Charles R. Drew InvenTeam March Blog
Project Description Updates
The first half of the month of March was dedicated to going through our feedback that we have received from the Mid-Grant Tech Review (MGTR) . We have broken into groups, the same groups have had to add some aspects plus more groups that had to change because of the feedback that we received. We are constantly working on separate tasks that have to be completed and eventually come back together. All groups had gained information on something that needed to be ordered, assembled, and finalized. So we are able to complete the most efficient feedback that will help our final invention in the long run.
Our device will mitigate the number of hot car deaths of children and pets. We will investigate and test a variety of technologies to integrate into a simple, reliable device with a three tiered alert system. First, a text alarm will be sent, next, a voice alarm for individuals in the vicinity will be activated, and finally a GPS location of the vehicle will be sent to authorities notifying them of the emergency.
Progress During Last Month
During the Month of March we have been working separately in attempt to make sure every task has been completed. We have made a List of Scenarios that can limit the effectiveness of our device.
The list includes the following possible scenarios that can make our device ineffective:
- 100 lb dog in the front seat
- Child in rear facing car seat(Heat signature cannot be detected)
- Driver of the vehicle isn’t owner, and not connected to device
- No cell phone reception
- Car is left turned on but it’s still too hot for the AC
- Blanket is left on child’s car seat, preventing a heat signature reading
- The GPS location can’t be found if car is in parking garage
- The cell phone has weak reception and can't receive a signal from device
Scenarios our device is effective against
- Phone of user is left in car
- There are no people in the vicinity of car
- Cell phone is dead
- Small dog trapped in hot car
Kudos to the SMS team for getting the Arduino Uno Wifi board to send the SMS message when the computer is not connected to the internet!
This month we have started thinking a lot more about how we will present our device in an interactive way at EurekaFest in June. We have a four person team who has been working on this task with a Design Expert (Catherine Muller). They have reviewed the types of babies we could use for demonstrating during EurekaFest. We analyzed the pros and the cons and then made a decision. We decided that it would be best to go with the cheaper option which is BabyAlive. We reviewed it with Ms. Muller she agreed because it is a lot cheaper but not only that it moves which can demonstrate what we want it to during EurekaFest. We also discussed the setup of EurekaFest to work on our due date of March 24th of a diagram of how our setup will be. Then we discussed goals and homework that should be due next class period.
Preparation for EurekaFest team are working on going into more in depth with the way we are going to demonstrate the functionality of our project at EurekaFest. We mapped out how many more class periods we have until the sketch or rough draft of our task is due to Tony. We also mapped out the ways we are officially going to demonstrate and split it up amongst our group. Lastly we assigned goals and tasks that need to be completed by next class period. Jurnee, Kendall and India decided that a video and a model would be the best and most efficient ways to present our final product. In class they worked on a sketch and storyboard. This helped us outline our plan better and demonstrate where specific information was going and how we were going to present that info. We have added a new team that will help us prepare for EurekaFest this month, therefore we did not have a goal.
The code for the temp sensor only works now after Teammate Jeffrey fixed some of the code but the temps are very high. The combined code for the ir, weight, ignition, and sms verified and uploaded onto the board. But, the text was not received and the weight sensor batteries are probably dead. The Infrared Team worked on more research on air conditioning startup and found that there are a lot of remote car clickers that have it, we would need to take their tech or invent our own and incorporate it in the device. Also they cost around $100. There has been no more testing for the infrared sensor during this month.
For the App Interface Team last month, we received feedback at our MGTR that we should consider the most user friendly way of gathering phone numbers for the users/drivers of the car. We have met that goal in the sense that the wireframe for the app is done. We were tasked with drawing up what we wanted the app interface to look like.
For the Ignition Sensor Team our goal for last month was to get this smaller board working.
The GPS sensor interface, including the wiring of the GPS sensor to the arduino breadboard, as well as the coding which enables the GPS to send its location. We have been working more to focus on our coding for everything that will integrated together. Last month’s goal was to integrate the ignition, temperature, SMS, Temperature, Infrared, and GPS onto one system. No, last month’s goal was only half completed.
Lastly our Consideration of Electronic Controls Units Team was introduced in March. ---- We didn’t have this idea last month.
Goals for the Upcoming Month
It is hard to believe it is already April! On the Inventeam we are looking forward to all of the teams finally coming to together to combine all of their diligent work.
In the upcoming two weeks the App Interfacing Team will have both the Android and IPhone App completed coded. We will be using Android Studio, which is the main Android App development software and will be using the Apple Counterpart.
The breadboard is the raw wiring that is required for the device and the purpose of the gold soldering chip is to condense the size of the device. Another goal for the Ignition Sensor team is to find a way to connect the weight sensor on the arduino to car’s built-in weight sensor. We will have to go inside the car and look up how to connect it to the car. We will have to go inside the car and look up how to connect it to the car.
The GPS sensor group debugged the GPS code so that it will be able to send a location wirelessly while in use. The next goal is to get the GPS sensor linked to the other devices within the product so that they can work efficiently and simultaneously to get the best possible results for our device. The team will combine the code and interface of each device to integrate them into all in one device.
We have submitted our proposal for the setup of our space at EurekaFest. Our upcoming goals are to have a video, cardboard car model, and infographic completed by the end of April. Before then, we would like to have our video storyboard, infographic sketch, and orders done by March 31st. We will communicate with one another outside of the work time in order to work as efficiently as possible. Also we will complete our goals within the deadlines that we have given ourselves. Finally we will put our actions into words. As long as we work to the best of our abilities we will not have issues completing our goals.
Over Spring Break, the testing needs to be complete so we can analyze the data and create statistics for the accuracy of the sensor for our device. The goal has stayed the same and it is to test the accuracy of the sensor. Since this goal is as pressing as other goals, we will work on testing after school and during extended learning time.
The code for all of these devices have been compiled. However, the ignition and weight soldered board needs to be completed, so the data is not sent to the serial monitor. A large part of the goal was completed when the GPS code compiled. The first upcoming goal is get the ignition/weight board completed and sending information for us to read through the serial monitor. Another goal is to split the GPS data from the serial monitor into sections and only give the North and West coordinates. We will reach this goal by working with Mr. Ayers during our Spring Break.
The goals for Electronic Control Units Team are to incorporate more ways to bring attention to the car that has the child in it. Which means instead of a text we could possibly send them a phone call. The designated Technical Team members have been working on apps to get in contact with the owners of the vehicle and they’ve been working on the GPS systems. The picture is us on Twitter is us listening to the conversation and feedback we were receiving from Tricia Morrow. You can follow us on Twitter @DCHS_InvenTeams.
Networking
This month we have focused on presenting our progress powerpoint in different events.In order for other people who aren’t familiar with the Charles R. Drew Inventeam to get more aware with us, at function they were already scheduled for. Instead of asking them to come out of their way for their time, they will already be there. We have discussed that we may present at Designorama on March 26, 2017 3:00-6:00 p.m. Every hour for those who have missed it previously. This will also allow us to get extremely familiar with what we want to say. Each time we present it will get better. Our school charles R. Drew Charter is scheduled to watch the movie Hidden Figures on March 8, 2017 for women’s day. This would be a great opportunity for the students and staff who couldn’t make the Mid-Grant Tech Review to see what we are inventing, ask question, and give us feedback. ALso at Charles R> Drew Charter School, the senior will be hosting an eleventh grade townhall meeting. This is where all of the Juniors at Drew Charter School, will be discussing the upcoming events and what we should be looking forward to for our last year of High School, our InvenTeam was thinking about presenting our Invention to our peers, for practice and feedback to see how we can connect with students who aren’t into the engineering field, but would think that is a great chance for us to be noticed. Lastly we were considering presenting at the Dogwood Festival on April 7, 2017, April 8, 2017, April 9, 2017. We would have to set up a time that we would want to present at all of these functions, accommodating to their schedule.
We have also had assistance from Ms Tricia. Morrow, who works with General Motors. We skype called Ms. Morrow and we she gave us an overall view of what she does, and how she and her team created the Rear Seat Reminder. The Rear Seat Reminder does not actually detect objects in the rear seat. It works by monitoring Acadia's rear doors. If either rear door is opened and closed within ten minutes before the vehicle is started, or if they are opened and closed while the vehicle is running, the feature is intended to activate. "It was designed in response to the tremendous amount of heat stroke deaths that we see every year," Tricia Morrow, a GM global safety strategy engineer who worked on the feature, told TODAY Parents. "We saw this as a problem for the industry."
Catherine Muller is an educator Educator and strategist in cross-disciplinary STEAM curriculum design for K-18. She is a proficient cross-functional team manager with excellent planning, research and organizational abilities. She also has recognized for interdisciplinary perspective, attention to detail, communication, and critical thinking. Lastly she is a community designer with a focus on user-centric research/design, experience, sustainability and health.
Teamwork
Our team has been working marvelously together, not only do we get our task accomplished, we have also have a great time together. Since we’ve know each other since ninth grade we know what would be a great task for whom. There are always ways to improve and become better as a team, we should start by not talking over over each other to make sure all of our ideas are heard. Now that we are approaching the end of project, we are going to have to pick up speed to make sure all of the deadlined goals are being met. Even though we have been working in separate groups we are still one team
