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Client Background Information : The client is affected by a genetic condition that affects both hearing and vision called Usher syndrome, where the vision is damaged by the disease known as "retinitis pigmentosa," [1]. Usher syndrome is quite rare, impacting about three to six people of every one hundred thousand people. The three variants of this illness have distinct characteristics that lead to its classification as Types 1, 2, and 3. [6]
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Design a device to aid the user in independently traversing outdoor environments, including suburban areas and trails, without external assistance. The device must be portable, lightweight, durable, and recognizable as well as not being reliant upon vibrations or harsh noises (beeps and buzzes) for haptic feedback, all while excluding required visuals. — [5]
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The device utilizes an ultrasonic sensor to detect objects 0.5 meters ahead of itself and all potential obstacles heading toward its path. As the sensor detects obstacles, a linear actuator raises the pins to warn the user about the blocked route. [5]
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Figure 2. Final Design Demonstration/Explanation. Source : Jack Maxwell
Figure 2. Final Design Demonstration/Explanation. Source : Jack Maxwell
| Quantitative Objectives | Metrics |
|---|---|
| Lightweight | Mass (kg) |
| Complexity | Number of Parts |
| Frequency of Update | Frequency (Hz) |
| Range of Ultra Sonic Sensor | Distance (m) |
| Recognizable colors | Contrast Ratio |
| Qualitative Objectives : |
|---|
| Ease of Use |
| Recognizable Colors |
| Adaptability to the environment |
Figure 1: Image of Final Prototype
| Week #1 | Milestone 0 & Milestone 1 |
|---|---|
| Week #2 | Milestone 2 |
| Week #3 | Milestone 3 |
| Week #4 | Milestone 4 |
| Week #5 | Working on Milestone 5 |
| Week #6 | Finsih Milestone 5 |
| Week #7 | Final Presentation |
The work my group and I did on P3 is among the most memorable projects I have done up to this point. The personally meaningful nature of our work designing an aid for our client who has Usher syndrome as a real medical condition added to the importance of everything we did through the IMPACT Initiative. Building the prototype exceeded the basic task because our goal was to develop something which would enhance a person's quality of life. Our team had several rounds of brainstorming along with prototyping followed by testing throughout the whole project. We had noticeable periods of obstacles, such as the assembly of the final physical design or getting the actuator to move when an object was detected.
We also had to reduce our complex starting designs as we realized our ambitions did not match our allowed time to work on the project. This taught me how important it is to have a planned schedule to ensure the group can complete the project in time. Furthermore, learning to simplify design became the most essential lesson in engineering, since an exceptional solution does not imply complexity. A solution requires functionality above everything else as long as it provides an excellent experience to its users and that's what I've learned. The most rewarding part was seeing the completed prototype of our touch-based feedback cane, which integrated the linear actuator and ultrasonic sensor, work as intended. Seeing the pins move up when we placed an object in front of the cane was a reward for all the effort we put in and all the prototype refinement we made to get to this point. Our design gave itself to solving the specific problems our client faced, so knowing this made the lengthy development process worth it. My teamwork and communication also became stronger as part of my personal development throughout the project. The process of coordinating the group with assignment deadlines while ensuring all team members obtained an equal chance to contribute provided significant new insights into effective project design. Working with Arduino also proved to be a new technical skill which I acquired throughout this project, I also enhanced my 3D design and 3D printing parts while using CAD.
What stuck with me was how this wasn’t just an academic exercise we had to do. It was a chance to make a real difference with real-life implications. I’m proud of what our team built, and even more proud of how we worked together to make it happen.