Project Abstract

Catherine Yee and Laura Kingsley

Project Abstract - Smart Paddles

For our final project, we will be making a pair of smart hand paddles that swimmers can use to measure their stroke efficiency in the water. The paddles will then be able to transmit the captured stroke information to a computer via bluetooth. Each paddle will contain an ARM MBED because we want something small, light and low power. Each will also include an adafruit IMU that contains a gyroscope, accelerometer, and barometric pressure sensor, a chip to enable wireless communication, and possibly an additional pressure sensor depending on the accuracy of the barometric pressure sensor in the IMU. Because wireless signals are not easily transmitted through water, the paddles will store the information in capture mode until the information can be transferred wirelessly to a computer on land. Our goal is to make the paddles as hydrodynamic, light-weight, and as low power as possible.  

We will start the project by running tests with the IMU on land to determine how the accelerometer and gyroscope respond to circular, stroke-like motion and determine whether the pressure sensor will be accurate enough for our needs. Next, we will construct a circuit (probably with high pass filtering) and program all of the operation modes and wireless transmission. Once that is complete, we will build a waterproof circuit using a combination of silicon sealant and CorrosionX waterproofing spray that can be tested in the water to ensure meaningful measurements are being collected and transmitted. Finally, we will 3D print a custom hand paddle to encase our hardware and test the final product with many different swimmers. To save everyone a trip to Pottruck, our final demo will include a video of us using the Smart Paddles at the pool and a demonstration of how the collected data can be used as a tool to improve swimming technique.