Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Team 1: NODnGO
February 24, 2020
A wearable device is an apparatus for all age groups that measures and communicates
data to the end user and/or second parties. The NODnGO falls into this category as a wired
earpiece whose primary function is to pilot a motorized wheelchair via the user’s head
movements which are captured through an orientation sensor. For a certain subset of the
population, a motorized wheelchair is their primary form of independent transportation.
However, not all paraplegics, quadriplegics, and amputees are capable of using the conventional
method of a joystick to control the machine due to limited or inexistent hand mobility. Thus, a
more universal solution, like the NODnGO, opens up the possibility of independent
transportation for thousands.
If one were to place an individual’s head at the origin of a three-dimensional grid, the
wheelchair begins to operate once one or two of the base coordinates are sufficiently modified.
According to human intuition, leaning one’s head forward propels the wheelchair corresponding
to the degree of the tilt below the horizontal; the exact opposite is true for the reverse. The
wheelchair may be steered right and left using the aforementioned logic. An additional feature
involves the use of sudden changes in acceleration/position in an attempt to gauge whether the
user was ejected from the wheelchair and requires assistance to be notified. In the future, a
feature will be incorporated where the consumer will be able to deactivate the device by shaking
their head from left to right in the horizontal place three times, with the same action being used
to reactivate the apparatus.
The design of the NODnGO was developed with certain key criteria in mind that would
determine the long-term vitality of the product. In order to withstand prolonged daily use, the
device must be durable and biocompatible; prolonged contact and accidental mishandling must
not result in the device’s failure to operate. Therefore, the device will constitute of carbon-fibre
polymer (CFR-PEEK) which provides superior toughness and wear resistance while a
silicon-rubber elastomer enables the essential elements of adjustability and comfort. Since the
target demographic of this contraption lacks a great deal of an average individual’s physical
capabilities, one of the device’s prerequisites is ease of operability, which it achieves by
requiring only head gestures that one learns in their infancy. Accurate data acquisition and
communication is a requirement of any gadget, particularly in those where minute adjustments
result in monumental reactions. Hence, not only are the real-time coordinates of the user’s head
taken into consideration, but the angle at which the head sits relative to a pre-calibrated
horizontal plane in the aim of providing safe transit.
Although the current variant is a wired earpiece intended to be worn on the right ear to
pilot a wheelchair, the possibilities are endless for its alternative applications. Nonetheless, the
NODnGO in its current state will revolutionize the motorized wheelchair marketplace, making
them universally accessible to those whose lives would stand to benefit the most.
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Table of Contents
References ……………………………………………………………………………………….17
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Signed Academic Integrity Statement
The student is responsible for performing the required work in an honest manner, without
plagiarism and cheating. Submitting this work with my name and student number is a statement
and understanding that this work is my own and adheres to the Academic Integrity Policy of
McMaster University.
Student Number:400251087
The student is responsible for performing the required work in an honest manner, without
plagiarism and cheating. Submitting this work with my name and student number is a statement
and understanding that this work is my own and adheres to the Academic Integrity Policy of
McMaster University.
The student is responsible for performing the required work in an honest manner, without
plagiarism and cheating. Submitting this work with my name and student number is a statement
and understanding that this work is my own and adheres to the Academic Integrity Policy of
McMaster University.
The student is responsible for performing the required work in an honest manner, without
plagiarism and cheating. Submitting this work with my name and student number is a statement
and understanding that this work is my own and adheres to the Academic Integrity Policy of
McMaster University.
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Summary of Design Objectives
The design of the “NODnGO” was formulated with 5 key criteria in mind that would
determine the long-term viability of the product. In order to withstand prolonged daily use, the
device must be durable and biocompatible; prolonged physical contact and accidental
mishandling must not result in the device’s failure to operate as intended. Nevertheless, a piece
of wearable equipment lacking in comfort will be incapable of being in use long enough to
challenge its structural integrity, thus adding comfort to the list of integral elements. Since the
target demographic of this contraption lacks a great deal of physical capabilities, one of the
device’s prerequisites is ease of operability, without which it becomes useless. Accurate data
acquisition and communication is a requirement of any gadget where minute adjustments result
in large reactions.
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increase comfort and friction against the earpiece and the skin. The added friction will prevent
the earpiece from slipping on the ear [3]. Since the earpiece is being worn for long periods of
time, it may begin to pose some discomfort to the user. To minimize this discomfort, the
stem-portion of the earpiece will be made of a moldable silicone rubber that can be maneuvered
to comfortably fit the ear. Silicone rubbers have good thermal stability, water resistance, and
flexibility. They also have low chemical reactivity and low-toxicity, so they won’t react with
materials housed in the earpiece and will prevent irritation on the skin [4]. For the earpiece to be
completely sustainable, it should be water-resistant so that it can be worn outdoors and so that it
is also sweat-repellent. This can be achieved by using polymers and rubbers to coat the piece
such as the aforementioned ones.
The earpiece will also, of course, contain an orientation sensor that is able to pick up on
the head movements of the user and steer the wheelchair accordingly. The sensor will be located
on the top of the earpiece so that it can detect the largest range of motion. The sensor must be
small enough to be housed in the earpiece, but large enough so that it can adequately carry out
the functions that are expected of it. The orientation sensor connects via wires to the wheelchair
so that Bluetooth may be avoided. Bluetooth connections may sometimes fail to pair and
experience recurring dropped connections [5]. These mishaps can be incredibly dangerous if they
occur when the user is not able to actively seek help (i.e the user is navigating through a street
alone, etc).
In summary, NODnGO is carefully designed to perform for patients using motorized
wheelchairs with the hopes of making day-to-day tasks easier for such patients. NODnGO makes
it so that the patients can simply nod their heads, and go!
Market Analysis
While the method used to communicate information to the wheelchair via the NODnGO
is not seen very often in the market, there are similar products available that achieve the same
function. A popular alternative is the head array wheelchair attachment which is produced by a
variety of companies such as Permobil [6] and Sunrise Medical [7]. The head array is an
attachment that sits behind and surrounds the user’s head from different sides. By pressing their
head towards a specific point on the array, the user instructs the wheelchair to move in that
direction. Head arrays and the NODnGO are both products that utilize head movements to
control a wheelchair, however, each device uses a different method to do so. While the
NODnGO responds to head orientation and angles, the head array responds to applied pressure
by the user’s head. As a result, the NODnGO may be more intuitive to operate and allows for
easier sudden changes in direction. With the NODnGO, users simply need to tilt their heads in a
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different direction as opposed to moving their whole head towards a specific side to maneuver.
However, because the NODnGO constantly monitors head orientation, unintended commands
such as nodding during a conversation can initiate a response from the wheelchair. Because the
head array responds to applied force, this product does not face this issue. This aspect of the
NODnGO would require the device to have a parking mode in which the wheelchair becomes
unresponsive to commands. This will be discussed in further detail in the design critique section.
However, with the head array, the user must not rest their head back when stationary, while the
NODnGO allows for such action as leaning on a headrest will not change the head orientation
sufficiently to elicit a response. Certain add-ons to the head array can enable it to control other
entities such as a tablet. This feature does not seem to be easily achievable with the NODnGO.
The Wheelie by HOOBOX is another innovative product that allows patients with
minimal limb movement to control their wheelchairs [8]. The Wheelie is an add-on kit that
contains a camera which recognizes the user’s facial expressions and controls the wheelchair
accordingly. By recognizing the difference between a command and an arbitrary facial
expression, the Wheelie mitigates the problem of responding to an accidental response as in the
NODnGO and the head array. Unlike the NODnGO, this product requires no body sensors and
therefore decreases the chances of damage and accidental removal of the sensor. Because there is
no sensor directly on the user, this product requires a camera to be facing the user at all times
which can obstruct the view, be annoying, and take up space. Doing some research on the
product, it becomes clear that the specific facial expressions needed to operate the wheelchair
need to be very pronounced [9], which can become tiring to the user’s facial muscles after a short
period of time. Such expressions include maintaining raised eyebrows or large smiles. The
NODnGO requires only slight head movements that are effective in eliciting a response without
tiring the user. While the NODnGO, head array ,and Wheelie all achieve similar functions, it
seems that the Wheelie is most expensive due to the high-cost hardware and software required
for an effective product.
As a team, we have realized that there is a place for our product despite the presence of
other products on the market. During our design expo, a guest notified us that he had recently
been approached by a medical professional seeking an engineer to design a product through
which autistic children can operate their wheelchair via head movements. This was a very
exciting moment for the team as it helped to validate our work by showing us the importance of
and the effect that our product can have on the market and in the lives of many.
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Description of Design
The tangible prototype resembles an inverted G with a cable protruding out of the bottom
end. Although the current iteration of the prototype is intended to be worn on the user’s right ear,
a left ear variant may easily be produced simply by altering the placement of the button to the
opposite flat portion. A caretaker may use the button as an on/off switch when short pressed and
a reset switch when held down. The cable connects to a port of the wheelchair and draws power
from its battery to power the circuitry within the earpiece. The inner components of the standard
“NODnGO” consist of a circuit board which connects to the button and wire while also housing
the orientation sensor. Optionally, the user may choose the soon to be released “NODnGO Pro”
which also contains a speaker and a microphone that will demand the user whether they are ok
after detecting a fall. The device’s orientation sensor enables the wheelchair to be controlled via
head movements in the desired direction of travel; increasing the degree of depression and
elevation will increase the velocity while a triple right-left movement will disable the device and
put the wheelchair into parking mode.
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Description of Physical Computing Prototype:
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Figure 4: Physical Computing Prototype
The support frame features a ball and joint assembly so that it can pivot and
accommodate the movement that an orientation sensor requires. The base (bottom yellow
portion) is hollow and filled with rice to increase its weight. It also has a rounded ball on the tip
to serve as the support for the stand. The stand (green and yellow) houses the breadboard, pi, and
T-board. An additional yellow piece supports the orientation sensor itself. The stand and base fit
together so that the stand can be rotated on the base and the base is heavy enough to
accommodate the stand at any angle.
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Figure 5: The Assembled Support Frame
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Figure 8: Sensor Frame (CAD) Figure 9: Pi Housing Unit (CAD)
Design Verification
The physical computing prototype for the NODnGO relies on the change in angles and
the Y acceleration value measured by the orientation sensor. To start, the sensor will begin
gaining values of the x angle, z angle, and the y linear acceleration. Based on these angles, an
electrical wheelchair will be able to move. In the physical computing prototype, this movement
is symbolized by LED lights. To confirm that the physical computing prototype works, a thin
piece of colored tape is attached to the side of the housing tray as a reference point when
measuring the change in angles. When you hold a protractor aligned with the piece of tape, the
angle changes in the z plane can be visually confirmed. When tilting the tray to approximately 20
degrees down a green light turns on, indicating the user is moving forward. When tilting it
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downwards 20 degrees and approximately 30 degrees to the right, the green and right yellow
LED lights turn on. When tilting it 20 degrees forward 30 degrees to the left, the green and left
yellow LED lights turn on. And when tilting the tray 20 degrees backwards, the red light turns
on. The use of a protractor and reference tape allows for confirmation of the angles and the
ultimately the coding portion, as the activity of lights would correspond with the angle being
tried. The final task measures the linear acceleration to indicate if the user is falling if the linear
acceleration in the Y direction is greater than 8.5 m/s2 and less than -8.0 m/s2. If the acceleration
is within this range, a print state
Test Plan:
If sensor value == Not added to the list Not added to the list Pass
None
Task 1: Status
If empty lists have no Blue LED off Blue LED off Pass
values
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Task 2: Notification
Task 3: Escalation
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Right Yellow LED Right Yellow LED Pass
off off
If moving forward Left Yellow LED off Left Yellow LED off Pass
but change in x angle
does not meet above Green LED on Green LED on Pass
conditions Blue LED on Blue LED on Pass
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If button is pressed List of y acceleration List of y acceleration Pass
values is cleared values is cleared
Sample Calculations:
For example: let’s say the z_list (values of the z angles from the sensor) is:
z_list: [20, 39, 40, 43, 47, 44, 49]
If z_calibration_angle = 10 degrees
Based on the change in the z angle, since it is greater than 30 degrees, the green light will turn on
and the monitor will print: “Going forward”
In designing the NODnGO, there were many details regarding the specifics of the device
that we needed to discuss before proceeding with the project. An aspect of the design that was
prevalent within our initial design process was whether the earpiece should be wireless or wired.
A wireless earpiece would lower the risks of entanglement and uncomfortability, however, by
discussing with mentors we decided on a wired device that plugs in directly to the wheelchair.
As a result, the earpiece does not need to be Bluetooth compatible or fitted with batteries, which
would have posed as an issue if the user ran out of charge while operating, or forgot to charge
their piece. Having the earpiece directly attached to the wheelchair also reduces its chances of
being lost and keeps it in close proximity if it falls off the user accidentally.
Another discussion that we had during the preliminary stages of design is the user’s
ability to control the speed of the wheelchair by tilting their head downwards at steeper angles.
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We decided to restrict the user to one speed as higher speeds and tilting one’s head at steep
angles restricts sight and poses as a safety issue.
While the NODnGO is a great design, it does have some shortcomings. Our device
measures a change in angles from a calibration angle recorded when the device is powered on.
This method brings forth a flaw as movement of the wheelchair itself means the user will be
facing different directions over time, and therefore the sensor will measure undesired angle
readings. For example, if the user performs a 90-degree turn relative to the calibration angle, the
new forward direction relative to the user is recorded as 90-degrees by the sensor and will signal
the wheelchair to turn until the calibration angle is again met. Looking forward, this flaw can be
solved using a sensor that detects changes in angle relative to a stationary signal emitting device
on the wheelchair. As long as this device is stationary and itself moves with the wheelchair, the
measured angles are relative to the user’s orientation and pose no issue.
Another critique of the NODnGO is its inability to distinguish between an intentional and
unintentional head movements such as nodding during a conversation. Our team has considered
this aspect and feel that the best way to solve it is by introducing a parking mode which the user
can activate and deactivate by performing specific head movements. Within this parking mode,
the wheelchair would be unresponsive to head movements and allow for the user to complete
desired tasks without any issue. This feature would be custom designed for each user as patients
with slight hand movements may find pressing buttons to switch between modes easier than
tedious head movements. Due to the quality of our sensor, we were not able to integrate this idea
into our prototype.
It must be noted that the NODnGO does require a caregiver to place the earpiece on the
user and power on the device via a button on the earpiece. During the design of this device, it
was assumed that the patient has some sort of a caregiver around as most patients with similar
disabilities have aid. Evidently, while the NODnGO gives users a lot more independence, it does
not completely remove their dependence on caregivers.
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References
[1] K. L. M.D., M. Wollacott, J. Layton, A. Ozimek, and S. Stepp, “What Materials Are
Earphones Made of?,” Techwalla. [Online]. Available:
https://www.techwalla.com/articles/what-materials-earphones-made. [Accessed:
21-Feb-2020].
[2] “How Power Wheelchairs Work - Electric Wheelchair Manual,” Karman Healthcare.
[Online]. Available: https://www.karmanhealthcare.com/how-power-wheelchairs-work/.
[Accessed: 21-Feb-2020].
[3] “Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer,” Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer - an overview |
ScienceDirect Topics. [Online]. Available:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/carbon-fibre-reinforced-polymer.
[Accessed: 21-Feb-2020].
[6] “Head ArrayTotal control, easy to use and tough to notice,” Permobil. [Online]. Available:
http://www.permobil.com/en-GB/English/Other-products/Please-choose/Head-Array/.
[Accessed: 25-Feb-2020]
[8] “HOOBOX: Wheelie - the World's First Face-Controlled Wheelchair,” hooboxone. [Online].
Available: https://hoobox.one/products/wheelie/. [Accessed: 25-Feb-2020].
[9] Inside Edition. "Quadriplegic Man Operates Wheelchair With His Face," YouTube, May 22,
2019. [Video file]. Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zARSY2UuEB4.
[Accessed: 25-Feb-2020].
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Appendices
Preliminary Drawings:
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Figure 12: Support Frame Sketch (Assembly) Figure 13: Support Frame Multi-View Sketch
PLA 233g
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Engineering Drawings and CAD Model of Tangible Prototype:
Orientation Sensor 1
Breadboard 1
T-board 1
Raspberry Pi 1
Wires 13
Resistors 5
Buttons 1
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LED Lights 5
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Printout of Computer Program:
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Working Engineering Drawings of the Support Stand:
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Figure 18: Support Tray Base Engineering Drawing
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Figure 19: Breadboard Tray Engineering Drawing
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Figure 20: Sensor Bridge Engineering Drawing
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Figure 21: Pi Housing Unit Engineering Drawing
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Additional Documents Pertaining to Progress of the Team
Danny Al-Sammak Worked on the code for the wearable device. Coded for a
way to set a calibration angle and measure changes in angles.
Also focused on getting the motors of the car to work
according to readings of the sensor and worked on the
planning and building of the physical car used for
demonstration. Worked on the market analysis and design
critique, discussions, and recommendations.
Albert Durlak Top portion of the support frame and the tangible prototype.
Executive summary, description of tangible prototype, and
summary of design objectives. Car housing.
Fatima Gafoor Worked on the code for the physical computing prototype.
Specifically, Worked on coding for the function to calculate
the average of the five most recent sensor values. Worked on
Task 4, which is to detect if the earpiece is falling based on
the linear acceleration in the Y direction. Worked on the
design verification, flowchart of computing prototype and
created the instructional video as well as the promotional
video.
Rabbea Sidhu Worked on the bottom portion of the support frame in the cad
model. Completed the background and research summary as
well as the description of design in the written report. Also
completed the references, parts list and labelled drawings of
the stand and physical computing prototype.
Note: a more detailed overview of the team meetings is found in the logbook
Meeting #1 (10/1/2020): Members discussed and finalised the need statement and list of criteria
Meeting #2 (16/1/2020): Members evaluated the different potential ideas, eliminated some
options, and decided to go forth with the wheelchair idea. Members then went to the hospital to
look for a wheelchair to use but had no luck.
Meeting #3 (26/1/2020): This is where we build our prototype to show at the design review
meeting with our mentors.
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Meeting #4 (7/2/2020): Members discussed what was left to be complete of the project, set
deadlines for specific tasks, and delegated roles for the technical report.
Meeting #5 (13/2/2020): Members went over certain details and made sure that tasks were being
completed. We made a to-do list to keep ourselves on track for the design expo.
Meeting #6 (21/2/2020): Members conference called to go over the technical report together and
make sure all was complete. Small tasks still needed to be completed and we decided to meet on
Monday to finalise.
Meeting #7 (24/2/2020): Members met to go over the technical report one last time and submit.
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Final Gantt Chart:
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Team Picture:
From left to right: Fatima, Rabbea, Dr. McDonald, Danny, Albert
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