1. Project # 12 – Smart Walker REU student: Chris Feltner Graduate mentors: Siavash Khodadadeh and Sharare Zehtabian Faculty mentor(s): Dr. Turgut and Dr. Bölöni
Week 1 (May 14 – May 21, 2018)
Accomplishments:
Fixed an issue with the Smart Walker where the software would crash if disconnected from the server. The walker can now upload data to the server when a connection is available while simultaneously logging data locally. This also required changing the server software to allow it to send HTTP 204 responses so that the Smart Walker can check server availability without posting data.
Conducted some literature review
Created initial project plan. We will be building a smart walker for the blind using OpenCV and a Kinect camera which will provide haptic feedback to inform the user of the distance of objects and floor grade changes within their path of travel. This fills a need of individuals who are both vision and mobility impaired.
Problem & Solutions
It was a little difficult to plan a project involving the walker and current sensors, and since the project is in earlier stages the direction is somewhat undefined. This required several discussions between Jon, the graduate students, and I to solve.
I’m less comfortable in Python than other languages, so I had to relearn a couple language constructs/syntax. Hopefully I’ll be a pro by the end of the summer.
Plans for next week:
Begin testing Raspberry Pi with Kinect camera
Start building software involving OpenCV
Attend a research consultation with UCF Library
NSF REU Research Experience on Internet of Things 2018