Project Details
[Return to Previous Page]Development of a wearable multifunctional circuit board for measuring head impacts in sports
Company: PSU Kraft/Choi Labs
Major(s):
Primary: CMPEN
Secondary: EE
Optional: ME
Non-Disclosure Agreement: NO
Intellectual Property: NO
Project Background & Overview: Brain injury is a significant concern and issue for athletes playing contact sprots. Recently there has been interest in creating wearable technology with accelerometers, gyroscopes, and proximity sensors for collecting head impact information in contact sports, such as football. This capstone project is for the development and comprehensive testing of wearable multifunction Printed Circuit Board (PCB) for wearable data collection. The project will cover various aspects, including data acquisition, PCB design analysis, battery efficiency testing, wireless charging, Bluetooth technology integration, and firmware development. Objectives: The project's objectives are the comprehensive development and the testing of the wearable multifunctional PCBs. Initially, the team will focus on the PCB design familiarization, analyzing the PCB designs to identify key components and understand their specific functions. The next objective is to examine battery and wireless charging analysis. Here, they will select an appropriate battery, ensuring it is compatible with the size of the PCB, and rigorously test the wireless charging functionality. This testing will include assessing the battery charge over time and under various conditions to ensure reliability and efficiency. Next, the project will focus on Bluetooth communication testing and implementation. The team will integrate Bluetooth technology with the Microcontroller Unit (MCU) and conduct tests for wireless sensor data transmission. This step is vital for ensuring communication and data handling capabilities of the PCBs. The next objective is the creation of a test protocol and software development. In this phase, they will develop a detailed test protocol specifically tailored for evaluating the PCBs' functionalities. To complement these protocols, corresponding firmware will also be created. The final objective involves the development and implementation of firmware onto the PCBs. This stage is critical as the team will conduct functional tests to ensure the firmware's performance and reliability. Through these steps, the project aims to achieve a thorough understanding and effective optimization of the PCBs, ensuring they meet the required standards and functionalities. Sponsor Interaction and Collaboration: • Active and hands-on collaboration with the sponsor, with expectations of in-person meetings once a week for laboratory work and testing. Expected Outcomes: • Thorough understanding and documentation of PCB functionalities and performance. • Successful implementation and testing of battery efficiency, wireless charging, and Bluetooth communication. • Robust and reliable firmware, validated through comprehensive testing. Team Requirements: • A team of 4-5 students proficient in areas such as computer engineering, electrical engineering, computer science, and firmware development. • Strong communication skills and the ability to work closely with the sponsor. Version Control and Design Tools: • Utilization of GitHub for maintaining all software, firmware, and design files. • Use of EasyEDA for hardware design modifications, if necessary.
