAR SENSOR USING I2C:** Primary imaging sensor for user dead reckoning
- **Accelerometer and magnetometer** Tracking and adjusting user movement for data calculations
- **HB100 Doppler RADAR:** Secondary emergency collision detection sensor
- **Small LCD screen:** Diagnostic tool (not for user, this is for debugging)
## SUBSYSTEM 2: SCANNING MECHANISM
This subsystem focuses on the rotation of the scanner and the associated motor control.
- **Motor Driver:** Controlling rotational speed of the scanner using PWM input from the microcontroller
- **DC Brushless Motor** Main mechanical power source
- **Hall Effect Sensor Circuit:** For determining the direct angular positioning of a motor
- **3D printed parts and slip ring:** Mechanical backbone of project for properly transferring rotation to the LiDAR
## SUBSYSTEM 3: HAPTIC FEEDBACK SYSTEM
This subsystem includes vibration motors for providing haptic feedback to the user.
- **Demultiplexers/Decoders:** These receive output from the STM32 and outputs a PWM signal from the microcontroller to the vibration motors.
- **16 Vibration Motors:** Place vibration motors at various angles within the hat to indicate the direction of the nearest objects. In a power of 2 to mesh with the demultiplexers..
# SUBSYSTEM 4: Battery Power Supply Subsystem:
Create boost/buck converter circuits for power supplies to ensure uniform voltage supply.
- **LiPO batteries** - May be 3.7V in series - lightest reasonable weight, small form factor power source
- **Battery holder:** Holding the battery
- **eFuse current limiter, undercurrent included:** Safety sensor for microcontroller and components for rapid shut off
- **Over/Undervoltage lockout:** Safety sensor for components for rapid shut off
- **Buck converter:** Stepping down voltage for microcontroller and sensors
### A buck converter may or may not be required depending on the final motors and microprocessors. The microprocessor is rated for 3.75 - 5.2V. Our preferred method of accomplishing this voltage step down would be a buck converter. The in-line non-switching solutions appear to not be viable with the current draw requirements.
### The microprocessors range is close to the battery pack range. Depending on the final system requirement, the system may be viable to operate on a singular IC provided by Texas Instruments.
### If the buck converter is not an IC, then we would need to build a buck converter using a buck controller.
# CRITERION FOR SUCCESS
1) The Hall Effect sensor, magnetometer, and accelerometer are able to provide accurate heading and sensor data for the haptic feedback within 45 degrees accuracy when displaced.
2) Able to image a room, such as ECEB 2072, from the center at resolution of at least 0.2 meters using haptic feedback and with a monitor for others’ viewing as a diagnostic tool with a 360 degree range with an angular resolution and accuracy of 15 degrees.
3) Able to detect objects approaching the user from front, back, below, and both sides within 2 seconds using both the Doppler proximity sensor and the LIDAR.
4) Navigational Success: The Hat successfully aids a blindfolded user in navigating the second and third floors of ECEB without difficulties.
5) Power Supply Stability: Power system safely shuts down during extreme conditions such as battery failure and short circuit conditions without damaging the hardware.

S.I.P. (Smart Irrigation Project)

Jackson Lenz, James McMahon

S.I.P. (Smart Irrigation Project)

Featured Project

Jackson Lenz

James McMahon

Our project is to be a reliable, robust, and intelligent irrigation controller for use in areas where reliable weather prediction, water supply, and power supply are not found.

Upon completion of the project, our device will be able to determine the moisture level of the soil, the water level in a water tank, and the temperature, humidity, insolation, and barometric pressure of the environment. It will perform some processing on the observed environmental factors to determine if rain can be expected soon, Comparing this knowledge to the dampness of the soil and the amount of water in reserves will either trigger a command to begin irrigation or maintain a command to not irrigate the fields. This device will allow farmers to make much more efficient use of precious water and also avoid dehydrating crops to death.

In developing nations, power is also of concern because it is not as readily available as power here in the United States. For that reason, our device will incorporate several amp-hours of energy storage in the form of rechargeable, maintenance-free, lead acid batteries. These batteries will charge while power is available from the grid and discharge when power is no longer available. This will allow for uninterrupted control of irrigation. When power is available from the grid, our device will be powered by the grid. At other times, the batteries will supply the required power.

The project is titled S.I.P. because it will reduce water wasted and will be very power efficient (by extremely conservative estimates, able to run for 70 hours without input from the grid), thus sipping on both power and water.

We welcome all questions and comments regarding our project in its current form.

Thank you all very much for you time and consideration!