Project

# Title Team Members TA Documents Sponsor
82 Real-Time Form Correction Device
Bhanu Kunam
Ishank Pujari
Sree Akkina
Po-Jen Ko design_document1.pdf
final_paper1.pdf
presentation1.pdf
proposal1.pdf
video
Team Members:
- Bhanuprakash Kunam (bkunam2)
- Sree Akkina (sakkina2)
- Ishank Pujari (ipuja2)

# Problem

Free weight exercises (dumbbells/barbells) require intense focus, and users often cannot safely look at visual displays while performing complex movements. Additionally, beginners frequently suffer from poor form - such as wobbling or using momentum rather than muscle control - which is difficult to self-diagnose without a personal trainer.

# Solution

This project proposes the “Smart-Clip,” an IoT attachment for barbells and free weights that utilizes auditory feedback to correct form in real-time. The system aims to use an ESP32 microcontroller and a 6-axis IMU to analyze the lift’s stability and trajectory. A piezoelectric buzzer provides sound cues: a “clean” tone confirms a stable, good-form repetition, while a dissonant alert signals excessive wobble or dangerous acceleration. This allows the user to maintain safe positioning while receiving instant coaching on their technique. All form data is logged to an app via Bluetooth for post-workout analysis.

# Solution Components

## Data Acquisition (Sensing)

The physical clip attaches securely to the dumbbell handle. Inside, a 6-axis Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) continuously monitors the weight’s movement in 3D space. The Accelerometer measures the velocity of the lift (is the user moving too fast/jerking the weight?). The Gyroscope measures rotational stability (is the user’s wrist wobbling or tilting effectively?)

## On-Device Processing

The ESP32 microcontroller acts as the central processing unit. Instead of sending raw, noisy data to the phone, the ESP32 performs Edge Computing. Noise Filtering applies a smoothing filter to ignore small hand tremors. The Form Analysis Algorithm compares the motion vector against a “Gold Standard” vertical path. If the vector deviates sideways (wobble) or accelerates beyond a safety threshold (momentum), the system flags the repetition as “Poor Form.”

## Feedback Generation (The Interface)

The system employs a dual-loop feedback mechanism to provide both real-time coaching and long-term analytics. For immediate, a passive piezoelectric buzzer emits distinct auditory cues: a sharp, high-pitched beep confirms a valid repetition with proper form, whereas a low, dissonant buzz alerts the user to instability or dangerous acceleration. In parallel, the device utilizes Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) to transmit detailed performance metrics, such as total count, lift tempo, and stability scores, to a companion mobile application, allowing users to review their workout history and track progress over time.

## App

The companion mobile application serves as the centralized hub for workout analytics, receiving data from the Smart-Clip via Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE). It records all session metrics, including repetition counts, tempo, and stability scores, locally on the device, allowing users to track and analyze their long-term progress through historical graphs and trend reports. Beyond data storage, the app acts as a control interface, enabling users to customize the clip’s sensitivity thresholds and audio feedback settings to match their specific training regimen.

# Criterion For Success

1. Repetition Accuracy: Counts bicep curls with = 90% accuracy; detects > 15 degrees wobble in >= 9/10 trials with no false alerts on clean reps.

3. Feedback Latency: Audio feedback occurs within 200 ms of IMU-detected rep completion.

4. Bluetooth Integrity: 100% of completed sets transmit correctly to the app within a 2 m range.

5. Mechanical Stability: Clip rotates less than 10 degrees on the handle during a 10-rep set.

6. Power Efficiency: Operates for at least 1 hour with average current draw under 100 mA.

The Marching Band Assistant

Wynter Chen, Alyssa Louise Licudine, Prashant Shankar

The Marching Band Assistant

Featured Project

NetID/Names

wynterc2 (Wynter Chen), alyssal3 (Alyssa Licudine), shankar7 (Prashant Shankar)

Problem

Drum majors lead and conduct marching bands. One of their main jobs is to maintain tempo for the musicians by moving their hands in specific patterns. However, many drum majors, especially high school students, need to learn how to conduct specific tempos off the top of their head and maintain a consistent tempo without assistance for performances. Even those with musical experience have difficulty knowing for certain what tempo they're conducting without a metronome.

Solution Overview

Our project consists of an arm attachment that aids drum major conducting. The attachment contains an accelerometer that helps determine the tempo in beats per minute via hand movement. A display shows the beats per minute, which allows the drum major to adjust their speed as necessary in real time. The microcontroller data is wirelessly transmitted, and a program can be downloaded that not only visualizes the data in real-time, but provides an option to save recorded data for later. There is also a convenient charging port for the device.

This project is a unique invention that aims to help marching bands. There have been previous projects and inventions that have also digitized the conducting experience, such as the Digital Conducting Baton from Spring 2015. However, these have been in the form of a baton rather than a glove, and are used to alter music files as opposed to providing feedback. Additionally, orchestra conductors use very delicate motions with a baton, while drum majors create large, sharper motions with their arms; thus, we believed that an arm attachment was better suited for marching band usage. Unlike other applications that only integrate digital instruments, this project seeks to assist live performers.

Link to RFA: https://courses.grainger.illinois.edu/ece445/pace/view-topic.asp?id=37939

Project Videos