Project

# Title Team Members TA Documents Sponsor
86 Any-Surface-Stylus for Computer
 Alex Camaj
Ethan Forsell
John Bledsoe
 Manvi Jha proposal1.pdf
**Any-Surface-Stylus**

Team Members
- Ethan Forsell (ethanef2)
- John Bledsoe (johndb3)
- Looking for 3rd!

**Problem:**
Having a laptop or tablet with stylus functionality used to be a luxury but is starting to become a necessity. Tasks that require hand-drawn diagrams or figures are just as prevalent as paper and pencil becomes more rare. Those without tablets are left with few options for drawing digitally. The old-fashion way is to print the document, draw in pen, scan the newly-edited document, and reupload again to the computer. There are also drawing pads, but they are bulky and often made for artists rather than completing a simple task making them pricy. It would be convenient to have a stylus that could write on any surface and work on any computer.

**Solution:**
We want to create a stylus that can connect to any computer and be used on about any surface. An optical sensor will be used to track movement similar to a laser mouse. A pressure sensitive tip on the stylus will control the left-click signal. There will be separate buttons on the side of the stylus to control right click and scroll inputs. It will connect through USB to the computer which will also provide the power. For purposes of this project much of the control hardware will be housed in an intermediate box which connects to the smaller pen through a wire for reliability.
- Subsystem 1: Stylus Sensors - Tip pressure, optical sensor, right-click button and scroll function.
- Subsystem 2: PCB and microcontroller - Signal Processing system and communications to computer.

**Criteria for Success:**
At minimum, this project will be a success if the stylus can be plugged in and work as reliably as a standard laser mouse. The stylus needs to fit comfortably in the hand to not interfere with drawing. It must be able to reproduce consistent drawings without erratic movements.

GYMplement

Srinija Kakumanu, Justin Naal, Danny Rymut

Featured Project

**Problem:** When working out at home, without a trainer, it’s hard to maintain good form. Working out without good form over time can lead to injury and strain.

**Solution:** A mat to use during at-home workouts that will give feedback on your form while you're performing a variety of bodyweight exercises (multiple pushup variations, squats, lunges,) by analyzing pressure distributions and placement.

**Solution Components:**

**Subsystem 1: Mat**

- This will be built using Velostat.

- The mat will receive pressure inputs from the user.

- Velostat is able to measure pressure because it is a piezoresistive material and the more it is compressed the lower the resistance becomes. By tracking pressure distribution it will be able to analyze certain aspects of the form and provide feedback.

- Additionally, it can assist in tracking reps for certain exercises.

- The mat would also use an ultrasonic range sensor. This would be used to track reps for exercises, such as pushups and squats, where the pressure placement on the mat may not change making it difficult for the pressure sensors to track.

- The mat will not be big enough to put both feet and hands on it. Instead when you are doing pushups you would just be putting your hands on it

**Subsystem 2: Power**

- Use a portable battery back to power the mat and data transmitter subsystems.

**Subsystem 3: Data transmitter**

- Information collected from the pressure sensors in the mat will be sent to the mobile app via Bluetooth. The data will be sent to the user’s phone so that we can help the user see if the exercise is being performed safely and correctly.

**Subsystem 4: Mobile App**

- When the user first gets the mat they will be asked to perform all the supported exercises and put it their height and weight in order to calibrate the mat.

- This is where the user would build their circuit of exercises and see feedback on their performance.

- How pressure will indicate good/bad form: in the case of squats, there would be two nonzero pressure readings and if the readings are not identical then we know the user is putting too much weight on one side. This indicates bad form. We will use similar comparisons for other moves

- The most important functions of this subsystem are to store the calibration data, give the user the ability to look at their performances, build out exercise circuits and set/get reminders to work out

**Criterion for Success**

- User Interface is clear and easy to use.

- Be able to accurately and consistently track the repetitions of each exercise.

- Sensors provide data that is detailed/accurate enough to create beneficial feedback for the user

**Challenges**

- Designing a circuit using velostat will be challenging because there are limited resources available that provide instruction on how to use it.

- We must also design a custom PCB that is able to store the sensor readings and transmit the data to the phone.