Google Drive Video Link: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1slCxHnC99cY0ZxT4AU_IfaJpNRjywe9E?usp=sharing
Our hack for Make UofT 2022 is an obstacle detection and safety system designed especially for visually impaired individuals and senior citizens. The efficacy of the system will be prominent in the surroundings of unrest and unsafety, where the safety of the aforementioned parties is at risk. Our project is called Jerome.
The functions of Jerome are simple. It detects obstacles in the line of view of the user, detects the presence of gaseous irritants in the surroundings of the user, and alerts the user using audio output. An untested extension of the prototype includes the detection of rapid temperature increase and a wireless relay of information to the user’s mobile device using Bluetooth as well.
The components used for the current prototype include an ultrasonic sensor to detect physical objects in the user’s line of view, a gas sensor to detect the presence of gases in the user’s environment, and Breadboard, Arduino Uno , Header Pins, Soldering Kit, Jumper Cables, Wire Stand, Hookup Wire Box, Battery Case and AA Cells for the circuit assembly. Additional components used were FTDI to USB Converter, HC-05 Bluetooth Chip, Non-contact Infrared Sensor for prototype 2.0, but these were not implemented successfully within the given time frame.
The team faced several challenges initially with the circuit operations, especially to do with the testing of the sensors. Code had to be rewritten several times and the sensors recalibrated such that they fulfilled the requirements of the project. The mechanism of the project is simple: if there is an obstacle blocking the user within a range of 50 centimeters, a computerized audio alert will play so that the user is informed of the obstacle. If copious amounts of any irritant gas, such as chloroacetophenone is present in the surroundings, the audio alert will also be played. The reaction time is rapid and effective, and possible extensions to the design include the relaying of wireless signals to the user’s mobile device.
We are proud of the fact that we figured out the threshold values for the gas sensor through experimentation with combustion of several materials. Then we also figured out how to send the processed data to the Android device running our app Zini. Zini is the savior!
A lot of learning came when we failed to integrate the TMP006 sensor as we had to study about I2C communications and Adafruit Library for the sensor.
Adding a heartbeat sensor, body temp sensor, and an accelerometer to detect falls and other health issue is our next step.
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