S3 Technologies Presents

Tactile Vision Glove for The Blind

S3 Technologies:Shaun MarlattSam Zahed

Sina Afrooze

ENSC 340 Presentation: December 17, 2004

Overview

Meet The TeamIntroduce Product

Purpose and MarketMarketabilityTechnical Aspects

Wrap Up

Meet The Team

S3 TechnologiesGroup Leader and CEO

Shaun Marlatt

CFOSam Zahed

COOSina Afrooze

Purpose and Market Problem

Blind People need a device to help them ‘see’

Market104,187 Visually impaired, blind and deafblind persons

in Canada. (CNIB Statistic, 2002)

Current SolutionsWalking SticksSeeing Eye Dogs Laser Equipped Walking Sticks ($3000 US)Electronic Eye (under development, risk of infection)

The S3 Solution

Tactile Vision GloveIdea – Converts vision into a sense of touch

Simple, low-costGoal – to use off the shelf componentsSoftware solution – minimize part count/cost

Easy to useSimple interface

Features

Multiple Sensors and ActuatorsAllows edge detection and direction of motion

4 Operation Modes - 2 Power Modes, 2 Vibration ModesLow Power, Normal Power, Absolute Distance,

Differential Distance

User Controlled Gain adjustmentFrom 0 to 200%

Features

Audio Feedback1 Beep = Absolute/Differential Mode Toggle2 Beeps = Normal/Power Save Mode Toggle3 Beeps = Normal/50% Vibration Mode

Toggle

Operation ModesAbsolute Intensity Mode

Maximum vibration for about 15cm and no vibration for greater than 150cm.

Can detect the shape of the object

Reduced Intensity ModeMaximum vibration intensity goes to halfUsed When in low power modeCan be set/reset by the user

Operation Modes Cont…Differential Mode

Time average of distance measured by sensors No vibration feedback if distance not changedWith placement of new object, intensity goes

high and down back to zero

Reduced power modeDefault in case of low battery supplyMode change to diff/low intensity mode

MarketabilityMarket Potential

Blind people need something accurate, cheap and easy to use

No such a device available in market

Production costInexpensive off-the-shelf componentsPrototype parts cost: $150

Suggested Retail PriceInitial market price < $300Even cheaper when mass produced

Operation Concept

Sensors measure distancePIC calculates the vibration intensityMotors output the calculated intensityUser controls the operation mode

Vibrating Motors

Tactile Feedbackto User

Object Reflects infrared

User Interface

Distance Measuring Sensors

MicroController

System Overview

Sensors ActuatorsController

Sensors Only one sensor on at a time to reduce power

consumption and avoid crosstalk

Each sensor on for 50msRequired for device stabilizationLongest time obligation in systemResults in sampling rate of 50ms

Max output 2.85Volts at 15Cm Connected to three AD channels

MicrocontrollerSamples sensor’s readings through AD

Manipulates data in “Control Signal Path”

Outputs the calculated duty cycle as a PWM signal to motor drivers.

Adjusts for any control buttons pushed by the user

Microcontroller Signal Path Diagram

Downsample Signal Conversion(AD -> PWM Duty)

FIR HP Filter

2xABS

AD

Gain Upsample

Sensor

PWM Duty

PWM Override

Deadband Generator

A/D Mode Select User Gain Setting

8

8

8

810

88

12

8

8

Sign Bit

1

0

1

0

MU

X

DE

MU

X

Actuators

Each motor on, when its corresponding sensor detects an object

Max vibration intensity depends on mode of operation

Max vibration intensity can be set by user

Budget Comparison

Proposed Budget$190

Actual Cost$205 (8% More than predicted)

Funding (ESSEF)$300

Profit $95

Timeline Comparison

TaskResearch Complete

Preliminary Design Complete

Initial Prototype Built

Testing and Debugging

Demo

Proposed ActualOct 10 Oct 17

Oct 20 Oct 31

Oct 30 Nov 30

Nov 20 Dec 8

Dec 1 Dec 17

Future Developments

Package the device and design an actual glove

Improve the resolution for better mapping between distance and tactile feeling

Create user manual

Lessons Learned

Behind a successful product is a smart idea developed by extensive research

Divide the project into tasks that can be completed by each group member

Plan ahead to achieve good timing

Lessons Learned

To design efficiently, search for and think of “the best solution”.

The simpler solution is better. (Less time to implement, less chance for error, less expensive).

Always order extra parts

Use a modular design approach for assembly code.

Don’t be afraid of mistakes, try to learn from them

Conclusion

It is a smart idea

It is a well designed product

We got it working

Demonstrations

Operation modes demonstrationNormal and Low Power ModesAbsolute Distance ModeDifferential ModeGain Control

Demonstrations

Performance DemonstrationIntensity Versus DistanceDifferential Mode (-ve and +ve distance change

representation)Edge Detection