Embedded Files
Design Solution Brainstorming
Design Solution Brainstorming
The team encountered the problem within the first couple weeks of the project; and since then has brainstormed many ideas for solutions. The first idea was going to be a translator to translate music sheet notes to braille music and vice versa. This idea was scrapped rather quickly because the problem changed from transcribing music to now helping the blind identify money value on paper bills. For this idea, the team decided to create an electronic brailler that identifies currency for the blind to get rid of the third party and give the user more independence. A feature of this that has not been done before is to have this device also stamp braille for the user. This design was added to the list of specifications because many complaints about pocket money braillers were about the stamper hurting their fingers from the pressure of stamping it themselves. This will also make it easier for anyone that has weak or shaky hands. Another specification considered was a way for the bill to be inserted however the user may like; this stops the user from wasting time trying to find a place to insert a bill and shaves off time standing in a grocery line or at a restaurant.
Some inspirations for designs were found in research; a few were concepts taken from past patents and products while a couple was from photos of daisy wheels and other devices. For the camera initially, the team was looking at vending machine scanners or money counters for bill detection and organization, then moved on to motherboards featuring cameras; like the ESP 32 cam. A big inspiration to a similar design was Ai money reader apps, which is what the final design will be based on.
Brainstorming Photos
Brainstorming Photos
Specifications: ranked
Specifications: ranked
stamp braille
accurate
announce bill
portable
easy to find money slot
Constraints: ranked
Constraints: ranked
under $35
no thicker than an inch
no longer than 5 seconds to identify money
Parameters: ranked
Parameters: ranked
100% accuracy
magnetic
pocket-sized
The specifications, constraints, and parameters of this project were determined from the second survey the team sent out to stakeholders and experts. Most of the experts agreed that the device should work with a 100% efficiency score and be able to identify a paper bill within seconds to offer the user maximum efficiency outside the house. It was also agreed upon that the device shall be small and portable to be able to put inside bags safely for walks, travel, and any outside parameters with a slot for inserting money to be easily found by the user for fast use. This project is designed to get the students to be creative with a solution, which creates the constraint of designing a product under $35, and since the product will be sat at the back of a phone, it will need to be thin and light for the handler.
Annotated Drawings
Annotated Drawings
Sketch 1: This device has the dollar bill passed through it and uses some sort of optics either photosensors or a camera to detect the bill. It uses a belt to pull along the dollar to help in identification and make it so the device only needs to have two embossing elements to emboss the full set of braille needed to transcribe the value of the bill.
Sketch 1: This device has the dollar bill passed through it and uses some sort of optics either photosensors or a camera to detect the bill. It uses a belt to pull along the dollar to help in identification and make it so the device only needs to have two embossing elements to emboss the full set of braille needed to transcribe the value of the bill.
Sketch 2: This device uses a daisy wheel to emboss currency and has the user insert the full end of a bill into it using a camera to detect its value and use servo motors to spin the wheel to the correct value for embossing. It uses a 9v battery and uses a force multiplying mechanism or energy storage device on the edge of the disk to drive it into the bill.
Sketch 2: This device uses a daisy wheel to emboss currency and has the user insert the full end of a bill into it using a camera to detect its value and use servo motors to spin the wheel to the correct value for embossing. It uses a 9v battery and uses a force multiplying mechanism or energy storage device on the edge of the disk to drive it into the bill.
Sketch 3: This is a part of our second round of sketching where we used feedback from our stakeholders. This device is a pocket money brailler that attaches to a resed case using magnets this will allow the user to use the phone to identify the bills and then stamp them using the device. The idea behind this is that they will always have the device on them but more importantly, it served as the starting point for making improvements to the base device.
Sketch 3: This is a part of our second round of sketching where we used feedback from our stakeholders. This device is a pocket money brailler that attaches to a resed case using magnets this will allow the user to use the phone to identify the bills and then stamp them using the device. The idea behind this is that they will always have the device on them but more importantly, it served as the starting point for making improvements to the base device.
Sketch 4: First version of an inductive phone device that would fit on the back of a phone or phone case. It would process information with an ESP32 or Arduino motherboard within the base of the device. It would use pistons to stamp braille when a bill is placed on top of holes and the face panel is shut. It would also announce the amount to the user through a speaker on the top panel.
Sketch 4: First version of an inductive phone device that would fit on the back of a phone or phone case. It would process information with an ESP32 or Arduino motherboard within the base of the device. It would use pistons to stamp braille when a bill is placed on top of holes and the face panel is shut. It would also announce the amount to the user through a speaker on the top panel.
Sketch 5: This is the V2 of the inductive phone design; where the team has decided to switch to simplicity as our main focus and design a magnetic brailler that will attach to the back of a phone. It will be 2 separate pieces where the brailler piece is fit inside the base plate. The brailler will have an audible click sound to notify the user that it has worked, and it will be able to slide out to the side of the phone for easy use. It will slide on either wheels or friction. It will be able to identify currency through an app on the phone; Cash Reader or Eye Note will be sufficient.
Sketch 5: This is the V2 of the inductive phone design; where the team has decided to switch to simplicity as our main focus and design a magnetic brailler that will attach to the back of a phone. It will be 2 separate pieces where the brailler piece is fit inside the base plate. The brailler will have an audible click sound to notify the user that it has worked, and it will be able to slide out to the side of the phone for easy use. It will slide on either wheels or friction. It will be able to identify currency through an app on the phone; Cash Reader or Eye Note will be sufficient.
Sketch 6: Early sketch of the idea after the team had researched many different motherboards including cameras with a 2MP or 3MP attachment. The photo includes the thickness of the device needed if connected to the back of a smartphone. Also shows provided base plate where the motherboard will be sat in between moving parts of the braille stamper.
Final Annotated Drawing
Final Annotated Drawing
The team decided to continue the project with this design in mind after ranking other designs in a Decision matrix. This specific design scored the highest unanimously, with accuracy, brailling, and portable scoring the highest. This decision was further made easier by all the feedback we have gotten on our prototype designs specifically about needing to carry around a separate device when someone has their phone on them. Moreover, there's a large number of mobile apps available With the Bureau for engraving and printing “As of September 6, 2022, there have been a total of 143,554 mobile application downloads,” (Bureau of Engraving and Printing, 22 C.E.). This is most likely only a fraction of the number of users of similar apps especially when you consider international users. With this solution, the user will be able to freely use the brailler whenever and wherever they like. It will be very portable considering that it may be attached to the back of a phone for easy carrying or in a pocket if the user does not wish to keep it attached. For optimal usage; the brailling stamps are alternating sizes so a blind person will be able to differentiate between denominations and have an easier time inserting a dollar bill. This will also increase the speed of use slightly so the user will be more efficient with their time.
Citations
Citations
A Physical Device to Help the Visually Impaired Read Money Using AI/Machine Learning in Third World Countries. (2022). University of West Bohemia. Retrieved February 25, 2023, from https://otik.uk.zcu.cz/bitstream/11025/49604/1/A71-full.pdf
Bureau of Engraving and printing. (22 C.E., September 22). American Council of the Blind, Et Al., V. Janet Yellen, Aecretary of the Treasury. Retrieved March 17, 2023, from https://www.bep.gov/sites/default/files/documents/Court%20Report%20September%202022.pdf
E-TKT: anachronic label maker. (2022, June 14). Hackaday.io. Retrieved February 25, 2023, from https://hackaday.io/project/185912-e-tkt-anachronic-label-maker
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