Project

# Title Team Members TA Documents Sponsor
22 Adherascent
 Dhiraj Dayal Bijinepally
Hardhik Tarigonda
Jonathan Liu
TITLE ADHERASCENT

Team Members:

Jonathan Liu (jliu268)
Hardhik Tarigonda (Htarig2)
Dhiraj Bijinepally (Ddb3)
PROBLEM

Approximately 66% of adults in the United States take prescription medication. These can range from painkillers after surgery to essential life saving drugs. Common between all of these medications is the importance of taking them on time and on a schedule to maximize effectiveness. Adherascent is a program/device that helps individuals remember to take their medications. This is primarily aimed towards older adults, however anyone can use this device if they require it.

SOLUTION

Adherascent is a system composed of three subsystems: a wearable scent device, a mobile application, and a smart pillbox. The app provides the initial notification. If the notification is not addressed, the wearable escalates reminders using scent cues. The pillbox provides clear, per-compartment visual cues to indicate which medication should be taken, and it allows the user to confirm intake.

SOLUTION COMPONENTS

Adherascent consists of two main components. The phone application that interacts with the wearable device and the scent-releasing mechanism attached to a wearable device.

SUBSYSTEM 1

The wearable device acts as a second reminder to take medication. Instead of relying solely on a single cue such as audio or visual, Adherascent utilizes the sense of smell to prompt action. At first, the app reminds the individual to take their medication. If the person dismisses the notification and takes their medication, the wearable device will not activate. However, if the notification is left unaddressed for over 5 minutes, the device activates. The Adherascent wearable emits a scent with varying intensity to escalate urgency. The working idea is to implement this using clock cycles: 1000 cycles: scent is initially released into the air.

2000 cycles: scent increases in intensity.

3000 cycles: scent reaches maximum intensity to strongly notify the user.

This approach ensures reminders are multi-sensory and persistent, reducing the chance of a missed dose.

We plan on utilizing technology similar to electronic air fresheners to emit the scent. The acceptable time before ramping the scent intensity depends on the nature of the individuals condition. If 5r medicine is urgent, it could skip the ramping process and immediately emit at maximum intensity from the start. It is possible that we can add a function in the app to adjust the time between reminders and scent intensity.

SUBSYSTEM 2

The mobile app manages medication schedules and reminders. It sends a notification at the correct time and provides the first opportunity for the user to act. If the user dismisses the notification, the reminder is considered addressed, and no further action is taken.

If the notification is ignored, the app sends a signal via Bluetooth to both the wearable device and the smart pillbox to activate.

This central coordination ensures all subsystems work together to escalate reminders only when necessary.

SUBSYSTEM 3

The smart pillbox provides a direct, physical reminder by lighting up the specific compartment corresponding to the medication due at that day and time. This not only alerts the user but also guides them to the correct pill, reducing confusion or mistakes. The pillbox also includes a confirmation method (such as a button or touch input) that allows the user to acknowledge that they have taken their medication. Once confirmation is received, the pillbox sends the acknowledgment to the app, ensuring the wearable device does not continue escalating. If no confirmation is received, the system proceeds with wearable activation, maintaining redundancy in reminders.


We are working with Professor Steven Walter Hill, Gaurav Nigam ,Venkat Eswara Tummala and Brian Mehdian.

Modularized Electronic Locker

Jack Davis, Joshua Nolan, Jake Pu

Modularized Electronic Locker

Featured Project

Group Member: Jianhao (Jake) Pu [jpu3], Joshua Nolan [jtnolan2], John (Jack) Davis [johnhd4]

Problem:

Students living off campus without a packaging station are affected by stolen packages all the time. As a result of privacy concerns and inconsistent deployment, public cameras in Champaign and around the world cannot always be relied upon. Therefore, it can be very difficult for victims to gather evidence for a police report. Most of the time, the value of stolen items is small and they are usually compensated by the sellers (Amazon and Apple are very understanding). However, not all deliveries are insured and many people are suffering from stolen food deliveries during the COVID-19 crisis. We need a low-cost solution that can protect deliveries from all vendors.

Solution Overview:

Our solution is similar to Amazon Hub Apartment Locker and Luxer One. Like these services, our product will securely enclose the package until the owners claim the contents inside. The owner of the contents can claim it using a phone number or a unique user identification code generated and managed by a cloud service.

The first difference we want to make from these competitors is cost. According to an article, the cost of a single locker is from $6000 - $20000. We want to minimize such costs so that we can replace the traditional mailbox. We talked to a Chinese manufacturer and got a hardware quote of $3000. We can squeeze this cost if we just design our own control module on ESP32 microcontrollers.

The second difference we want to make is modularity. We will have a sensor module, a control module, a power module and any number of storage units for hardware. We want to make standardized storage units that can be stacked into any configuration, and these storage units can be connected to a control module through a communication bus. The control module houses the hardware to open or close all of the individual lockers. A household can purchase a single locker and a control module just for one family while apartment buildings can stack them into the lockers we see at Amazon Hub. I think the hardware connection will be a challenge but it will be very effective at lowering the cost once we can massively manufacture these unit lockers.

Solution Components:

Storage Unit

Basic units that provide a locker feature. Each storage unit will have a cheap microcontroller to work as a slave on the communication bus and control its electronic lock (12V 36W). It has four connectors on top, bottom, left, and right sides for stackable configuration.

Control Unit

Should have the same dimension as one of the storage units so that it could be stacked with them. Houses ESP32 microcontroller to run control logics on all storage units and uses the built-in WiFi to upload data to a cloud server. If sensor units are detected, it should activate more security features accordingly.

Power Unit

Power from the wall or from a backup battery power supply and the associated controls to deliver power to the system. Able to sustain high current in a short time (36W for each electronic lock). It should also have protection against overvoltage and overcurrent.

Sensor Modules

Sensors such as cameras, motion sensors, and gyroscopes will parlay any scandalous activities to the control unit and will be able to capture a photo to report to authorities. Sensors will also have modularity for increased security capabilities.

Cloud Support

Runs a database that keeps user identification information and the security images. Pushes notification to end-users.

Criterion for Success:

Deliverers (Fedex, Amazon, Uber Eats, etc.) are able to open the locker using a touchscreen and a use- provided code to place their package inside. Once the package is inside of the locker, a message will be sent to the locker owner that their delivery has arrived. Locker owners are able to open the locker using a touchscreen interface. Owners are also able to change the passcode at any time for security reasons. The locker must be difficult to break into and offer theft protection after multiple incorrect password attempts.

Project Videos