ARC Communication Board

Team MembersCortney Ross (ME) – Project ManagerKirk Marquard (ME)Achilles Tziazas (CE)Amy Koster (ID)Rachel Lepkowski (ID)

Elizabeth DeBartolo (ME) – Project GuideDaniel Phillips (EE) – Project GuideStan Rickel (ID) – Project Consultant

Team Organizational Chart

Project OverviewOur customer, Donna, is a

mentally handicapped young adult who is in a motorized wheelchair. She has speech disabilities so she needs a special way to communicate with people who don’t know her well. She currently uses a book full of pictures that she and the staff that helps her is familiar with. Last year, a SD project designed a touch screen audio device to help her communicate with new people.

Customer Needs1.Safety

1.Customer Safetya.No Interference With Wheelchair Controlsb.Easily Be Able To Get Out of Way of Customer

i.Low Obstruction of Visionc.Custom Enclosure

2.Product Safetya.Fixed to Wheelchairb.Adequate Product Sizec.Adequate Product Weightd.Durable and Robuste.Weather Resistant

i.User Friendlya.Graphical User Interfaceb.Picture Basedc.Flow of Components on Wheelchair (Overall System)d.Customer Requests

•Female Voice Output•Colorful and Girly Case

1.Convenience1.Battery

i.Easily Chargedii.Able To Plug In and Rechargeiii.Long Battery Life

a.System Must Be Fastb.Customer

•Left Hand Design•Antiglare Screen

1.Volume Adjustment for Staff2.Upgradable By Staff

Current Design: “Big Pink Box”

Embedded ComputerComputer of choice: EBC-7040• Reasons:

• Cheap ($370)• Small size• Robust construction (absorbs vibrations, cushioned

design, fanless operation)• ARM9 class processor (high performance & “ultra-

low” power consumption)• Ready “out of the box”• Can come with both Windows CE or Debian Linux• Supports up to 1280x1024 resolution• Integrated Audio• Only weights 0.4kg• USB port for LCD Touch Screen

Issues:Slow response time from Embedian.com

affects buying all other components (Taiwan)Embedian mentioned in their most recent e-

mail that their Windows CE is “not mature yet”

There is still the option for Linux for this box though

Time is running out!Backup plan: ARK-1370 by Advantech

Embedded Computer

LCD Touch ScreenLCD chosen: Caltron 12.1 inch Open Frame LCD (FBT-

12120)Reasons:

Choice of USB or Serial (chosen USB Plug & Play)Specs allow for 85% humidityThin design (only 1.45 inches thin)Option of Resistive vs Acoustic Wave (chosen Resistive

because of the ease of operation and it is also cheaper)Satisfies desired resolution of 800x600Weight is O.K. : 1.4kg = 3.3lbPrice is around $600 before their educational discountHas drivers for Windows CE and for “popular Linux

distributions”

Issues:Caltron is out of these LCDsNew shipment coming in approximately 10

days without counting any other delays like issues at the customs More delays

If we have to go back to using Linux, the drivers do not specify which Linux distributions are supported

Backup Plan: Use the LCD that is in the “big pink box”

LCD Touch Screen

BatteryPower Requirements

Using: h = 16 hoursEBC-7040: Needs a 12V, 32,000 mAh batteryLCD Touch Screen: Needs a 12V, 46,720 mAh

batteryA 12V battery should provide the necessary currents.

Issues:Should I add 32,000+46,720 to come up with the

desired mAh?Not an electrical engineer Need more help with

electrical engineering aspects of the project (already visited Dr. Slack)

Operating SystemReasons:

Easier for the current developer to code using Visual Studio Using previous knowledge

.NET is very popular and easy to programData from companies that develop embedded

systems benefit Windows CE Need less developers per project Less “time-to-market” for Windows CE (number of

months from design to first shipment)Issues:

Issues with Embedian’s Windows CE

Cable connectorCurrent decisions:

Looked into using a parallel cable to carry: Audio (sound) Video Power USB

to the front panelResults:

The only way to find out if it works is to actually implement this ASAP even without having the components (Dr. Slack’s suggestion)

Might face issues if a parallel cable is used, due to the reason that video is a high speed signal (Dr. Slack & Dr. Reddy)

It can be done but the only way to find out is to try it out

Pictures Under Donna’s Chair

Pictures Under Donna’s Chair

Pictures Under Donna’s Chair

Hand Sketched Case Designs

Hand Sketched Case Designs

Hand Sketched Case Designs

SolidWorks Case and GUI Design

Shock MountingWhat needs to be shock mounted?

Computer to wheel chairBatteries to wheel chairPOSSIBLY LCD touch screen to casing

Already be accounted for in arm design

Shock Mounting

ThermoformingCJK is aware of our project and is willing to

work with us to make a successful casehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WL-h0HAc

dFADemonstration at Miller Plastics in PA

Awaiting response on what type of plastics that can be thermoformedLooking into polycarbonate, delrin and UHMW

polyethyleneNeed to finalize CAD design to send over to

them

Our BIGGEST Concern: OUR WEBSITE IS GONE!!!

Questions.. Comments.. Concerns???