Project Description:
For the final class project, I would like to make smart gloves that helps the user send remote signals using hand gestures as commands. While these gloves could have many functions, I would like to focus on using these gloves as part of a smart home, including functions like controlling the TV, smart lights, as well as a Google Home/Alexa (through a speaker). This could especially be useful for people with disabilities, or even just a very lazy person.
While there are many similar kinds of gloves that exist as projects, a lot of those gloves do not make use of the wide variety of sensors available in the market. Additionally, some of the projects seemed to be made inefficiently in that they seemed to be pretty bulky for how much they can do. I want to explore how those existing gloves could be improved in not just functionality but also aesthetics. Thus, I would work on this project not as an invention, but rather a demonstration/experiment.
The functionality of the glove would include things like a force sensitive/capacitive touch option where a user could clap to turn on/off lights, as well as gesture-controlled commands that can control TV functions.
Sketch:
Inspirations:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOb07ZfrYUk
https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/6629884
Materials/Tools:
Gloves
Sensors: flex sensor, gyroscope, capacitive touch/force sensors
Infrared LED emitter/receiver
Microcontroller- adafruit flora, particle photon, arduino
Possible 3d printed housings/case for the electronics
Skills/concepts
While I have some experience with programming, this project would require a lot of microcontroller programming, so that would be the main thing I would have to master. The project would also require some knowledge of IoT so I would be looking more into that as well.
Additionally, I have experience using tools in the makerspace (3d printing, laser cutting), so if I have time to focus on the aesthetics, I could use those skills to help me improve the looks. However, it is a given that I will also have to learn soldering well to compact my design, as well as sewing to make the glove look nice.
Timeline
March 16: The sensor inputs can be used to output various signals to the devices
April 4: The sensors are integrated into a glove
April 20: The glove is a lot sleeker than the first prototype, and improvement in error reduction