My final project is to make echolocation goggles. My goal is to make something closer to a sonar headset rather than something that will actually create a visual image based on sound. My reason for this is that I want to create a sensory experience for my neuroscience students that demonstrates what it is like to use a sensory modality other than sight to navigate around objects. Many students have the misconception that when using echolocation the bats are in fact creating an actual visual image based on sound waves rather than light waves. I want students to experience what it is like to “see” without actually using their eyes.
Some blind individuals such as Daniel Kish to see Ted Talk click here have famously mastered the ability of using clicks for echolocation. However, it took him years of focused practice to master this ability. My goal is to create an echolocation device that will enable students to experience sensory substitution without the years of training.
There is an Instructables design ( click here ) and also( click here ). Both of these designs used sound as the output. While I see the obvious appeal to using sound as the output, I wanted to provide more detailed information both in terms of exact distance and to be able to use multiple sensors. An LCD screen solves both of the problems. I was particularly concerned about sound as an output because it would be difficult to tell left from right if both speakers are going off in quick succession. An LCD Screen that can display both numbers at the same time solves both the issue of accuracy and sensory interference.
1. Other people who have made similar ultra sonic goggles have used welding goggles. I initially considered casting and molding something similar to welding goggles but I decided to use cardboard to make the goggles. The echolocation goggles will consist of an interlocking cardboard. I got the idea from the Ny Times click here . I like the cardboard because it has the most flexibility in terms of shape and because it provides the best way to add the components.
2. Headband will be made from composite burlap
3. The Arduino will be milled from a single sided copper plate
1. Ultrasonic Sensors- Amazon click here $15 for pair.
2. Sparkfun LCD screen-Serial Enabled 16x2 LCD - Black on Green 5V click here -$24.95
3. LCD Backpack click here - $16.95
Atmega 328p-AU microcontroller click here - $3
Battery holder for 3 AAA batteries- click here - $1.95
1. Composite Headband
2. The cardboard Goggles
3. Nose piece
4. Ear piece
4. Arduiono clone
Headband:
1. Computer aided design using Inkscape and V-carve for designing the head band.
2. Computer controlled machining will be used to create the press for making the composite headband.
- 3. The headband will be made using composite burlap.
- 4. In addition 123design will be used to design the bracket that will attach to the headband to the goggles. It will be 3-D printed.
3-D scanning and printing ear rest for the head band
Adobe illustrator to design bat image and Vinyl cutting will then be used to add decoration to the goggles
Goggles
1. Computer aided design via Inkscape will be used to design the goggles.
2. computer controlled cutting to Laser cut cardboard.
1. I will use electronic design with Eagle CAD to customize the Sashakit Arduino clone.
2. To use the Arduino clone I will program it using embedded programing. and use read an input device in the form of the ultrasonic sensor and an output device in the form of the LCD screen.
I will make my own Arduino board based on the Sashakit Arduinos click here
2. I need to develop code that will send the ultrasonic data to an LCD screen using my Arduino clone as a microcontroller.
Get the ultrasonic sensor and LCD screen working on the Arduino board at the same time
3. Design and make cardboard goggles.
Can the two sensors be used for edge detection?
1. I will build my own Arduino clone
2. Get the ultrasonic sensors and LCD screen working on my Arduino clone and then get them communicating with each other.
3. Next build my goggles with attaching headband
4. Test it on obstacle course
It must enable a person to navigate an obstacle course of objects at least 1ft wide over a span of an area 20 ft by 50 ft using only the goggles to navigate.