Month: September 2024

Task Overview:

This week, the focus was split between software architecture development and hardware component selection and design finalization for the motion-sensing shoe sole. Reva concentrated on the app’s software design, while Vansh worked on selecting the appropriate hardware components and finalizing the insole design. The goal was to ensure that both the technical specifications of the hardware and the software architecture align with the operational requirements outlined in previous discussions.

Progress Summary:

Software Architecture (Reva’s Contributions):
Reva focused on refining the software architecture for the mobile app. After evaluating multiple software platforms, Flutter was chosen for its ability to target both iOS and Android devices from a single codebase, optimizing development time and cost. The app has been structured into three main sections:

1. History and trends: to display past performance data.
2. Real-time data: to provide immediate feedback based on sensor readings.
3. Settings: for user preferences and system configurations.

This architecture will allow for intuitive access to key features and help users monitor and analyze their movement patterns effectively. Reva is on schedule and will begin developing the app in Flutter next week.

Hardware Component Selection and Design Finalization (Vansh’s Contributions):
Vansh focused on selecting and finalizing the hardware components that will make up the motion-sensing sole. Key progress includes:

1. IMU (Accelerometers & Gyroscopes): The Bosch IMU was selected for its ability to track both linear and angular motion, with a ±16g accelerometer range and ±2000°/s gyroscope range, offering sufficient accuracy for our use case.
2. Pressure Sensors: High-resolution pressure pads were chosen for precise foot pressure mapping, with sensors placed at the forefoot, midfoot, and heel for detailed movement data.
3. Microcontroller (ESP32): Selected for its built-in Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and Wi-Fi capabilities, which allow efficient data transmission to the mobile app.
4. Power Supply: A 200mAh rechargeable lithium-polymer battery was selected to support at least 3 hours of continuous use, subject to final testing and optimization.
5. Connectivity: BLE 5.0 was chosen for low-power, efficient data transmission to mobile devices.

Vansh also made progress in finalizing the insole design, opting for a removable insole for flexibility and comfort, and selecting lightweight, moisture-wicking materials. Minor adjustments to the sensor placement and materials will be made following initial user testing.

Challenges Encountered:

1. Battery Life Optimization: Ongoing work is needed to optimize the balance between sensor performance and power efficiency to ensure longer battery life.
2. Sensor Calibration: Efforts continue to refine calibration settings to ensure accurate data collection across diverse environments and use cases.

Next Steps:

1. Software: Reva will begin developing the app in Flutter, starting with the basic layout and navigation.
2. Hardware: Vansh will continue working on the design report, finalizing the component selections and specifications, and begin prototyping with the selected components to validate their functionality and performance.
3. Power Optimization: Ongoing efforts will focus on improving power consumption to extend battery life during use.

Design Review Presentation:

Vansh is preparing a design review presentation to summarize the component selection, design choices, and the rationale behind these decisions. This presentation will serve as a key milestone to finalize the hardware and software integration plan and will be ready by the end of the week.

Conclusion:

The team is progressing well with both the software architecture and hardware design. The combination of Flutter for software development and the selected Bosch IMU, pressure sensors, and ESP32 microcontroller for hardware will help meet the project’s operational requirements. The next phase will involve prototyping and testing to validate the design.

Looking at the project as a whole, in terms of public health, safety, and welfare (Part A), the motion-sensing shoe sole is designed to improve users’ physical well-being by providing real-time feedback on foot strike patterns, stamina, and other metrics during physical activities. By helping users track and optimize their movement, the product can contribute to injury prevention and promote physical health. Additionally, the app’s user-friendly interface will reduce psychological strain, making it easy for users to monitor their progress, thus enhancing overall well-being. Safety considerations include ensuring the accuracy of sensor data to prevent false readings, which could otherwise lead to injury or improper posture adjustments.

From a social perspective (Part B), the product can cater to a broad and diverse user base across different cultural and social groups. By enabling users to track their health and fitness data and potentially share it within their communities or social groups, the product encourages social interaction and wellness. It could also contribute to creating a health-conscious community that motivates individuals to engage in physical activities, enhancing collective social welfare.

In terms of economic factors (Part C), the project aims to be cost-efficient by focusing on using an IMU sensor and avoiding more expensive hardware like pressure pads. The choice of Flutter for app development ensures the app can be built for both iOS and Android from a single codebase, significantly reducing development and maintenance costs. This will help in making the product more affordable for users while still delivering robust health-monitoring capabilities, contributing to the sustainability and accessibility of the product in the market.

Status Report: Component Selection and Design Finalization

Task Overview:
This phase involves selecting the appropriate components (sensors, power systems, connectivity modules) and finalizing the overall design of the motion-tracking sole. The goal is to ensure the technical specifications meet the operational requirements outlined in previous discussions.

Progress Summary:

1. Component Selection:
– IMU (Accelerometers & Gyroscopes):
– We have chosen the Bosch IMU for tracking both linear and angular motion, providing a ±16g accelerometer range and a ±2000°/s gyroscope range, ensuring sufficient accuracy for our use cases.
– This selection is subject to change as we finalize our design report and validate whether these specifications fully meet the project’s needs.
– Pressure Sensors:
– Opted for high-resolution pressure pads with 8-bit resolution for precise foot pressure mapping.
– We are using multiple pressure pads (forefoot, midfoot, and heel) to provide granular data on foot movement and weight distribution. As we complete our design report, these configurations may be adjusted based on further testing.
– Microcontroller (ESP32):
– We’ve selected the ESP32 microcontroller, which offers I2C communication to interface with the IMU and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) for data transmission to the mobile app.
– The ESP32 was chosen due to its integrated BLE and Wi-Fi capabilities, making it ideal for both communication and sensor data handling in our compact design.
– Power Supply:
– A 200mAh rechargeable lithium-polymer battery has been selected, capable of supporting at least 3 hours of continuous use. This is subject to refinement based on the final power consumption metrics from our design report and initial testing.
– Connectivity:
– We’ve decided on Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) 5.0 for efficient, low-power data transmission, ensuring smooth communication with mobile devices and minimizing power consumption.

2. Design Finalization:
– Insole Design:
– Proceeding with a removable insole design for flexibility and broader market appeal.
– Sensor placement has been optimized at key foot points (heel, midfoot, forefoot) to balance performance and user comfort, subject to minor adjustments as we finalize the design.
– Material Selection:
– Lightweight, moisture-wicking materials have been chosen for comfort and durability, though this will be finalized following further user testing.
– Durability Considerations:
– The insole design will include a waterproof rating of IP68, ensuring long-lasting performance in varied environments.

Challenges Encountered:
– Battery Life Optimization:
Continuing to optimize power consumption, particularly around balancing sensor performance with battery efficiency, as this will affect the final design.

– Sensor Calibration:
Ongoing work on refining calibration settings to ensure accurate data collection across different user cases and environments.

Next Steps:
– Complete the design report to finalize component selections and specifications.
– Begin prototyping with selected components for initial testing and validation.
– Continue optimizing power circuits for extended battery life.

Design Review Presentation:
– I am currently preparing a design review presentation that will summarize the component selection, design choices, and rationale behind the decisions. This presentation, which will be ready by the end of the week, will serve as a key milestone to finalize the hardware and software integration plan.

Conclusion:
We are progressing well with component selection and design finalization, though all numbers and specifications are subject to change as we complete the design report. The Bosch IMU and ESP32 microcontroller have been chosen for their respective roles in data collection and transmission, and the design review presentation will provide further insights into our development process. Our next phase will focus on prototyping and testing.