Team Weekly Update | All | 2/15

Project Risks & Management

Significant Risks:
– Ensuring Carolyn is fully prepared for the design review
– OpenCV and calibration decisions pose a risk, as committing to a specific implementation too early may limit flexibility
– Determining if Swift is still a viable option for the mobile app, as development constraints may require reconsideration

Risk Management Strategies:
– Focused effort on preparing clear, concise design review slides to ensure Carolyn has a solid understanding of the system and key design choices
– Keeping calibration flexible by designing the system to allow for software-side adjustments rather than locking into a rigid setup

Contingency Plans:
– If Swift development encounters significant roadblocks, we will shift to a android or web-app based system to ensure development remains efficient
– If the design review reveals major flaws or gaps, we will adjust our block diagram and system approach while staying aligned with our core project objectives

Design Changes

Changes Made:
– The phone will now handle more calibration tasks, leaving the Raspberry Pi responsible only for tracking knee movement
– This shift aims to simplify device setup and reduce reliance on specialized hardware for calibration
– Further investigation into phone-based processing requirements will be needed

Reasons for Change:
– Reducing Raspberry Pi workload improves efficiency and lowers potential latency issues
– Allows for easier setup and better user experience, as calibration can be done via a familiar mobile interface

Mitigation Strategies:
– Parallel research efforts into mobile-based calibration approaches will prevent delays in implementation
– Keeping the software modular allows for reverting to Raspberry Pi-based calibration if needed
– Testing small-scale prototypes will help evaluate performance trade-offs before full integration

Updated Schedule

The focus this week was on ordering our BOM and preparing the design review slides to ensure a well-organized presentation.
For the next two weeks, work will be parallelized between:
– Device and component testing (validating hardware functionality and communication)
– Design report creation (formalizing system architecture and justifications)

Progress Showcase

Accomplishments so far:
– Finalized and ordered BOM, ensuring all necessary components are on hand for testing
– Completed design review slides, refining our system description and approach
– Began initial Bluetooth testing for data transfer, evaluating feasibility for real-time communication
– Mock up design in Figma for all potential app-screens for user end to end