Updates for the week
This week, I mainly worked on configuring the Arduino Wifi Rev 2 to the same internet network on my laptop IDE. This was met with challenges, after 2+ hours, I could not get it to configure. At first I believed the issue was due to the fact that to connect to CMU-Secure, you need both a username (i.e. andrewID) and password which is a little tricky to configure on the Arduino. All the starter code assumes that the internet network is only protected by a password. To circumvent this, I connected my laptop to my phone’s wifi hotspot which only requires a password to join (not a username and password). When I tried connecting the Arduino to the wifi network, it wouldn’t connect. The figure below is the error message I was met with in the IDE’s serial monitor.
Figure 1
I also tried connecting with another phone’s hotspot and was met with a similar error message. I will continue researching ways to fix this next week.
In conjunction with testing the Arduino wifi rev 2, I also finalized my research on the haptic feedback locations on the torso. This was based on research from Pneumatic and acoustic suit: multimodal haptic suit for enhanced virtual reality simulation by Daeseok Kang, Chang-Gyu Lee, and Ohung Kwon published in Virtual Reality in 2023 and Whole-body mapping of spatial acuity for pain and touch by Mancini et al. published in Annals of Neurology in 2014. From Kang’s paper, I took this mapping of motors shown below and noted where there was the smallest gap between the red and the grey dots for the same corresponding number. These are the most ideal spots to place a haptic feedback point since it’s where users most accurately detected the location of the motors used in this study. In figure 3, I isolate the most ideal spots to place a haptic feedback by placing them into individual blocks. The blocks signify that it is a single feedback point, i.e. motors in this spot are synchronized to work effectively as “one” motor
Figure 2
Figure 3
Based on Mancini’s paper, I got a good sense of where to place the motors on the shoulders of a person’s body, and together I placed the feedback points on a 3D model of a body as shown in figure 4. Together, there are 8 motor blocks on the back, 2 on each side, and 6 on the back. All the motor blocks have 2 motors inside, with the exception of the 2 motor blocks on the front torso, which have 4. One of these blocks will placed over the heart, which we could use to localize the low health algorithm (to stimulate an increased adrenaline rush different from all other points on the torso). 
Figure 4
Lastly, I worked on configuring the wireless Xbox controller we ordered for the game, and it worked seamlessly. I tested this out on a gamer who stated they didn’t have any problems while playing with the controller. Additionally, I had the gamer play at a distance well over 6ft and the connection was still maintained. This is 1 step towards our wireless experience. I don’t anticipate having to test the controller again until we have finished the motor/light integration on the vest itself.
Progress On Schedule
In terms of the schedule, I am very worried about the getting the connection set up on the Arduino wifi. I think I will have to do more testing + reach out to the TA in order to resolve this. If it can’t be resolved, we can always order the ESP32 board detailed in last week’s report. Other than that, I’m worried about getting the PCB design. I have no prior experience with PCB designing so I will have to do some Eagle tutorials while working on the previous tasks mentioned.
Deliverables for next week
For next week, I hope to have the Wifi connection with the arduino established so we can start testing the range and bandwidth. I also need to order RGB lights, for this I’m planning on ordering 8×32 RGB led matrix off Amazon, but need to check the specs (i.e. Arduino compatibility, voltage required to power, #of input pins required) before I commit to ordering. I also need to do some Eagle tutorials if we’re going to order a PCB before spring break. Lastly, I will work with my team to submit a project report before spring break.