Tag: Science and Engineering

G9 Engineering Project C & I

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Progress Tracking:

Box (Wiring):

Prototype Box:

Prototype (Light testing/without heart rate monitor):

Final product test:

Box (Wiring and Arduino (interior)):

Materials Used:

  • Arduino Uno
  • Jumpwires
  • OLED Screen
  • Pulse sensor
  • Wood
  • Cardboard
  • Computer

Planning:

Week 1:

On the first day of forming our group, George and I began researching some products and issues that already existed in real life in order to narrow down our ideas to one. I mainly focused on health-related products such as smart bands, sweat monitors, footstep trackers, etc.

Week 2:

When the idea research stage was complete we finalized our idea and decided to make a heart rate sensor. Because the monitor required us to code and use the Arduino it made it a challenge to complete the device due to the lack of knowledge we had on how the Arduino works. But eventually while researching some guides on how the Arduino works and how the device is built, we had a better understanding of how to use an Arduino.

Building:

Prototype:

During the making of our prototype device, we began our research to improve our understanding of how the Arduino UNO works. During this process, we had to consider which materials were required for the prototype and what function each material had. Because our materials had not yet arrived, we began making the prototype heart rate monitor using an LED light. We began assembling the prototype setting up the LED light but left the OLED screen and pulse monitor out (materials not arrived). It took us about 2 class periods to fully understand how to assemble and code for making the prototype. After the device was finished we built a cardboard prototype model of the box beforehand giving us a rough idea of what the final laser cut box would look like.

Final Product:

When the pulse sensor and the OLED screen had arrived we began assembling the heart rate monitor following the circuit diagram:

(Removing the buzzer)

Once the device was all linked up to the Arduino we began downloading the package required for the pulse sensor and the OLED screen on the Arduino app. Since the code for the device was provided online we uploaded the code to the Arduino and began testing. Surprisingly the device worked on the first try, although it wasn’t too accurate (uses light to track blood pulses). After a few trial runs with our peers, most of the time the device was accurately tracking the resting heart rate (60-105 bpm).

G9 Engineering Project D&P

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Product focus:

Health and Wellbeing

Ideas for the product (artistic, technical):

 

Product design finalists:

  • Mini portable monitor
  • Wristband monitor

Pulse Monitor Artistic Ideas:

  • Fridge magnet mount
  • Mini portable monitor
  • Wristband monitor
  • Finger clip pulse monitor
  • Phonecase mount
  • Keychain attachment
  • Pulse monitor app

 

How it relates to energy transfer:

Because this device requires a battery pack and a sensor that measures pulse rate through light it represents chemical energy being converted into electrical energy. The chemical reactions in a battery include the flow of electrons from one material to another, through an external circuit.

Portable Monitor (Prototype):

This design not only looks similar to a portable phone charger but what makes it better is that it is a bit small and c an be used as a keychain. For people who often lose items, using this kind of portable key chain can be very helpful. The device will be the tester for the final product just to make sure the pulse sensor works properly. (more info in designs below)

Tutorial link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQ-6MYrG3B8

Design 1:

Design 2 (Final):

Code for prototype:

Mini Portable (Final) :

Just like the portable monitor this monitor will be the final design for the project. Using an Arduino nano instead of an Arduino UNO helps save a lot of space because the nano is smaller in terms of size making it easier to handle. The only con of making this device is that the materials required are different than the materials used in the first design (Portable Monitor) using an Arduino nano instead of the UNO. (more info in the design below)

Code for device:

G9 Engineering Project D&I

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1. What problems or needs could be addressed in this product?

Health and Wellbeing

2. What examples of solutions to similar problems already exist that we can learn from?

  • With the covid pandemic still unstable, checking body temperature is crucial. Fever is one of your body’s first reactions to infection and is common in illnesses like influenza and COVID-19, so thermometers can do the job to report body temperature levels
  • For people who take heart medications, recording pulse rate and reporting it back to a doctor can help them learn whether your treatment is working. So a heart rate monitor is best to track heartbeat.
  • Good wellbeing is fundamental to our overall health, it affects how well we can overcome difficulties and achieve what we want to in life. Wellness devices or meditation devices help people train their brains toward mental focus and a calm mind by allowing the user to play brain games and relax with guided meditations.

3. What market is targeted? (who needs this kind of product?)

  • People who require heart rate monitors to track heart rate either for medical or athletic reasons. I could create a heart rate watch or a portable pulse checker just to track heart rate so the user can clearly see their heart rate anytime.
  • People who require wellness treatment. My device could entertain the user, it could be related to wellbeing activities (ex. breathing exercises)
  • My device not only could be related to human health but how the environment affects human health (ex. water purification device, using food waste and turning it into energy)

4. Problems or limitations of the project

  • limited time of 2 weeks to complete project
  • limited knowledge on how some materials work (Arduino, breadboard, jump wires)
  • limited resources (may need to order materials outside of school)
  • If a 3D printer is needed it may take a long time to print pieces
  • creating 20 divergent ideas
  • Understanding what energy is being transferred

5. Prescendents:

Sweat Sensor:

Wearable sweat sensors combine the benefits of noninvasive sweat collection with wearable real-time measurement to create a powerful platform for monitoring a variety of biochemical components of sweat that are linked to physiological circumstances. By tracking how fast the sweat moves through the microfluidic, the sensors can report how much a person is sweating or their sweat rate.

Pros:

  • useful for medical use
  • handy, portable and does not require any heavy gear
  • It relies on Bluetooth connection so wires will not be needed
  • reports sweat information from a device with a screen making it easy for the user to see the current sweat status easily

Cons:

  • may have trouble connecting to Bluetooth
  • might be hard to make this type of device in under 2 weeks time
  • lack of materials at ISB

Heart Rate Monitor:

 

The electrical signals from your heart are measured by heart rate monitors. They’re sent to a data center or a wristwatch. Many models allow you to examine data on a computer, which allows you to evaluate your workout and better comprehend the benefits of your training. It also can be used for medical purposes, where heart rate patterns may be useful for doctors to check if the person’s body is healthy.

Pros:

  • handy, portable and does not require any heavy gear
  • useful for exercising or checking heart rate patterns
  • easy to transfer data onto the computer
  • many people already use this kind of device

Cons:

  • Heart rate monitors may not be accurate
  • the technology required may be hard to find
  • Lack of materials

 

Stress/Emotion Tracker:

A stress tracker is a device that keeps track of physiological stress indicators. The majority of these devices are designed to monitor your heart. They track your heart rate and provide feedback using heart rate monitors. Other methods of measuring heart rate activities have recently been developed by wearables designers.