Project :: ECE 445 - Senior Design Laboratory

Project

#	Title	Team Members	TA	Documents	Sponsor
39	Hand gesture controlled audio effects system	Sarthak Singh Sergio Bernal Zachary Baum	Zicheng Ma	design_document1.pdf design_document2.pdf final_paper1.pdf photo1.png photo2.png presentation1.pptx proposal1.pdf
	Team Members: Sarthak Singh (singh94) Zachary Baum (zbaum2) Sergio Bernal (sergiob2) Problem In audio production, both amateur and professional settings lack intuitive, hands-free control over audio effects. This limitation restricts the creativity and efficiency of users, particularly in live performance scenarios or in situations where physical interaction with equipment is challenging. Solution Overview Our project aims to develop a gesture-controlled audio effects processor. This device will allow users to manipulate audio effects through hand gestures, providing a more dynamic and expressive means of audio control. The device will use motion sensors to detect gestures, which will then adjust various audio effect parameters in real-time. Solution Components: Gesture Detection Subsystem: The Gesture Detection Subsystem in our audio effects system uses a camera to track hand movements and orientations. The camera will be connected to a Raspberry PI which then sends signals to our custom PCB. The system processes sensor data in real time, minimizing latency and filtering out inaccuracies. Users can customize gesture-to-effect mappings, allowing for personalized control schemes. This subsystem is integrated with the audio processing unit, ensuring that gestures are seamlessly translated into desired audio effect alterations. Audio Processing Subsystem: The Audio Processing Subsystem uses a DSP algorithm to modify audio signals in real time. It includes various audio effects like reverb and delay, which change based on the user's hand gestures detected by the Gesture Detection Subsystem. This part of the system allows users to customize these effects easily. The DSP works closely with the gesture system, making it easy for users to control audio effects simply through gestures. Specifically, we are using a STM32 microcontroller on a custom PCB to handle this subsystem. Control Interface Subsystem: The Control Interface Subsystem in our audio effects processor provides a user-friendly interface for displaying current audio effect settings and other relevant information. This subsystem includes a compact screen that shows the active audio effects, their parameters, and the intensity levels set by the gesture controls. It is designed for clarity and ease of use, ensuring that users can quickly glance at the interface to get the necessary information during live performances or studio sessions. Power Subsystem: The Power Subsystem for our audio effects processor is simple and direct. It plugs into a standard AC power outlet and includes a power supply unit that converts AC to the DC voltages needed for the processor, sensors, and control interface. This design ensures steady and reliable power, suitable for long use periods, without the need for batteries. Criterion for Success: Our solution will enable users to intuitively control multiple audio effects in real time through gestures. The device will be responsive, accurate, and capable of differentiating between a wide range of gestures. It will be compatible with a variety of audio equipment and settings, from studio to live performance. Alternatives: Existing solutions are predominantly foot-pedal or knob-based controllers. These are limiting in terms of the range of expression and require physical contact. Our gesture-based solution offers a more versatile and engaging approach, allowing for a broader range of expression and interaction with audio effects.

Title

Team Members

Documents

Sponsor

Hand gesture controlled audio effects system

Sarthak Singh
Sergio Bernal
Zachary Baum

Zicheng Ma

design_document1.pdf
design_document2.pdf
final_paper1.pdf
photo1.png
photo2.png
presentation1.pptx
proposal1.pdf

Team Members:
Sarthak Singh (singh94)
Zachary Baum (zbaum2)
Sergio Bernal (sergiob2)

Problem
In audio production, both amateur and professional settings lack intuitive, hands-free control over audio effects. This limitation restricts the creativity and efficiency of users, particularly in live performance scenarios or in situations where physical interaction with equipment is challenging.

Solution Overview
Our project aims to develop a gesture-controlled audio effects processor. This device will allow users to manipulate audio effects through hand gestures, providing a more dynamic and expressive means of audio control. The device will use motion sensors to detect gestures, which will then adjust various audio effect parameters in real-time.

Solution Components:

Gesture Detection Subsystem:
The Gesture Detection Subsystem in our audio effects system uses a camera to track hand movements and orientations. The camera will be connected to a Raspberry PI which then sends signals to our custom PCB. The system processes sensor data in real time, minimizing latency and filtering out inaccuracies. Users can customize gesture-to-effect mappings, allowing for personalized control schemes. This subsystem is integrated with the audio processing unit, ensuring that gestures are seamlessly translated into desired audio effect alterations.

Audio Processing Subsystem:

The Audio Processing Subsystem uses a DSP algorithm to modify audio signals in real time. It includes various audio effects like reverb and delay, which change based on the user's hand gestures detected by the Gesture Detection Subsystem. This part of the system allows users to customize these effects easily. The DSP works closely with the gesture system, making it easy for users to control audio effects simply through gestures. Specifically, we are using a STM32 microcontroller on a custom PCB to handle this subsystem.

Control Interface Subsystem:
The Control Interface Subsystem in our audio effects processor provides a user-friendly interface for displaying current audio effect settings and other relevant information. This subsystem includes a compact screen that shows the active audio effects, their parameters, and the intensity levels set by the gesture controls. It is designed for clarity and ease of use, ensuring that users can quickly glance at the interface to get the necessary information during live performances or studio sessions.

Power Subsystem:

The Power Subsystem for our audio effects processor is simple and direct. It plugs into a standard AC power outlet and includes a power supply unit that converts AC to the DC voltages needed for the processor, sensors, and control interface. This design ensures steady and reliable power, suitable for long use periods, without the need for batteries.
Criterion for Success:
Our solution will enable users to intuitively control multiple audio effects in real time through gestures. The device will be responsive, accurate, and capable of differentiating between a wide range of gestures. It will be compatible with a variety of audio equipment and settings, from studio to live performance.

Alternatives:

Existing solutions are predominantly foot-pedal or knob-based controllers. These are limiting in terms of the range of expression and require physical contact. Our gesture-based solution offers a more versatile and engaging approach, allowing for a broader range of expression and interaction with audio effects.

Featured Project

# People

Scott Liu - sliu125

Connor Lake - crlake2

Aashish Kapur - askapur2

# Problem

Buses are scheduled inefficiently. Traditionally buses are scheduled in 10-30 minute intervals with no regard the the actual load of people at any given stop at a given time. This results in some buses being packed, and others empty.

# Solution Overview

Introducing the _BusPlan_: A network of smart detectors that actively survey the amount of people waiting at a bus stop to determine the ideal amount of buses at any given time and location.

To technically achieve this, the device will use a wifi chip to listen for probe requests from nearby wifi-devices (we assume to be closely correlated with the number of people). It will use a radio chip to mesh network with other nearby devices at other bus stops. For power the device will use a solar cell and Li-Ion battery.

With the existing mesh network, we also are considering hosting wifi at each deployed location. This might include media, advertisements, localized wifi (restricted to bus stops), weather forecasts, and much more.

# Solution Components

## Wifi Chip

- esp8266 to wake periodically and listen for wifi probe requests.

## Radio chip

- NRF24L01 chip to connect to nearby devices and send/receive data.

## Microcontroller

- Microcontroller (Atmel atmega328) to control the RF chip and the wifi chip. It also manages the caching and sending of data. After further research we may not need this microcontroller. We will attempt to use just the ens86606 chip and if we cannot successfully use the SPI interface, we will use the atmega as a middleman.

## Power Subsystem

- Solar panel that will convert solar power to electrical power

- Power regulator chip in charge of taking the power from the solar panel and charging a small battery with it

- Small Li-Ion battery to act as a buffer for shady moments and rainy days

## Software and Server

- Backend api to receive and store data in mongodb or mysql database

- Data visualization frontend

- Machine learning predictions (using LSTM model)

# Criteria for Success

- Successfully collect an accurate measurement of number of people at bus stops

- Use data to determine optimized bus deployment schedules.

- Use data to provide useful visualizations.

# Ethics and Safety

It is important to take into consideration the privacy aspect of users when collecting unique device tokens. We will make sure to follow the existing ethics guidelines established by IEEE and ACM.

There are several potential issues that might arise under very specific conditions: High temperature and harsh environment factors may make the Li-Ion batteries explode. Rainy or moist environments may lead to short-circuiting of the device.

We plan to address all these issues upon our project proposal.

# Competitors

https://www.accuware.com/products/locate-wifi-devices/

Accuware currently has a device that helps locate wifi devices. However our devices will be tailored for bus stops and the data will be formatted in a the most productive ways from the perspective of bus companies.