S3 Technologies Presents

1
S3 Technologies Presents

• Tactile Vision Glove for The Blind

S3 TechnologiesShaun MarlattSam ZahedSina
AfroozeENSC 340 Presentation December 17, 2004
2
Overview

• Meet The Team
• Introduce Product
• Purpose and Market
• Marketability
• Technical Aspects
• Wrap Up

3
Meet The Team

• S3 Technologies
• Group Leader and CEO
• Shaun Marlatt
• CFO
• Sam Zahed
• COO
• Sina Afrooze

4
Purpose and Market

• Problem
• Blind People need a device to help them see
• Market
• 104,187 Visually impaired, blind and deafblind
  persons in Canada. (CNIB Statistic, 2002)
• Current Solutions
• Walking Sticks
• Seeing Eye Dogs
• Laser Equipped Walking Sticks (3000 US)
• Electronic Eye (under development, risk of
  infection)

5
The S3 Solution

• Tactile Vision Glove
• Idea Converts vision into a sense of touch
• Simple, low-cost
• Goal to use off the shelf components
• Software solution minimize part count/cost
• Easy to use
• Simple interface

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Features

• Multiple Sensors and Actuators
• Allows edge detection and direction of motion
• 4 Operation Modes - 2 Power Modes, 2 Vibration
  Modes
• Low Power, Normal Power, Absolute Distance,
  Differential Distance
• User Controlled Gain adjustment
• From 0 to 200

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Features

• Audio Feedback
• 1 Beep Absolute/Differential Mode Toggle
• 2 Beeps Normal/Power Save Mode Toggle
• 3 Beeps Normal/50 Vibration Mode Toggle

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Operation Modes

• Absolute Intensity Mode
• Maximum vibration for about 15cm and no vibration
  for greater than 150cm.
• Can detect the shape of the object
• Reduced Intensity Mode
• Maximum vibration intensity goes to half
• Used When in low power mode
• Can be set/reset by the user

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Operation Modes Cont

• Differential Mode
• Time average of distance measured by sensors
• No vibration feedback if distance not changed
• With placement of new object, intensity goes high
  and down back to zero
• Reduced power mode
• Default in case of low battery supply
• Mode change to diff/low intensity mode

10
Marketability

• Market Potential
• Blind people need something accurate, cheap and
  easy to use
• No such a device available in market
• Production cost
• Inexpensive off-the-shelf components
• Prototype parts cost 150
• Suggested Retail Price
• Initial market price lt 300
• Even cheaper when mass produced

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Operation Concept
Sensors
Actuators
Controller
Object Reflects infrared
Distance Measuring Sensors
Tactile Feedback to User
Micro Controller
Vibrating Motors
User Interface
System Overview

• Sensors measure distance
• PIC calculates the vibration intensity
• Motors output the calculated intensity
• User controls the operation mode

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Sensors

• Only one sensor on at a time to reduce power
  consumption and avoid crosstalk
• Each sensor on for 50ms
• Required for device stabilization
• Longest time obligation in system
• Results in sampling rate of 50ms
• Max output 2.85Volts at 15Cm
• Connected to three AD channels

13
Microcontroller

• Samples sensors 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

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Microcontroller Signal Path Diagram
Sensor
Signal Conversion (AD -gt PWM Duty)
Downsample
AD
A/D Mode Select
User Gain Setting
0
0
PWM Duty
Gain
Upsample
MUX
DEMUX
12
1
1
8
PWM Override
2xABS
8
FIR HP Filter
Deadband Generator
Sign Bit
15
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

16
Budget Comparison

• Proposed Budget
• 190
• Actual Cost
• 205 (8 More than predicted)
• Funding (ESSEF)
• 300
• Profit ?
• 95

17
Timeline Comparison

• Task
• Research Complete
• Preliminary Design Complete
• Initial Prototype Built
• Testing and Debugging
• Demo

• Proposed Actual
• Oct 10 Oct 17
• Oct 20 Oct 31
• Oct 30 Nov 30
• Nov 20 Dec 8
• Dec 1 Dec 17

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Future Developments

• Package the device and design an actual glove
• Improve the resolution for better mapping between
  distance and tactile feeling
• Create user manual

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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

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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.
• Dont be afraid of mistakes, try to learn from
  them

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Conclusion

• It is a smart idea
• It is a well designed product
• We got it working?

22
Demonstrations

• Operation modes demonstration
• Normal and Low Power Modes
• Absolute Distance Mode
• Differential Mode
• Gain Control

23
Demonstrations

• Performance Demonstration
• Intensity Versus Distance
• Differential Mode (-ve and ve distance change
  representation)
• Edge Detection