Project

# Title Team Members TA Documents Sponsor
4 Actions to Mosquitoes
 Lumeng Xu
Peiqi Cai
Xiangmei Chen
Yang Dai
 design_document1.pdf
design_document2.pdf
proposal1.pdf
 Said Mikki
# Team Members
Xiangmei Chen [xc47]
Peiqi Cai [peiqic3]
Yang Dai [yangdai2]
Lumeng Xu [lumengx2]

# Title
Actions to Mosquitoes

# Problem
Many of us get bitten by mosquitoes without notice. We come up with a device that can distinguish by sound whether a mosquito exist in a given area and take actions to keep it away. Solutions existing in the market include mosquito spray, insect-repelling lamp, and mosquito-repellent incense. However, they work continuously, and people may get uncomfortable with its smell. It would be less disturbing and resource saving if the device only reacts when a mosquito approaches.

# Solution Overview
In order to have in-time response of mosquitoes, we first need a device to detect sounds of mosquitoes. After the sound is collected, we need to process the signal to tell if a mosquito presents. If the presence is true, an actuator will take actions to keep the mosquitoes away.

# Solution Components
[Sound Detecting Subsystem] A sound detecting device, could be high accuracy microphone that can capture the sound of mosquitoes since they produce a characteristic buzzing sound when they fly, which varies depending on the species and gender. The frequency of the sound that the system capturing can be set to the range of frequencies of the mosquitoes to further improve accuracy.
[Signal Processing Subsystem] A signal processor that can analyze the sound and identify the presence and type of mosquitoes. The signal processor could use a machine learning or other algorithms, or a frequency filter to distinguish the mosquito sound from other noises.
[Mechanical Subsystem] An actuator that can take actions to keep the mosquitoes away. Depending on the desired effect, the actuator could emit a high-frequency sound that repels mosquitoes, a chemical spray that kills or deters them, or a device that could emit gas or light of specific wavelength that attract them and knock them down.

# Criterion for Success
Detection Accuracy: The device should be able to accurately detect the distinctive sound of mosquito wings flapping with a high degree of precision to minimize false positives (e.g., from other insects or ambient noise) and false negatives (failure to detect mosquitoes).
Responsiveness: Upon detecting a mosquito, the device should promptly activate the mechanical components to deter or eliminate the mosquito within a predefined time frame, ensuring efficient protection.
Coverage Area: The device must effectively monitor and protect a defined area, such as a standard-sized room, from mosquitoes, with clear specifications on its effective range.
User Interface: If applicable, any software interface for the device should be user-friendly and allow users to easily adjust settings, such as detection sensitivity or deterrent mechanisms.
Energy Efficiency: The device should operate efficiently, using a reasonable amount of power, and if battery-operated, should have a battery life that is practical for typical use cases (e.g., overnight use in a residential setting).
Safety: The device and its deterrent methods (such as acoustic waves or mosquito sprays) should be safe for use in the intended environment, not posing health risks to humans or pets.


# Distribution of Work
Peiqi Cai [EE]:
Responsible for the design and implementation of the microphone array and any other necessary sensors that are part of the hardware which collects the mosquito sounds. This will include circuit design, component selection, and integration of the sensors with the rest of the system.
Lumeng Xu [ECE]:
Develop the signal processing software that analyzes the audio data from the hardware to distinguish mosquito sounds. This includes writing the algorithm, possibly utilizing machine learning, and ensuring it can run efficiently in real-time.
Yang Dai [ECE]:
In charge of the overall system integration, ensuring that the hardware and software components communicate effectively. This student will also be responsible for the user interface, if applicable, and making sure that the software is user-friendly and robust.
Xiangmei Chen [ME]:
Design and test the mechanical components that take action to repel or eliminate mosquitoes. This could involve the design of the enclosure that houses the electronics, any moving parts for the actuation mechanism, and the dispersion system for the repellent if a spray is used. She will also ensure that the physical design adheres to safety and ergonomic standards.

Recovery-Monitoring Knee Brace

Featured Project

Problem:

Thanks to modern technology, it is easy to encounter a wide variety of wearable fitness devices such as Fitbit and Apple Watch in the market. Such devices are designed for average consumers who wish to track their lifestyle by counting steps or measuring heartbeats. However, it is rare to find a product for the actual patients who require both the real-time monitoring of a wearable device and the hard protection of a brace.

Personally, one of our teammates ruptured his front knee ACL and received reconstruction surgery a few years ago. After ACL surgery, it is common to wear a knee brace for about two to three months for protection from outside impacts, fast recovery, and restriction of movement. For a patient who is situated in rehabilitation after surgery, knee protection is an imperative recovery stage, but is often overlooked. One cannot deny that such a brace is also cumbersome to put on in the first place.

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Solution:

Our group aims to make a wearable device for people who require a knee brace by adding a health monitoring system onto an existing knee brace. The fundamental purpose is to protect the knee, but by adding a monitoring system we want to provide data and a platform for both doctor and patients so they can easily check the current status/progress of the injury.

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Audience:

1) Average person with leg problems

2) Athletes with leg injuries

3) Elderly people with discomforts

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Equipment:

Temperature sensors : perhaps in the form of electrodes, they will be used to measure the temperature of the swelling of the knee, which will indicate if recovery is going smoothly.

Pressure sensors : they will be calibrated such that a certain threshold of force must be applied by the brace to the leg. A snug fit is required for the brace to fulfill its job.

EMG circuit : we plan on constructing an EMG circuit based on op-amps, resistors, and capacitors. This will be the circuit that is intended for doctors, as it will detect muscle movement.

Development board: our main board will transmit the data from each of the sensors to a mobile interface via. Bluetooth. The user will be notified when the pressure sensors are not tight enough. For our purposes, the battery on the development will suffice, and we will not need additional dry cells.

The data will be transmitted to a mobile system, where it would also remind the user to wear the brace if taken off. To make sure the brace has a secure enough fit, pressure sensors will be calibrated to determine accordingly. We want to emphasize the hardware circuits that will be supplemented onto the leg brace.

We want to emphasize on the hardware circuit portion this brace contains. We have tested the temperature and pressure resistors on a breadboard by soldering them to resistors, and confirmed they work as intended by checking with a multimeter.