Author: joshuara

General Update

This week Josh spent time programming the esp to interface with the haptic motors and tuning motor placement on the hand. He also worked processing readings from multiple sensors at once and comparing them to a threshold value via ADC. Alex and Jubahed primarily worked on developing the android app in Android Studio, specifically on the overall architecture of the app and interactivity within the app (no connectivity to the wearable device yet). Also got version control working properly.

Risks and risk mitigation

A risk our project faces is reliability of Bluetooth over the two components of our project. Since we have yet to implement connectivity between the two components, we plan to mitigate this risk by

1. Starting Simple: Once the app is more fleshed out, we will test basic connectivity this week before adding more complex interactions. We will begin by ensuring that the ESP32 and the Android app can connect and exchange basic messages (like status messages or simple text).
2. Using Established Libraries: We won’t venture out to obscure Bluetooth connectivity methods, we will try to stick with ESP32’s BluetoothSerial library and Android Studio’s builtin Bluetooth API to prevent any low-level issues and hopefully ensure that any bugs we may have are purely high level (easier to fix).

 

overall design changes

Most design changes were finalized last week while writing the design report, this week we have been following the design set forth and have not found the need to make any major changes.

schedule

The schedule remains the same as we are on track.

GANTT Chart

General Update

This week, Josh, Alex, and Jubi produced a design report detailing the use-cases, requirements, trade-off-analyses,  implementation details and more.

Design Report

Risks and risk mitigation

One potential risk is identified in the sensor amplifier circuit. Our goal is to amplify the sensor output to enhance our systems force-reading precision by providing a larger voltage range for the sensor output. Failure to obtain fine-grain readings may result in innacurate readings, which may fire alarms unecessarily or fail to fire alarms upon force-threshold excession. To mitigate this, we are working to determine the best amplifier circuit model (gain, phase, etc.) to obtain sufficient sensor output ranges with respect to our power constraints.

overall design changes

Instead of the STM32F4E Nucleo Board, we will be utilizing the ESP-WROOM-32 board as our controller because of its size advantages, built-in peripherals (more ADCs, Bluetooth), and ease-of-use via Arduino ESP32 libraries, as compared to bare-metal development on the STM.

schedule

The schedule remains the same as we are on track.

GANTT Chart

Guidance Questions

Part A. Global FactoRS written by Alexander

Our product aims to be used by climbers of all skill levels, regardless of prior experience. As an injury prevention device, our device should be accessible to all users, otherwise it would not achieve our goal of protecting the health of all climbers. As a result, we want our system (consisting of both the wearable device and android app) to be as straightforward to use as possible, with little room for confusion on the part of the user. We achieve this by ensuring that the wearable device is sturdy and has clearly marked labels to indicate how it should be worn to best prevent pulley injuries. Additionally, the app is designed to show the climber the most important information first, while providing an experience that is easy to navigate and adjust to the user’s preferences. Additionally, a lack of biomechanical knowledge should not inhibit the user’s ability to correctly adjust their own alarm thresholds, so we have included a questionnaire which will assist the user by suggesting alarm thresholds based on their responses to carefully selected questions. 

Climbing is a sport which can take place both indoors and outdoors. As a result, the environment in which our device is used must be considered and accounted for in our design. It is important to note that climbing is inherently rigorous, especially on the fingers, so our device will need to be able to withstand physical wear and tear exerted by the climbing wall. Our initial goal is for this device to be used in indoor climbing, where there are less outside factors that could impact the device’s effectiveness (dirt, wind, temperature, sand, water). Ideally, our product is meant to provide protection for climbers both indoors and outdoors, and as a result, geographic location of the climber could impact the durability and effectiveness of the device. We will consider the extremes of these factors during testing. One more thing to note is that outdoor climbers are often in locations where there is little to no internet connection. We solve this problem by sending data from the wearable device to the mobile app (and vice-versa) via Bluetooth, which can be used at any geographic location regardless of internet strength.

Part B. Cultural FactoRS written by joshua

One aspect of climbing culture that our product solution slightly pushes the boundary of acceptable on is the notion that the hands must be bare while climbing. Most climbers would agree with the idea that “a glove could never be as good as a really exceptional climber’s hands are” or “strengthening your hands is what climbing is all about”. This is a mindset common in rock climbers. Unfortunately, our product does cover a small portion of the hand, in particular the area under the finger joints. As a result, climbers at first may be hesitant to utilize our product, however, one of our product’s goals is to emphasize the utility of relatively unobtrusive on-hand climbing gear.

Our product aims to broaden the horizons of climbers with their regard to on-hand climbing gear by demonstrating its benefits (safety, healthcare costs) and minimized drawbacks (obtrusiveness, taking away the ‘rawness’ of climbing). In all, our product aims to eliminate the cultural mindset of “not going bare-handed is bad/weird”, by demonstrating that it is actually very beneficial and not too different!

part C. Environmental FactoRS Written by jubahed

Our product’s main consideration of environmental factors is that it is ineffective towards the environment. Most climbing gear, depending on how it is used, can have adverse effects on the environment. Some examples are improper disposal of gear material like nylon and aluminum mid-climb, climbing chalk altering the pH of rocks and harming organisms, and the production of rock-climbing shoes emitting more carbon dioxide than the rest of the gear. In contrast, our product aims to have zero effect on the surrounding environment by using eco-friendly fabric, being securely strapped to the individual to avoid accidental disposals, and using zero chemicals to avoid potential harm to surrounding organisms. The need our product solution fills is the lack of eco-friendly gear in the field. By introducing gear like our product, we can emphasize this alternative of eco-friendly climbing products and move the field towards a more eco-friendly rock-climbing experience.

General update

1. This week we were able to test the A301-100 sensor and identify that it will be a viable component for our product, further testing is required.  We also have performed research into the biomechanics of our device in regards to sensor placement. We also performed a design review and worked on a presentation desribing our review.

POtential risks and risk management

1. We plan to use the 316040001 vibration motor as the haptic for our system. In the case where this motor is too aggressive or too subtle, we may need to redesign the alarm of our system. In this case, we will utilize another method of alarm via noise, or search for more suitable motors. Other factors that will influence this potential redesign are motor current and supply voltage, as our system will limited on resources. We will perform a trade-off analysis of our options accordingly to determine the choice.

Overall design changes

1. Based on the results of our sensor testing this week, no design changes will be necessary. Next week, the haptic sensors will come in and we will determine if they will be suitable for our device.

Initial Schedule

1. No updates have been made to our schedule, we remain on schedule as of this status report.

CLIMB Gantt chart

Additional Week-specific Items

Part A (Alexander)

Our product is designed with one goal in mind: to ensure the personal safety of climbers. This applies to both the mental and physical well being of the user. Since our product aims to help climbers prevent and rehabilitate from pulley injuries, there are several clear health, safety and welfare considerations that we made. Pulley injuries can be (and often are) incredibly painful, especially when they are severe Grade III or Grade IV ruptures, which are injuries in which the pulley itself is fully disconnected from the tendon. Recovery from these injuries requires surgery and months of rehabilitation and is a significant detriment to the victim’s overall health and wellbeing. Since our product is an injury prevention device, it will be beneficial to the safety of climbers who use it. An additional use case for which it can be used is in the rehabilitation of climbers who have suffered a pulley injury. As they ease back into climbing with partial physical ability, our device aims to be able to set lower thresholds so that the climber can avoid reinjuring themselves, thus ensuring their physical safety and wellbeing as they recover. 

There are also several psychological considerations we made in the course of designing our product. By having a device which will alarm users when they are approaching dangerous force distributions on their fingers, users who are anxious about climbing can have assurance that they will be physically safe. This could be especially important to both new climbers who are anxious about the seemingly dangerous activity of bouldering as well as experienced climbers who have previously experienced pulley injuries and are thus aware and afraid of reinjury and the pain and rehabilitation that goes along with it. Finally, being scared or stressed on the wall can increase the danger associated with climbing, since smart decision making is key in this type of activity, so our device can help users be worried about one less thing while climbing and thus increase the psychological and physical safety of the climber. Overall, our product aims to keep users at peak physical and psychological condition and keep members of the climbing community healthy and safe.

Part B (Joshua)

During rehabilitation or injury-based-suspension, climbers rarely visit the climbing gym, nor do they go on outdoor climbing excursions as often. Unfortunately, this not only results in a pause of one’s favorite hobby and/or career (professional sport climbing ie. Olympic), it also steals away a social outlet. Typically, it is easier for one to meet others over shared interests, this is what makes a social outlet beneficial for making new connections. And when a climber loses this social outlet, they’re either forced to find another, or wait until they can use it again. CLIMB aims to mitigate this scenario. No climber should have to suspend themselves from the climbing gym or their outdoor excursions with friends. By preventing the most common injury in climbers (pulley injuries), our product aims to create a world where climbers don’t have to worry about an accident taking away their main social outlet.

Besides this scenario, our product does not have any other social influence. Our product’s main use-case is for pulley-injury prevention and rehabilitation in rock climbers. The only social implication of a pulley-injury is the indefinite suspension from a favored social outlet. This product does not meet the needs of other social factors because it specifically aims to improve an individual’s safety and welfare, regardless of social standing.

Part C (Jubahed)

There are many ways that this product can make economic impacts via its production, distribution and/or consumption. One main scenario that comes to mind is the financial incentives on the side of a fitness business, more specifically a gym that offers climbing services or a club/society for climbers. Through the widespread use of our product, these businesses can more easily attract new customers, as well as retain existing ones. Firstly, because our device is aimed toward injury mitigation, the potential fear of getting hurt through climbing will lessen, therefore making interested people more likely to make the jump toward purchasing a membership. Secondly, many climbers may consider quitting or significantly reducing their frequency to climb if injured. However, with increased ease of rehabilitation through our product, I can see this injury window being smaller, therefore encouraging climbers to retain their relevant memberships to these gyms.

Other economic benefits through our product are related to the broader society, outside of the fitness / personal wellness industry. Firstly, by simplifying and increasing access to reliable rehabilitation for injured individuals, we could potentially lessen the financial load with respect to healthcare services. So, an injured person can save money by needing less professional rehabilitation. Also, because this product could shorten the rehabilitation process, an injured individual could end up needing less time off from their day-to-day work, potentially increasing their economic productivity and prosperity.