Eleanor’s Status Report 10/05/2024

Personal Accomplishment

What did you personally accomplish this week on the project? Give files or photos that demonstrate your progress. Prove to the reader that you put sufficient effort into the project over the course of the week (12+ hours).

  • I began working on the design report, taking responsibility in the Use Case Requirements, Design Requirements, partial Design Trade Studies, and the Test & Validation sections. Especially, in the use sase requirements, I identified and documented the various scenarios in which our design would be utilized, and for the design requirements, I outlined the features and specifications that our system need to meet to ensure optimal performance and achieve the use case requirements (both requirements are also listed concisely in the presentation slide).
  • I recorded audios for the sound alert system. I categorized these audio files based on direction and distance. They are divided into three directional categories: left, front, and right, and cover five distance ranges: 1m, 2m, 3m, 4m, and 5m, which resulted in a total of 15 distinct audio files. Each alert conveys the message: “Detecting obstacles in your {direction} about {distance} away from you. Please be careful to avoid it.” To facilitate the playback of these audio alerts, I researched and watched several YouTube tutorials on connecting our audio hat to the  raspberry pi and then transmit and play the audio files during operation.
  • I picked up and returned components which we agreed to relinquish.

Schedule

Is your progress on schedule or behind? If you are behind, what actions will be taken to catch up to the project schedule?

Since my tasks are typically focused on the middle or later stages of the project, the delay in receiving those components does not  impact my individual progress very much. However, I recognize the need to prepare for a potential reduction in my work time in the future and to assist my teammates more, as the delay affects the overall progress, especially the first stage, of our project.

Upcoming Deliverables

What deliverables do you hope to complete in the next week?

  • Set up the audio hat as soon as it arrives, and then mock different radar detecting results to test the audio message playback to ensure the files display correctly.
  • Assist teammates with setting up the radar and accelerometer, and support data collection during the initial stage. My primary work will begin in the next phase, once the initial setup is complete.

(due to the components arriving delay, similar upcoming deliverables as last week)

 

Team Status Report 10/05/2024

Team Accomplishment

What are the most significant risks that could jeopardize the success of the project? How are these risks being managed? What contingency plans are ready?

Most significant risk: Difficulty in Testing the Walking Aid Vest

As we move forward with the WalkGuard project, a significant risk we expect to face in future is the difficulty in properly testing the walking aid vest under realistic conditions. None of the team members have experience navigating with a white cane or walking blindly, which could make it challenging to simulate real-world scenarios for visually impaired users. This presents a challenge in evaluating whether the vest provides effective obstacle detection and safety features in a normal street environment. Additionally, the fall detection testing carries safety concerns, as we will need to mimic falls without causing injury to the volunteers who will be helping with the tests.

Risk Management Strategies: Extensive Testing

To mitigate these risks, we plan to take two key actions:

  1. Reaching Out to the Pittsburgh Community: We aim to collaborate with individuals who have experience navigating with a white cane. By working with people who already face these challenges, we will get more accurate feedback and insights into how the vest performs in real-world conditions. This will also ensure that our tests better reflect the true needs of our target users.
  2. Controlled Fall Detection Testing: For fall detection, we plan to set up a safe testing environment by providing soft cushions or padded surfaces to ensure volunteers do not get injured during testing. This will allow us to simulate falls more safely and fine-tune the system’s sensitivity and accuracy.

Contingency Plans: Possibly adjusting Final Project Goals Based on Radar Capabilities

If we encounter difficulties in accessing real-world testers or fall detection simulations, we have a few contingency plans in place:

  • For the walking aid tests, we could work with trained professionals or mobility instructors who can provide expertise on how the device would perform in real situations.
  • If fall detection tests prove too risky, we may use controlled simulations or dummy falls with mechanical devices to mimic real human falls safely. Additionally, adjusting the vest’s sensitivity settings based on collected test data could ensure the system functions effectively without requiring extreme physical tests.

 

 

Were any changes made to the existing design of the system (requirements, block diagram, system spec, etc)? Why was this change necessary, what costs does the change incur, and how will these costs be mitigated going forward?

In recent developments, we made two key adjustments to our system design based on the capabilities of the radar sensor and further analysis of how it performs in real-world conditions.

  1. Radar Confusion Matrix (Performance Criteria):
    We established a more precise performance criteria for the radar, specifically aiming for a false negative rate of no more than 15% and a false positive rate of no more than 20%. These figures are still tentative since they will largely depend on how the radar performs once we receive the hardware. Since we were unable to find detailed specifications in the datasheet, we referenced data from past project groups who worked with the same radar model. This allowed us to set more informed and realistic benchmarks for our system, ensuring the radar’s performance aligns with the needs of our users.
  2. Detection Range Adjustment (1-5 Meters):
    Initially, we planned for the radar to detect obstacles within a range of 1 to 3 meters, but after reviewing the radar’s capabilities, we extended this range to 1 to 5 meters. This change was necessary because the radar can handle longer distances, and given that a normal walking speed is approximately 1 m/s, a 5-meter range would provide more timely alerts. This adjustment better matches the expected use-case scenarios for the walking aid and ensures that users have enough reaction time to avoid obstacles.

Schedule

Due to a delay in receiving our hardware components, we have adjusted our schedule accordingly. Tasks that do not depend on these components, or that we can start with partial resources, have been moved up to earlier phases of the project. These tasks include webpage setup along with the detailed UX/UI design and radar data analysis starter code, which allows us to make progress in areas such as software development, algorithm design, and system integration, ensuring that we stay on track as much as possible while waiting for the components to arrive. By shifting our focus to these elements, we aim to minimize downtime and maintain momentum on the overall project timeline.

 

Zhixi’s Status Report for 10/05/2024

Personal Accomplishment

What did you personally accomplish this week on the project? Give files or photos that demonstrate your progress. Prove to the reader that you put sufficient effort into the project over the course of the week (12+ hours).

  • Prepared and practiced for the design review presentation earlier in the week as it was my turn of doing the presentation for the team.
  • Picked up components that arrived this week, performed the wearability unit test together with teammates by weighing the components individually. Verified that the vest is about 1kg which is under our quantitative design requirement of less than 3kg.
  • Set up the starter code for radar data analysis for obstacle detection.
  • Started on design review report due the following week.

Schedule

Is your progress on schedule or behind? If you are behind, what actions will be taken to catch up to the project schedule?

Currently, we are slightly behind schedule due to the recent submission of our orders. The delivery timeline is uncertain, which has caused some delays in setting up hardware. However, with our well-defined design and clear component choices, we are confident that once the items arrive, we will be able to proceed with the setup quickly and efficiently. Furthermore, nothing was planned during the fall break previously, however, I will utilize the time as a mid-semester slack time to catch up on schedule.

Upcoming Deliverables

What deliverables do you hope to complete in the next week?

In the upcoming week, I plan to focus on setting up the radar with the starter code I set up. I’ll also do unit test on the radar after setting it up to test its capabilities to make sure it meets our requirements. This would include moving our radar at approximately 1 m/s to detect static objects, and holding our radar still to detect moving objects such as people passing by in different directions (towards radar, horizontally in FOV, etc.). Another thing I will complete is finish the design setup of the button hardware circuitry.

Connie’s Status Report for 10/05/2024

Setting up the website template.

Personal Accomplishment

What did you personally accomplish this week on the project? Give files or photos that demonstrate your progress. Prove to the reader that you put sufficient effort into the project over the course of the week (12+ hours).

This week, I focused on two key areas. First, I started working on my assigned sections for the design report, including Introduction, Architecture and/or Principal of Operation, Project Management, Related Work, and Summary. I’ve outlined the structure for each section and am gathering relevant content to finalize the drafts. Second, I made progress on our web application, refining its layout and functionality to ensure it aligns with our project’s goals. I also picked up the vest for our project from delivery, which is crucial for integrating our hardware components. Unfortunately, we have not yet received the accelerometer and GPS components. This delay has slightly impacted our progress on the hardware setup, but we hope to begin working with those components tomorrow.

Schedule

Is your progress on schedule or behind? If you are behind, what actions will be taken to catch up to the project schedule?

At this stage, we are slightly behind schedule due to the delays in receiving the accelerometer and GPS components. However, I’ve ensured that other aspects of the project, such as the report writing and web app, are on track. Once we receive the components, we plan to catch up by quickly integrating them into our system.

Upcoming Deliverables

What deliverables do you hope to complete in the next week?

Next week, I aim to focus on setting up the accelerometer and GPS as soon as they arrive. This will be critical for moving forward with the project. Additionally, I will continue working on my sections of the design report to ensure that we stay on top of our documentation and design requirements.

Team Status Report for 09/28/2024

Risk and Plans

What are the most significant risks that could jeopardize the success of the project? How are these risks being managed? What contingency plans are ready? 

The most significant risk currently is Uncertainty Regarding Component Integration and Performance. With all components ordered, including the K-LD7 radar, GPS, accelerometer, and microcontroller, the primary concern is to make sure of seamless integration and correct functioning across systems. For example, while the radar is expected to detect obstacles in real-time, interference from environmental factors or misalignment with the audio alert system could jeopardize the overall effectiveness. We also have some concerns with its accuracy and complexity of data processing.

To manage these risks, we are implementing a testing and verification process. We have planned 50-100 unit tests for each part. Each component will undergo individual testing followed by system-wide testing to ensure compatibility and accuracy, particularly for radar-based obstacle detection and GPS fall detection. If we encounter any integration issues, such as power consumption inconsistencies or sensor inaccuracy, we will explore alternative components, including LIDAR or optimizing software to compensate.

Contingency plans include switching sensors or adjusting system parameters to ensure functionality without compromising user safety or the project’s goals.

Change in Design

Were any changes made to the existing design of the system (requirements, block diagram, system spec, etc)? Why was this change necessary, what costs does the change incur, and how will these costs be mitigated going forward?

Several design changes were made to the system based on further review of the component choices and project requirements:

  • Sensor Selection: We opted for the K-LD7 radar sensor over ultrasonic and camera-based systems due to its performance in low-light environments and lower power consumption. The radar’s multi-target detection and direct serial output make it more efficient for continuous operation in all weather conditions. We also decide to go with K-LD7 instead of position to go considering costs and project complexity.
  • Battery and Power Optimization: We made modifications to ensure power efficiency by balancing sensor performance with power consumption. Should battery endurance fall below the required threshold (3 hours), we have a mitigation strategy involving battery optimization or expanding the capacity with lower power sensors as alternatives.
  • GPS Integration: Initially, we considered using mobile phone GPS through cloud service alerts. However, after testing concerns regarding the precision of the GPS data, we decided to include a separate GPS hardware module in the design to ensure the user’s exact location is communicated accurately during emergencies.

These design changes were necessary to ensure that the device is both reliable and practical for visually impaired users. While the addition of the GPS hardware introduces extra costs, these costs are mitigated by avoiding less critical components and focusing the budget on essential features.

Schedule Updates

Provide an updated schedule if changes have occurred.

We are on schedule with the project timeline. Key changes include:

  • Component orders were adjusted to reflect the finalized design.
  • Testing for radar performance and integration with the GPS system is underway and progressing as expected.
  • We anticipate completing system integration testing in the coming weeks, with real-world validation tests scheduled thereafter.

Week-Specifics

Part A: … with respect to considerations of public health, safety or welfare.

From a public health perspective, WalkGuard fosters psychological well-being by empowering visually impaired users with greater independence and confidence to navigate their environment without needing constant assistance. By detecting obstacles in real-time and issuing sound alerts, the device reduces the risk of accidents, providing a sense of security and lowering anxiety. Besides, WalkGuard helps alleviate the constant concerns of caregivers; it provides them peace of mind by reducing their 24/7 responsibilities. Additionally, in terms of safety, the device offers advanced hazard detection that protects users from obstacles they might not perceive with traditional aids like white canes, such as the trunk of an approaching truck or other high-up obstacles. The forehead-level alerts give users more time to react, so the risk of collisions decrease. Moreover, the built-in fall detection system takes fast action in the event of an accident. When a fall is detected, the system automatically sends an email alert to caregivers, allowing for prompt intervention and reducing the risk of prolonged injury or delays in medical attention. Finally, regarding welfare, WalkGuard addresses the basic human need for care and security. By keeping caregivers informed of potential accidents, the system ensures that assistance can be provided in a timely manner so that meets the fundamental need for personal safety. The balance between encouraging user independence and offering caregiver support contributes a higher quality of life for both individuals.

Part B: … with consideration of social factors.

By promoting greater independence in mobility, WalkGuard empowers users to engage more fully with their communities improving their  social inclusion. Many visually impaired individuals face isolation due to their reliance on others for safe navigation, which can limit their participation in social, cultural, or economic activities. WalkGuard bridges this gap by providing users with a sense of autonomy, enabling them to confidently participate in daily activities, attend social gatherings, and contribute to their communities without constant dependence on companions.

From a caregiver’s perspective, WalkGuard helps ease the emotional and social burden of providing constant care. In many societies, the care of individuals with disabilities is often placed on family members, which can strain social relationships and limit the caregivers’ ability to engage in their own social or economic activities. By allowing caregivers to monitor the safety of their loved ones remotely, WalkGuard enables them to maintain their roles in the workforce or social circles without the anxiety of being unavailable in case of an emergency. This product encourages a more balanced relationship between caregivers and visually impaired individuals, promoting healthier social dynamics and reducing the potential for caregiver burnout. Furthermore, in regions with limited access to assistive technologies, WalkGuard offers an affordable, accessible solution that helps equalize opportunities for visually impaired individuals across different economic backgrounds.

Part C: … with consideration of economic factors.

The WalkGuard system focuses on a cost-effective solution to address the mobility challenges faced by visually impaired individuals. Traditional assistive technologies, such as guide dogs or human caregivers, can be prohibitively expensive, with ongoing costs for training, maintenance, or caregiver wages. WalkGuard significantly reduces the economic burden by providing a single, wearable device that combines multiple functions—obstacle detection and emergency alerts—into one affordable package. Using a cost-efficient components like the K-LD7 radar sensor, microcontroller, and GPS hardware, the system is designed to be both effective and accessible to a broad range of users. Mass production of the vest and integration with smartphone technology ensures that WalkGuard remains affordable without sacrificing quality. This enables wider adoption among low-income users who may otherwise lack access to advanced assistive technologies. Moreover, by reducing the need for constant caregiver supervision, WalkGuard helps alleviate labor costs for families and institutions. WalkGuard also aims to improving independence for visually impaired individuals.

A was written by Eleanor, B was written by Zhixi and C was written by Connie.

Zhixi’s Status Report for 9/28/2024

Personal Accomplishment

What did you personally accomplish this week on the project? Give files or photos that demonstrate your progress. Prove to the reader that you put sufficient effort into the project over the course of the week (12+ hours).

This week, I spent my time mainly on preparing the design review slides. I will be presenting next week so I spent time practicing my presentation skills and finalizing the logic flow of our slides.  I also finalized our component orders and decided to go with KLD7 radar and a power bank instead of Position2Go and a battery adapter. Additionally, I designed the system specification block diagram by hand and sent it to my teammate to finalize using draw.io for inclusion in our slides.

Schedule

Is your progress on schedule or behind? If you are behind, what actions will be taken to catch up to the project schedule?

Currently, we are slightly behind schedule due to the recent submission of our orders. The delivery timeline is uncertain, which has caused some delays in setting up hardware. However, with our well-defined design and clear component choices, we are confident that once the items arrive, we will be able to proceed with the setup quickly and efficiently.

Upcoming Deliverables

What deliverables do you hope to complete in the next week?

In the upcoming week, I plan to focus on setting up the radar once the ordered components arrive. I’ll also do unit test on the radar after setting it up to test its capabilities to make sure it meets our requirements. Additionally, I will start to work on assembling the components to RPi4 via the specified communication protocol in our design.

Eleanor’s Status Report for 09/28/2024

Personal Accomplishment

What did you personally accomplish this week on the project? Give files or photos that demonstrate your progress. Prove to the reader that you put sufficient effort into the project over the course of the week (12+ hours).

I worked on the design review presentation slide by aligning and comparing use-case requirements with technical specifications. I visualized each component in an implementation diagram to better demonstrate the system’s design. Additionally, I reviewed signal tuning strategies, exploring methods to improve radar signal processing accuracy and discussing accuracy metrics and their underlying rationale with the professor. I also studied and evaluated new radar datasheets to assess their relevant features and potential benefits for our project. Lastly, with discussions between our team, we replaced the previous chosen radar to a new one which was more useful and matches to our product.

Schedule

Is your progress on schedule or behind? If you are behind, what actions will be taken to catch up to the project schedule?

I have completed all the preparatory work ahead of the materials’ arrival. Through the design review and further discussions, the project goals and potential technical challenges have become clearer, which will help reduce future burdens. Although I haven’t been able to start setting up the audio hat due to material reorder delays, I have previewed the necessary information and am ready to begin as soon as it arrives.

Upcoming Deliverables

What deliverables do you hope to complete in the next week?

  • Set up the audio hat as soon as it arrives.
  • Assist teammates with setting up the radar and accelerometer, and support data collection during the initial stage. My primary work will begin in the next phase, once the initial setup is complete.

 

Connie’s Status Report for 09/28/2024

Setting up the website template.

Personal Accomplishment

What did you personally accomplish this week on the project? Give files or photos that demonstrate your progress. Prove to the reader that you put sufficient effort into the project over the course of the week (12+ hours).

This week, I made progress on several fronts. I focused on preparing the design review slides, collaborating with the presenters to finalize details. I also communicated with our TA about changes in our component orders, opting for KLD7 and a power bank instead of Position2Go and a battery adapter. Additionally, I drew the system specification graph using draw.io for inclusion in our slides and spent time refining the website design layout based on feedback from the initial draft. Lastly, I updated our project schedule based on the latest developments. The diagram below is a static web page for our design (v1). It will be refined with more feedbacks in the following weeks.

Schedule

Is your progress on schedule or behind? If you are behind, what actions will be taken to catch up to the project schedule?

Currently, we are slightly behind schedule due to the recent submission of our orders. The delivery timeline is uncertain, which has caused some delays in setting up hardware. However, with a well-defined design and clear component choices, we are confident that once the items arrive, we will be able to proceed with the setup quickly and efficiently.

Upcoming Deliverables

What deliverables do you hope to complete in the next week?

In the upcoming week, I plan to focus on setting up the accelerometer and GPS as soon as the ordered components arrive. This will mark a critical step toward advancing our project and staying on track with our goals.

Team Status Report 9/21/2024

Team Accomplishment

What are the most significant risks that could jeopardize the success of the project? How are these risks being managed? What contingency plans are ready?

Most significant risk: Uncertainty Regarding Radar Sensor Performance

The primary risk facing our project this week is the uncertainty about whether the selected radar sensor will meet our specific needs. Despite thorough reviews of datasheet for multiple radar options, we are not entirely sure if the radar we choose will function effectively for our intended purpose. Specifically, there’s a risk that the radar may not accurately detect static or slow-moving objects, or provide the precise distance and angle information required for the walking aid designed for visually impaired individuals.

Risk Management Strategies: Extensive Testing

To address this uncertainty, we plan to conduct extensive testing of the selected radar sensor. This will involve setting up experiments to evaluate its performance in real-world scenarios, particularly focusing on its ability to detect objects at walking speeds and provide accurate positional data. Through rigorous testing, we aim to verify whether the radar meets our project’s technical requirements.

Contingency Plans: Possibly adjusting Final Project Goals Based on Radar Capabilities

If testing reveals that the radar cannot fully meet our initial objectives, we are prepared to adjust our final project goals accordingly. This may involve modifying the functionalities of the walking aid to align with what the radar can reliably deliver. Our priority is to ensure that the device remains practical and beneficial to users, even if it means refining our original plans based on the radar’s actual capabilities.

 

 

Were any changes made to the existing design of the system (requirements, block diagram, system spec, etc)? Why was this change necessary, what costs does the change incur, and how will these costs be mitigated going forward?

One potential change we might make is that we might need a separate GPS hardware component connect to the microcontroller for the system. We realize that we could utilize the GPS on phone since we are already using cloud service to send alerts via phone. However, this change still need to be tested because we are not sure if the GPS location sent will be the location of the cloud service or the actual location of the user. Therefore, we will still purchase the GPS hardware component as a backup.

Schedule

No update on the current schedule so far as we are still on track.

 

Zhixi’s Status Report for 09/21/2024

Personal Accomplishment

What did you personally accomplish this week on the project? Give files or photos that demonstrate your progress. Prove to the reader that you put sufficient effort into the project over the course of the week (12+ hours).

  • Started system design: I started designing our system at a high level. This includes examine the size of each component and decide where should the component be placed on the vest.
  • Submitted Orders for radar and battery: I researched the most suitable radar and battery for our project and submitted  the orders through canvas google form. While choosing a battery that is portable and recharge is not difficult, hunting for a suitable radar that is within the budget is more challenging.
  • Reviewed the starter code the radar: I reviewed the sample starter code for the radar we chose to further evaluate the radar.

Schedule

Is your progress on schedule or behind? If you are behind, what actions will be taken to catch up to the project schedule?

My progress so far is on schedule. I have completed all the tasks I planned for this week. To ensure I stay on track, I will begin working on the next phase, which involves integrating the ordered components with the backend once they arrive. We will also start to work on the design presentation together.

Upcoming Deliverables

What deliverables do you hope to complete in the next week?

  • Refine the design of our whole system and prepare for the design presentation.
  • Set up the radar and microcontroller once items are received.