Communication Device for Handicapped Kids

1. Dec 05-08 Client Heartland Area Agency Sue Young Advisor Yao Ma Alex Leith Brian Grove Steve Peters Dec 6, 2005 Communication Device for Handicapped Kids

2. Design Approach (cont.) Research Activities Design Activities Implementation Approach Implementation Activities Testing results and Modifications Resources and Schedules Closing Material Future work recommendations Lessons Learned and risk management Project Evaluation Commercialization Closing Summary Presentation Outline • Introductory Material • Definitions • Acknowledgments • Problem Statement • Operating Environment • Intended Users and Uses • Assumptions • Limitations • End Product and Other Deliverables • Design Approach • Present Accomplishments • Approaches Considered • Project definition Activities

3. List of Definitions • Amplifiers – This device will increase the volume of the message going to the speaker • Analog signal – Analog is a continuous signal with no breaks in the waveform • Digital signal – Digital is an analog signal that is sampled at different times so the signal is broken up into discrete samples • D/A converter – Converts the digital output from the microcontroller to an analog output • Filters – Filters will only allow the desired frequency to pass.

4. Definitions (cont.) • LED’s – Light Emitting Diodes that light up when voltage is applied across them • Level – Set of eight different recorded phrases • Memory – Refers to how long a message can be stored into the microcontroller • Microcontroller – A device that acts as the brain behind the end product • PWM – Pulse Width Modulation – Modulating an analog signal into a series of pulses. The frequency and amplitude of the pulses is constant. The width of the pulses is determined by the amplitude of the input signal.

5. Acknowledgements Faculty Advisor: Dr. Yao Ma for advice and ability to keep us on task. Atmel for free components. Jesse Macht for the donated case Square D for the switches

6. Problem Statement Currently, disabled children have trouble communicating with caretakers about basic needs. This project will create a device to aid these children in communicating. We will develop a recording play-back system to aid these children in communicating with their care-giver

7. Operating Environment • The environment will be the home / school of a handicapped child. • The device will be subjected to physical stress (ie. being dropped) and must also be water resistant.

8. Intended Users and Uses • The intended users are handicapped children and their care-givers • There are differing levels of disabilities, so there are multiple input methods for the handicapped children • Caretakers will record custom words or phrases for later playback

9. Assumptions • It will only be used by one kid at a time • The child will be able to physically use the device • The caretaker will have a computer to print the different pictures used when they reprogram the device • The child can distinguish between the pictures • The end product will be used in a learning environment • The product will operate on batteries • The end product will be programmable and will play back messages

10. Limitations • The size is no bigger than 6” x 10” x 2” • The weight is no heavier than 5 lbs • Battery power must last for at least 16 hours • Must be able to record messages for child to playback • Each message will have a record time limit from one to five seconds • The cost of the product will not be more than $150 • Tests of the prototype will only be based on ease of setup and use • The product must withstand being dropped

11. Communication Device

12. End Product and Other Deliverables • The end product will be a device that will have eight buttons that can hold recorded messages • There will be two switches one to control the levels and one to control the speed of the LED' S • Other deliverables include a program to create images on and single button accessory • A single button will be plugged into the product when the child has limited range of motion and can not control the eight buttons • LED’s will light up a specific button for a small period of time and then move to the next button. When the child recognizes the lit up button as the one they want, they press the single button and it will playback the message

13. Present Accomplishments • Documents • Component Selection • Device Design • Software • Hardware • Hardware Testing • Microphone circuit • Speaker circuit • Image Software • PCB

14. Research Activities • Similar Device Functions • Microcontroller • Memory • Buttons and Switches • PCB • Software Compiler • Programmer • Emulator

15. Approaches Considered • Microcontrollers • Memory • External • Internal • ADC • Buttons • Push or Sensor • Weight • Size • Cost • Programming Language • Asm • C

16. Project Definition activities • Met with the Client • Developed a general idea for device • Researched components for device • Developed requirements and functions • Finalized the scope of the project

17. Design Activities • Electrical power – Rechargeable batteries for the device will be used • Size – The device must be portable • Weight – The device must be light enough to be transported from place to place by a small child. • Intended usage – One child at a time will be able to physically use the device. • Software – The caretaker will have a computer to design and print the desired pictures used for the different programmed messages. The child will then be able to distinguish between the pictures.

18. Design Activities (cont.) • Programmable messages – Must be able to be recorded and played back easily. • Cost – Must not exceed $150.00 • Time frame – The project will be completed by Dec. 2005. • Evaluation of device – Prototype will be tested on ease of setup and use.

19. Main Software Flowchart Essentially, the system will loop until a button is pressed, then a sound is recorded or played back

20. Read / Write Flowcharts Algorithms were developed by Atmel and then adapted to suit our needs

22. Implementation Activities • Implementation • Microphone Circuit • Speaker Circuit • PCB • Microcontroller Software • Testing • PSpice • Used Sinusoid • Listened to output • PCB and Software • Changes made to design • Filter Design for Speaker Circuit • Unity gains • Inverter array on the button outputs

24. Testing Results and Modifications • Testing Results • Original Design was too quiet • The power was too low to drive the Speaker • Microcontroller was unable to communicate with flash memory • Modifications • Added another filter to increase the gain in the speaker circuit • Used unity gain amplifiers to increase the current to speaker • Inverter array was added to the button outputs to make them work with the encoder

25. Personal Name Task1 Task 2 Task 3 Task 4 Task 5 Total Steve Peters 5 23.5 6 98.5 7 133 Brian Grove 8 31.5 7.5 130.5 7.5 185 Alex Leith 7.5 32.5 16 138.5 8 202.5 Totals 20.5 87.5 29.5 359.5 22.5 520.5 Resources Task 1 – Problem Definition Task 2 – Identify Technology and Selection Task 3 – Design Task 4 – Prototype Implementation and Testing Task 5 – Demonstration Personal Efforts

26. Item W/O Labor With Labor Parts and Materials: Microcontroller $5.70 $5.70 Electronic Components $90.00 $90.00 Batteries $0.00 $0.00 Poster $0.00 $0.00 Subtotal $95.70 $95.70 Services: Printed Circuit Board $33.00 $33.00 Packaging $3.15 $3.15 Print Poster $10.00 $10.00 Subtotal $46.15 $46.15 Labor at $10.50 per Hour: Steve Peters $1396.50 Brian Grove $1942.50 Alex Leith $2126.25 Subtotal $5465.25 Total $141.85 $5607.10 Resources Con’t Financial Resources

27. 1st Semester Schedule

28. 2nd Semester Schedule

29. Future Work Recommendations • Battery charging circuit • LCD touch screen • Wireless connection • Microcontroller to memory communication • Speed control • Reliability of physical connections

30. Lessons Learned and Risk Management • Backup your data often into a source repository • Order PDIP for prototype testing • Make sure you fully research software and components before working to avoid duplication of work by others • Loss of team member • Order parts as soon as possible

31. Project Evaluation • Would have been easier if we had a full team • Peripheral components and features work except for the memory • Below budget of $150

32. Commercialization The purpose of creating the communication device is for use by Heartland Area Education Agency and at this time there are no plans of commercialization.

33. Closing Summary • Thanks to everyone who gave their support. • We hope that we have laid the ground work for a device to make life easier for handicapped children.