The Wingman: Self-Spotting Bench Press Students: Chris Potts (EE) & Lane Caffaro (ME) Project Supervisors: Professor John Spinelli (EE) & Professor Jennifer Currey (ME)

Motivation  Health and fitness have become the focus of many Americans Working out and weight lifting  Maximize potential muscle growth Working muscles until failure  Dangerous without a spotter Work until lifter doubts he/she can lift the bar Human spotter will become obsolete Still augment muscle capacity with safety as a priority

Goals  Lifting subjects Inexperienced vs. experienced Age Sex  Parameters Vertical range: feet Horizontal range: 2-4 inches Weight range: pounds Maximum time to lift bar: 2 seconds

Performance Criteria  Free weight system No constraints on barbell’s directional motion Comfortable and unobtrusive grip on the barbell  Human Spotter Provide assistance to the lifter only when it is necessary Recognize when the lifter can no longer lift the barbell  Manual activation by switch or automatic activation by system Output device  Total time and repetitions  Lift barbell and weight Relatively quick manner

Design Requirements  Activation switches Passive state to active, return to passive  Grip switches and sensors Recognize when lifter needs assistance  Electromechanical interface Pressurized air to raise/lower pneumatic cylinders  Output display Total time and repetitions

Block Diagram

System Design

Switches  Micro switches Placed in “V” Passive to active/Active to passive  Ribbon switches Bottom and upper conductors separated so pressure completes the electrical contact Manual activation of system Unobtrusive Run length of barbell

Sensors  PING))) Ultrasonic Distance Sensors Sonar – pulse transmitted, echo return Range: 0.75 in. – 10 ft.

Barbell Design

Solenoid Valve with Coil  Lifting mechanism Air pressurized pneumatic cylinders Electrical interface  SN quadruple half-H driver interface device Deenergized in upright for safety

Flow Chart Algorithm

Evaluation  Parameters Horizontal = 12 in., Vertical = 1 ft., Time = 2 s.  Free weight Unobtrusive grip No directional constraints  Human spotter BASIC Stamp communicated properly  Micro switches activated by energizing solenoid  Ribbon switches deenergize solenoid  Sensors deenergize solenoid Barbell uneven or stationary  LCD  Lift barbell and weight Up to 145 pounds successfully at 120 psi

Future Work  Wireless  Horizontal sensors  Better mounted sensors  Regulator for amount of weight  Ready beep/System failure alarm  Adjustable vertical range of pneumatic cylinders

Conclusion  Working prototype of The Wingman: Self-Spotting Bench Press  Even without a human spotter he/she can work muscles until failure  Safety is a priority  The Wingman… there to take the fall so you can be the strongest of them all

Questions