Category: Connie’s Status Report

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).

1. • Presentation:
     On Wednesday, I presented the progress and outcomes of our project during our final presentation.
   • Debugging Chrome Issues:
     • Deployed the web app using Firebase to ensure accessibility for testing.
     • Encountered and debugged issues with Chrome browser compatibility. Specifically, the app failed to connect due to the error: “Cannot safely connect to WebSocket (ws).” This issue arises because Chrome enforces stricter privacy policies compared to Safari and Firefox.
     • Attempted to resolve the issue using the API workaround provided by Firebase with wss instead but am still troubleshooting. Notably, the web app functions without issue on Safari.
     • Resolved several CORS-related bugs to enhance the app’s stability across different environments.
   • Email Notification Feature:
     Implemented the functionality to send email notifications to caregivers when the accelerometer detects a threshold-triggering event. There are some minor triggering issue with this function which I am actively solving.
   • Integration Work:
     • Assisted in integrating all components into the vest.
     • Participated in integration testing, ensuring that the hardware and software components work together seamlessly.
   • Raspberry Pi Connectivity:
     Investigated the ongoing issue with the Raspberry Pi failing to connect via VNC, where the connection times out. Despite direct access through a monitor, the remote access issue remains unresolved. Efforts included debugging network configurations and checking for firewall or permission-related constraints.

Schedule

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

There are minor delays with resolving the Chrome compatibility and Raspberry Pi connection issues. Integration and testing are progressing as planned, and the system functionality is improving steadily.

Upcoming Deliverables

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

In the coming week, I plan to achieve the following deliverables:

1. Resolve Chrome Compatibility Issues:
   Implement and validate the API workaround provided by Firebase to address the WebSocket connection problem on Chrome. Test extensively to ensure consistent performance across all major browsers.
2. Fix Raspberry Pi Connectivity:
   Identify and resolve the root cause of the Raspberry Pi’s inability to connect remotely via VNC, ensuring reliable remote debugging capabilities.
3. Finalize Integration Testing:
   Conduct comprehensive integration testing of the system, focusing on edge cases and user scenarios. Validate that the vest performs seamlessly in real-world environments.
4. Enhance Notification System:
   Optimize and validate the email notification feature to ensure it triggers accurately and consistently when the accelerometer threshold is breached.
5. Prepare for Final Demonstration:
   Compile the results of integration testing and finalize system refinements based on any issues identified. Ensure the system is ready for final review and demonstration.

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 preparing for our interim demo, ensuring the integration and functionality of various components of the WalkGuard project, and advancing toward our final presentation. Key accomplishments include:

1. Interim Project Demo
   • Ensured that individual components (accelerometer, GPS, radar, and web app) were fully operational and demonstrated effectively.
   • Created slides summarizing the challenges faced during development, including technical limitations and integration difficulties.
2. Final Presentation Preparation
   • Contributed majorly to the preparation of final presentation slides.
   • Worked on preparation of the presentation.
   • Practiced delivering the presentation, refining flow and key talking points.
3. Pipelining Components and Subsystems
   • For the interim demo, components were demonstrated individually. I contributed by pipelining the subsystems together into a single main file.
   • Ensured connectivity between the web application and the Raspberry Pi pipeline.
   • Identified areas where robustness testing is still required and began addressing these challenges.

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 our project is on schedule. The interim demo was successfully completed, and preparation for the final presentation is progressing well. However, robustness testing for the pipelined subsystems and web-to-RPi connection needs further focus.

Plan to Stay on Schedule:

• Conduct thorough robustness testing and debugging of the pipelined system in the upcoming week.
• Allocate dedicated time for refining the presentation and addressing any last-minute technical issues.

Upcoming Deliverables

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

For the next week, I aim to complete the following:

1. Robustness Testing and Refinement
   • Test the integrated pipeline to ensure stability and reliability under various conditions.
   • Address any issues with subsystem communication or failure handling.
2. Final Presentation Slides
   • Finalize slides with results, lessons learned, and future directions.
3. Full System Demo
   • Ensure the entire system (accelerometer, GPS, radar, web app) works seamlessly in an integrated manner for the final demo.
4. Documentation
   • Prepare and submit a detailed report on system design, integration, and results.
5. Visit the library for visually impaired people and conduct interview with them.

 

 

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 the accelerometer tuning and threshold adjustment for fall detection. This involves refining sensitivity thresholds to accurately differentiate between minor movements and falls. I implemented adjustments in the C code to better filter the accelerometer data, ensuring reliable signal detection while minimizing noise from incidental movements. I also completed the data pipeline integration. Now, when the accelerometer detects a fall signal, it sends the data to the web app through a web API. On the web app end, an alert is generated to notify users of the event. Finally I spent time to prepare for demo this week. This included adding content to our slides, testing components to ensure reliability, and preparing demonstrations that showcase the core functionality of WalkGuard, particularly its fall detection and alert system.

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 am on schedule with my project. The accelerometer tuning and pipeline integration were major steps, and both were successfully completed this week. With these in place, I can shift focus to optimizing detection performance and preparing for further integration tests.

Upcoming Deliverables

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

• Fine-tuning Fall Detection: Further refine the accelerometer thresholds to reduce false positives and ensure that the system reliably identifies actual falls.
• Integration Testing: Perform comprehensive tests of the hardware-to-web pipeline to identify and resolve any latency or data accuracy issues.
• Web App Enhancement: Improve the web app interface for displaying fall alerts.
• Field Testing: Design and execute real-world test scenarios using the white cane to simulate practical use cases. This includes testing in varied environments to validate the system’s functionality.

 

 

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).

On the software side, I finished a working prototype of the website with React. This included connecting Google Authentication and the Google Maps API to manage user login and real-time location tracking. Google Authentication is our choice of login since it is secure and easy to use. We choose React for the front end for its modularity, allowing us to maintain clear code structure and scalability. Integrating the Google Maps API also gives us reliable, real-time location tracking incase our gps component end up failing. Our GPS is performing well outdoors but currently fails indoors due to typical limitations of GPS with line-of-sight requirements.

Image for web app prototype:

Hardware progress this week included testing and initial calibration of both the radar (KLD7) and the accelerometer. The radar testing revealed angular limitations aligning with the specifications in the data sheet, which confirms that detection reliability drops off at ±80° horizontally. During testing, we observed that vertical detection was limited to a 30° coverage range, as specified in the data sheet. To better understand these boundaries, we conducted both indoor and outdoor tests across various distances and angles. Indoor tests showed limitations in obstacle detection, as the radar struggles to detect motion when obstructed by physical barriers (e.g., tables, computers, chairs), which is expected for this sensor type. The outdoor testing was divided into defined sectors (left, mid, right) and distances (1m, 3m, and 5m) Notably, the radar consistently picked up signals within the set parameters, but some sections (e.g., -60°, 3m, and -20°, 4.5m) showed intermittent detection issues that require further exploration, likely due to signal interference or sensitivity at certain angles.

For the accelerometer, we setup the code in C, which allowed detection of  initial movement data, indicating that the device is wired and communicating as expected. However, raw movement detection isn’t sufficient for the intended fall detection functionality, which requires more nuanced data handling to differentiate between minor movement and actual falls. Additional tuning is necessary to filter and threshold accelerometer signals to isolate patterns unique to falls. I anticipate that refining these settings will involve adjusting sensitivity thresholds and possibly implementing an averaging algorithm to reduce noise from incidental movements.

In preparation for the final demo, I ordered a white cane, which will help simulate real-world use cases which is emphasizing the practical safety applications of WalkGuard for visually impaired users.

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 am currently on schedule with my project. The website prototype is functioning as intended, and the hardware setup is progressing. I anticipate completing the necessary tweaks to the accelerometer in the coming days.

Upcoming Deliverables

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

I’ll focus on tuning sensitivity to detect falls accurately, adjusting settings to distinguish significant movement patterns from minor fluctuations. Also I aim to enhance our website’s functions and enable connection between our website and the rpi using api, considering both user’s phone and the device is using the same network. Finally I plan to map specific distance markers on the floor to standardize our testing parameters, allowing us to identify and potentially resolve inconsistencies in detection at certain angles or distances.

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 worked on these areas:

1. Website Development and GPS API Integration:
   • Continued coding the website’s interface, focusing on accessible design principles to enhance usability for visually impaired users. This included refining HTML layouts for clarity and ease of navigation.
   • Connected and configured GPS settings within our backend API to support real-time location logging with teammate. I am also working on integrating the Google Maps API to translate GPS coordinates into human-readable addresses (e.g., street names, building names) in JSON format with teammate, which will be essential for our web app’s location display feature.
2. Component Management:
   • Checked in with Quinn regarding the accelerometer component. However, due to an error, a GPS module was ordered instead. I will follow up to ensure the correct accelerometer is acquired.

Schedule

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

Due to a recent mix-up in ordering, the correct accelerometer component was not delivered. Instead, another GPS module was mistakenly ordered. This has set back the hardware integration timeline slightly, as the accelerometer is crucial for our system. I’ve coordinated with Quinn to reorder the correct part, and I am actively following up to ensure we receive it promptly. To mitigate any further delays, I plan to focus on testing and refining other aspects of the project that don’t rely on the accelerometer, such as API integrations and backend functionalities. I will also integrate manual fall alert activation in our web app. Once the correct component arrives, I will prioritize its setup and testing to catch up on any lost time. On the web development side, I’m on schedule with the accessible design updates, and the API integration for GPS location data is progressing as planned. The accelerometer delay and Google API complexities are two areas I’m actively managing. I’ll continue to monitor these issues closely and adjust our timeline as needed to maintain steady progress.

Upcoming Deliverables

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

For the upcoming week, I need to:

1. Accelerometer Integration: Once the correct component arrives, I will integrate it into our system, testing both connectivity and data transmission capabilities.
2. Google API Integration Completion: Finalize the Google Maps API integration to enable location details from GPS coordinates on the web app, enhancing usability.

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).

• • RPi4 Setup: This week, I set up and configuring the RPi4 for our project. I configured the image file onto the Raspberry Pi 4. I also configured the connection file, which now allows the Pi to connect to the CMU-DEVICE network. This enables our team to securely SSH into the RPi using the CMU-SECURE network.
  • Component Follow-Up: I reached out to Quinn regarding our missing accelerometer component. It was confirmed lost, and a replacement order has been placed, ensuring we will have the component on hand soon to continue development.
  • Website Design Refinements: After researching UI best practices tailored for visually impaired users, I refined our project’s website interface. Here are a few resources I and using:
    • User Experience App Design for Visually Impaired Elderly
    • An assistive mobile application i-AIM app with accessible UI implementation for visually-impaired and aging users
    • AI-Assisted UI Design for Blind and Low-Vision Creators
    • Designing user interface using user-centered design method on reproductive health learning for visual impairment teenagers
    • These adjustments aim to provide a more intuitive experience that aligns with accessibility guidelines.
  • Web Connection and Security Enhancements: I refined the backend connection by integrating Express as our web framework, chosen for its lightweight nature and scalability. For security, I choose to implement token-based authentication. This approach offers effective prevention against XSS and Cross-Site Request Forgery attacks.

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, I am on schedule with our planned timeline. Each task has been completed as anticipated. The only potential delay is awaiting the reordered accelerometer component, which I will track closely to prevent any disruption in our hardware development.

Upcoming Deliverables

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

For next week, I plan to:

• Integrate the accelerometer once it arrives, testing connectivity and data transmission.
• Further refine the website interface to align with accessibility standards based on user feedback.
• Begin initial tests on token-based authentication to verify its effectiveness in securing our application.

 

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 past week, I completed the design report sections for Introduction, Architecture/Principle of Operation, Project Management, Related Work, and Summary. For the Introduction, I researched the challenges faced by visually impaired individuals in urban environments, including hazards like cluttered sidewalks and unexpected obstacles. I outlined how WalkGuard is designed to address these challenges through advanced technologies like radar for obstacle detection and an accelerometer for fall detection. The goal is to enhance the independence of visually impaired users while reducing the burden on caregivers by providing real-time alerts. In the Architecture and Principle of Operation section, I detailed the technical design of the system, particularly focusing on how the radar sensor detects obstacles and how the accelerometer triggers emergency alerts. I explained how these components integrate with the Raspberry Pi 4, which processes the data and provides real-time feedback to users and caregivers. I also included specific calculations for radar signal processing and time-to-collision estimates. For Project Management, I outlined the team’s schedule and individual responsibilities, including system integration timelines and testing phases. I also identified potential risks, such as inaccurate fall detection or Bluetooth connectivity issues, and proposed mitigation strategies, ensuring that the project remains on track. In the Related Work section, I conducted research on similar assistive technologies, such as wearable devices using haptic feedback and ultrasonic sensors, highlighting their limitations. This research helped justify the selection of radar for WalkGuard, as it offers superior performance in all-weather conditions and longer detection ranges. The Summary section synthesized the key benefits of WalkGuard, emphasizing how it improves mobility for visually impaired individuals and provides peace of mind for caregivers. I also outlined future steps for enhancing the system through extensive field testing and iterative development. I also finished the website functionality that connects the system to send alerts to caregivers, as outlined in the project’s emergency alert system. I demonstrated this by integrating the connection on the WebApp that transmits the emergency alerts triggered by the system.

 

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, my progress is on schedule. I have completed the tasks planned for this week as indicated in our Gantt chart. To stay on track, I will begin working on the accelerometer integration next week as planned.

Upcoming Deliverables

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

• Start the accelerometer integration with the fall detection system to refine emergency alert accuracy.
• Ensure accurate emergency alerts with minimal false positives/negatives.
• Complete unit testing on the WebApp to ensure robust performance under various simulated fall detection scenarios.

 

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.

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.

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).

• • Set up WordPress Website: I configured our WordPress website and made sure that our platform is ready for content uploads and customization.
  • Submitted Orders for Accelerometer and GPS: I completed the research phase for selecting the most suitable accelerometer and GPS modules that meet our project’s requirements. I ensured the components would integrate with our Raspberry Pi 4 (RPi4) and leaving enough ports for other components while considering factors like compatibility, precision, and cost. Our chosen accelerometer is connected to RPi4 through I2C or SPI and GPS can be connected through USB. For the accelerometer, we prioritized features that enable immediate fall detection in case a user trips, while for the GPS, we focused on ensuring accurate location tracking, as we had previously encountered challenges using phone location services, which sometimes routed data through Google Cloud clusters instead of reflecting the user’s true position. I submitted the final component choices through the required Canvas Google form.
  • Designed the Layout for Website: I focused on brainstorming and drafting the initial layout for the Walk Guard website. The design process is still ongoing, with a primary focus on improving user experience, particularly for visually impaired individuals. Key aspects being considered include clear sections for product features, and an easy-to-use contact form. I’m exploring options for a homepage that provides an immediate understanding of the Walk Guard’s purpose, along with feature pages that highlight the product’s functionality and benefits. In terms of accessibility, I’m still deliberating on the best approach for incorporating features such as screen reader compatibility, high-contrast design, and large, easy-to-read fonts.
  • Slide Creation: I worked on the slide for our first presentation. Particularly Use Cases and Use Case Requirements. I researched on common problems visually impaired people face and statistical information that support our claim.

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 successfully completed all the tasks I set for this week. This includes finalizing the research for selecting the accelerometer and GPS components and submitting the orders accordingly. I also made significant progress on the initial layout design for the website, which remains an ongoing task.

To maintain momentum and stay on track, I plan to begin working on the next phase of the project, which involves setting up the ordered components once they arrive. This includes integrating the accelerometer and GPS with our system and performing initial tests to ensure compatibility with the Raspberry Pi 4. Additionally, I will collaborate with the team to begin creating the design presentation, ensuring that the layout, functionality, and accessibility features are effectively communicated.

Upcoming Deliverables

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

• Refine the website layout based on feedback from initial design drafts.
• Set up the accelerometer and GPS once items are received.