Pit to Palm

Prototype circuit
Glove assembly
Debugging our program using the haptic feedback
3d printing a battery case unique to our design
Sacrificial toothbrushes
Team behind the wheel

Inspiration

We were inspired by the incredible challenge F1 drivers face in making split second decisions while controlling a vehicle capable of moving hundreds of meters in just a few seconds. Their visual and auditory channels are 100% saturated. F1 drivers are flooded with data coming from all directions but can't afford to look away from the track. An engineer's voice in their ear is just more noise in an already chaotic environment. We asked: 'What's the most under-utilized sense in the cockpit?' The answer was touch. Our goal was to give drivers a silent sixth sense that delivers critical data directly to the driver's skin in a way that wouldn't cause unnecessary distractions.

What it does

We built the "bridge" between data and driver by building a smart haptic glove that translates complex race alerts into simple, unmistakable vibrations. We have perfectly synched our haptic glove to a video demonstrating real scenarios that F1 racers face to mimic a simulated environment. You'll feel a rival gaining as the vibration gets stronger, a unique pattern notifying you to Pit, and a hard jolt for a crash.

How we built it

Our glove is a self-contained wearable device centered around an ESP32 microcontroller, which was powered by a 9V battery connected to an Eelegoo power mb v2 to reduce the voltage output. The ESP32 hosts a Wi-Fi web server, listening for commands from our computer acting as the master communication device. Our computer was used to wirelessly send PWM instructions to manipulate the intensity and duration of the vibration feedback based on the scenarios we showed. To safely drive the salvaged 1.5V motor without damaging the ESP32, we built a separate power circuit using a 1.5V AA battery, NPN transistor, and Flyback diode. As for the actual wearable device, we purchased a mechanic glove that closely resembled a real heavy duty racing glove used by F1 racers and cut a hole within a thin layer of the glove to let the vibrating motor rest comfortably right above the metacarpals. The circuit and external batteries were then neatly taped in a compact manner using electrical tape to and taped on top of the outer layer of the gloves above the metacarpals.

Challenges we ran into

For this project we were faced with the immediate challenge of missing the most critical component to our design. The vibration motor used for haptic feedback! With no vibration motors at the MLH hardware lab, all local hardware stores closed, and next-day shipping being our only option, we demonstrated our problem-solving skills by salvaging a 1.5V motor from a Colgate 360 electric toothbrush. Our next big challenge came with our understanding of the ESP32 microcontroller. No one in our team had prior experience using this device, so when we first hooked up the 3.3 volts from our ESP32 to our vibration motor we were stumped when the motor would not budge. After going through extensive trial and error we realized that the ESP32 successfully creating enough voltage to charge the motor, but was unable to produce sufficient current to power the motor. Our solution was to power the motor using the 1.5v battery that was miraculously included with the Colgate 360 electric toothbrush. This was the precise breakthrough we needed to get our project on track to succeed.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

We are incredibly proud of the fact that we were able to push through and make creative solutions to all of the many hardware issues that we came across throughout this project. We're proud that we literally "hacked" a solution from a few common household items and a complex microcontroller devices that we have never worked with before. Most importantly, seeing the final demo work perfectly with the glove's vibrations ramping up in perfect sync with the F1 video was the accomplishment we're most proudest of.

What we learned

This project provided invaluable experience in rapid prototyping and full-stack hardware development. Our biggest technical takeaway was in finding creative solutions to hardware problems in the most unlikely of places. It is hard to prepare for a project with this many moving parts, but when you start to think about engineering with an open mind you begin to realize that for every problem there are a multitude of solutions. Getting the chance to brainstorm these solutions as a team gave us the chance to also learn more about each other and the way that all of us process these challenges to make the best product possible. Even if that means we have to tear down a toothbrush or two along the way!

What's next for Pit to Palm

We have only scratched the surface for the potential that a device like this has. Our immediate goal is to move beyond our pre-scripted demo and integrate with a real-time data source, such as using live telemetry API to keep track of massive data pools from HPC. This would make it a true, dynamic training tool that could replace the need for slower driver to Engineering crew communication. We also plan to shrink the hardware from its current prototype form to a much more lighter and compact device.