Download Excer-Station - Research

The
EXER-STATION
“Concept”
Group members:
Tarafa M. Al-Awaj
Bichar Myrtil
Project advisor:
Dr. Marshall Summar
Concept?
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Project 100% operational…
Project meets 100% of criteria…
Project not yet ready for market production.
Why did this happen?
 1st Project.
 Lack of resources:
1.
2.

Time
Money
More detailed explanation will be given later...
Dr. Marshall Summar
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Associate Professor of
Pediatrics at Vanderbilt.
Associate Professor of
Molecular Physiology &
Biophysics at Vanderbilt.
Met in November of 2003.
Interested in helping children (ages 8-18) with the
genetic disease PKU.
We gladly joined him on this mission.
Phenylketonuria (PKU)

Genetic disorder characterized by he
absence or deficiency of an enzyme that is
responsible for processing the essential
amino acid phenylalanine.

Abnormal phenylalanine accumulation in
the blood is toxic to brain tissue.
Phenylketonuria (PKU)

It is estimated that PKU occurs in one in
20,000 newborns in the United States.

Equally frequent in males and females.
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≈ 27,200 individuals in the USA.
PKU Effects
Without treatment, most infants with PKU
develop:
 Mental retardation (IQ < 80), and
additional neurological symptoms…
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which lead to introverted children.
A low metabolism…
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which leads to overweight, even obese
children.
PKU Children
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Spend almost all and any
time available playing
video games.
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Get little or no exercise,
day in day out.
Compound problems and lead to deterioration
of their general health and quality of life.
Other Pertinent Factors
A large portion of PKU children share these
factors in common:
Some physical limitations.
 Lower socio-economic background (limited
financial resources).
 Parents low in motivation.
 Other limited resources (e.g. education).

The Bigger Issue
"We have noticed that children in America
are tending more toward obesity [& less
general fitness] than in decades past; Part
of it is due to sedentary lifestyles that kids
are getting into. Rather than run in the
woods, they've got Game Boy, Nintendo
and television."
- Discovery_Channel.com/Health
Dec 2003
Alternate Solutions

DRUG ADMINSTRATION
(e.g., Amphetamines)
Adverse Psychological Effect/Damage.
 Possibly Addictive (dependency).


PERSONAL TRAINER/THERAPIST
Expensive (cost factor).
 Lack of Independent Motivation.
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Ideal Solution
From the IWB ideation process:
Find an alternative way to obtain (exercise) that
offers the following: eliminates, reduces, or
prevents (weak muscles), (obesity) and (health
problems), and is not influenced by (Addiction to
video games) and (PKU).
Solution
Motivate to independently exercise.
Incorporate aerobic physical activity into video
game play.
Substitute some “finger-activated” commands
with “leg-activated” ones.
Allow patient to remain seated.
Aid in improving patient health and morale.
_______________________________________
EXER-STATION
Aims
1 hour of Exer-Station =
20 minute Brisk Walk
OR
4 minute Sprint
OR
Approximately 86 Calories!
Design of EXER-STATION
Consists of 3 main components:
1. Device:
I.
II.
Wheel
Trainer:
i.
ii.
III.
2.
3.
Structure
Resistance
Generator
Circuit
Controller
Controller
•Up/Down commands of the Left analog stick will be replaced by pedal motion.
•All other commands will remain intact and function through hand controller.
•
Each analog stick
controlled by two 10K pots.
•
3 pins of pot are: i) Ground,
ii) Signal, iii) 3.44V source.
•
At Center, signal = 1.72V,
(range 1.35V - 2.05V)
•
At max Up, signal = 3.15V
•
At max Down, signal = .5V
Device: Wheel
•
United 24-inch Adult Trainer, Item # UNU24AT-27.
•
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diameter = 24”
crank arm length = 6”
Device: Trainer & Resistance
•
•
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Volare Mag Trainer w/Elastogel and Remote.
Magnetic resistance unit with 5 different levels of adjustment.
Resistance shaft diameter = 1.25”
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w = 27 lbs
d1 = 14”
d2 = 17”
h = 30”
l1 = 2”
l2 = 8”
h = 30”
c = 17.5”
Device: DC Generator
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RadioShack hobby motor, model# 273-255.
12V DC motor.
1.3A @ 11,500 rpm.
Produces 350mV per 100 rpm.
Coupled with shaft of resistance.
Output from generator will be smoothed, summed, and scaled via the circuit to
produce a DC current from 0.5V to 3.15V for maximum down/up motion of left
analog stick, respectively.
Circuit

The final setup will look something like this.
Additional Parameters
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Pedaling speed Range: 40rpm – 120rpm
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Below 40:- Strains joints
Above 120:- Efficiency falls off
Ratio of wheel to resistance shaft rpm :
π * dwheel : π * drs
24 : 1.25
20 : 1

Actual ratio 18-14:1 (due to frictional slips).
Results
 Kids
play ≈ 6 hours/day
 Use
≈ 100 Calories/hour
 Expend
≈ 600 Calories/day!!!
Game Play

Design and Tested To Work
Best w/ Motion Games such
as 007 Agent under fire.

Or Simple Maneuver such as
Pac-Man
TIME CHART
December
Preliminary
research
Extensive
research
Feedback
Design
Prototype
Testing
January
February
March
April
Work Remaining
Safety Issues
 Aesthetics
 Perf-boarding
 Hardwiring
 Playing, playing, and more playing.
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BUDGET
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$400 Initial Budget (from Dr. Summar)
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Playstation II Console ($200)
Multiple Controllers ($75)
Three Games ($150)
Additional $350 Requested (from Dr. King’s Grant)
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Leg Activated Elements
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Unicycle ($125)
Mag. Trainer ($150)
DC Generator ($25)
Wires
LEDs
Chips
Circuit Board
Decorative Design/ Aesthetics
Miscellaneous
Concept to Market
Issues to be addressed first:
 Size
 Adjustability
 Power source
 Price
MARKET POTENTIAL
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Ages 8+
Hospital Patients
Obese Individuals
Individuals concerned about fitness
General Video Game Audience
ADVISORS

Paul H. King, PhD., P.E.:
-Associate Professor of Biomedical
Engineering at Vanderbilt.
-Associate Professor of Mechanical
Engineering at Vanderbilt.
-Associate Professor of Anesthesiology at
Vanderbilt.
-Instructor of the senior Biomedical
Engineering design course at Vanderbilt.
RESOURCES
VANDERBILT
UNIVERSITY
-lab space
-machine shop
-research facilities
-software
-help purchase necessary
tools/equipment
SECOND BASE

Marshall Summar, M.D.:
-Associate Professor of Pediatrics at
Vanderbilt.
-Associate Professor of Molecular
Physiology & Biophysics at Vanderbilt.
-back-up location when
primary lab not available