Only a few more days until our PDR! It’s only been five weeks since the team formed and began work, but so much has happened it’s hard to believe it hasn’t even been two months. 

This week, we narrowed our concepts eligible for prototyping down to three: a flexible clip-on device that can attach to either the helmet brim or vest collar, a wristband, and a bone-conduction headset (possibly an earpiece). Following the PDR, we’ll start making 3D models in SolidWorks for 3D printing and configuring the Arduino kit to create a minimum viable product in time for the SDLR in December. 

We also got the chance to speak with Team 6 more in depth about their approach to their half of the project and how we may integrate it. They’re still in the midst of their concept generation, so there’s still a lot to consider—and subject to change—as we plan how we’re going to merge our components. It appears that this product would be used everywhere except freeways, and that we must consider that the length of a construction site may be up to a mile long. Because of this, we’re now brainstorming how we might solve issues related to the Wi-Fi connection between their device and ours, and how we can ensure every worker receives the alert. 

We’re thinking of implementing a mesh network, which would turn each Awearable device and the user into a node of sorts, allowing the signal to be transmitted between devices and passed around this web of connections to ensure the signal reaches every user on site. However, these are things to consider after our PDR on October 14, which will be the first red/green light for the next stages of the project. 

For the last month, our team has focused our concept generation on the notion that our device had to be PPE-attachable and as unobtrusive to the responsibilities and duties of roadside workers as possible. However, our sponsor brought up an idea during today’s meeting that had us thinking: 

What if our product becomes PPE? 

What if instead of just assuming that this device must be attachable to standard PPE and must conform to the combinations and limitations of that, what if the device was inducted into the canon of FDOT PPE? This new insight allows for two concepts to be more seriously considered: a wristband device and the bone-conduction earpiece. While these designs are not without their flaws, as they are less ergonomic than those presented previously, they do give more options for what we can do moving forward. We also explored how a clip-on device could have its weight distributed, and how we can still maintain the greatest flexibility and comfort without having it weigh down the vest. 

As we near our PDR event, which is confirmed for October 14th, we have four concepts currently: a wristband, an earpiece, an all-in-one box that can be flexibly attached to the underside of a helmet’s brim or the collar of the PPE vest, and a small collar-clip attachment that holds the actuators, with a wire running to a belt-attached power bank to redistribute weight. We decided to toss the directional-vest idea as this did not seem feasible for ergonomics, cost, or worth the effort considering workers should just make any evasive action once they process the alert.

We’ve also had to consider aspects of the project such as how the units will be charged and managed at the end of a shift. Will they all be plugged into the wall via a multi-cable USB-C cord, or should they use lithium coin batteries? As for connecting to Team 6’s computer vision sensors, should we plan on having 6–8 Awearable devices come preconnected and configured to a single sensor, or should we plan on presenting a downscaling and upscaling mechanism for connecting a dynamic number of devices to the sensor? All questions that demand consideration as we near the halfway point of the semester. 

This week, we finished the first draft of our preliminary design review (PDR) report. This report is the culmination of our work so far, and includes our background research, product design specifications, most promising concepts, and project plan.  

The concepts we’re currently considering are: 

1. An audio and visual alerting device clipped onto the brim of a hard hat.
2. A directional vibration vest where haptic devices are integrated into a safety vest.
3. A bone conduction headset secured under a hard hat to send audio and haptic alerts.

We’re also exploring alternate methods of securing the device that give it more versatility, such as clips that can attach to any PPE or clothing and ring attachments to hang the device like a lanyard, and approaches to designing the content of the audio and visual alerts. We found that audio alerts are more effective if they are at a frequency different from sounds in the environment, which for construction sites are mostly low frequency, and that visual alerts are more effective if they flash brighter than their surroundings. 

We will continue to refine these concepts over the coming weeks in preparation for our PDR event next month. 

Sketch of concept 2: directional vibrating vest. 

Bone conduction headphones. Source: https://www.tomsguide.com/buying-guide/best-bone-conduction-headphones

This week, we jumped into research and concept generation! We currently have a few lightly-developed concepts to explore, including one where LEDs and audio speakers are mounted to the brim of a hard hat for audio and visual alerts, one where vibrating components are attached to a safety vest near the user’s shoulder blades for touch-based alerts, and one where bone-conduction headphones are incorporated into a hard hat to deliver audio alerts without interfering with the user’s normal hearing. 

We also met with our liaisons for the first time, where we got to know each other and clarified many aspects of our project. We’re all excited to work together to improve worker safety. 

Meeting with team The Awearables, coach Dr. Boyi Hu, liaison Lee Woodcock, and sponsors Jordan Green and Tracy Hisler-Pace.