Like all engineers, the team began in the first step of the Engineering Design Process. The team began by identifying the problem at hand and addressing our clients objectives and constraints. We found our main priority was to provide a product that allows fencers at the Birmingham Fencing Club to practice without relying on a partner to spar. After ample research, our group found many comparable small-scale D-I-Y products similar to our vision. With this research we brainstormed potential features and qualities necessary to embed in this product. The interactive vest must be reliable, practical, and engaging in order to be beneficial for our client. The design must be able to fit around a manikin with a circumference of 45". The design also needs to be user-friendly: a simple user interface to toggle between game-modes. The group concurred to program the four game-modes for the vest prior to constructing the electrical components within the vest. The final phase of creating this product involves integrating the electrical and mechanical components.

Week Two started off with programming each of the four designated modes that serve as methods of practice. Classic (Mode 1) was programmed in a day and consists of an algorithm where an LED would illuminate upon contact with the respective button. Strike-a-Button (Mode 2) was completed in two days. This game-mode (Mode 2) consists of an algorithm where a random LED would illuminate and the user has to make contact with the respective button to turn it off. Then, another random LED illuminates and the user would perform the same action. Eric started to program Timer Countdown (Mode 3) while E.J. started to program Reaction Time Testing (Mode 4). E.J. also prepared the Arduino and breadboard with male-to-male wires, push-buttons, LEDs, and resistors.

Eric and E.J. continued to create the preliminary codes for each of the game modes. Eric and E.J. also began to incorporate the codes with the Arduino Mega and breadboard to create a rough prototype of how the buttons represented on the fencing vest would function. E.J. also proposed a PO to record a budget for preliminary materials and components involved in constructing the prototype, final product, and the total project.

The group finished programming game Modes 1, 2, and, 3 but missed their anticipated deadline for Mode 4 because of its many intricacies. As the group became more fluent in Arduino's syntax they began to learn new functions and commands to advance the program for Reaction Time Testing (Mode 4). E.J. continued to breadboard the prototype and started researching potential pros and cons of the electrical components necessary to construct the final product. On the other hand, Eric contacted a fencing vendor to inquire knowledge regarding different sizes and dimensions of fencing vest for the final product. The group concurred to order a fencing vest, pushbuttons, and LEDs for the final product.

The ordered supplies essential for the final product arrived on February 5. This week was dedicated to finishing three main priorities: preparing the vest for assembly with the push-buttons, programming Mode 4, and embedding the electrical components inside the vest. First, we designated specific regions that each button needed to be placed. Then, accurate dimensions were created to ensure symmetry respective to the placement of the pushbuttons. Next, incisions were made in order to insert the buttons into the vest. Lastly, the original 12V LEDs within each push-button were replaced with a 3V LED because the maximum voltage output from the Arduino Mega is 5V. This image displays us testing the intensity of each push-button and LED combination once they were incorporated with the fencing vest.

The group finalized the Reaction Time Testing program (Mode 4) and started to wire the 4-Digit Seven Segment Display that is incorporated into the vest to carry out timer and scoreboard functions offered in Mode 3 and Mode 4. E.J. started to design conduits for the interior wires, 4-Digit Seven Segment Display, and the Arduino. This method involved creating conduits inside a piece of foam. Above is an image of the final prototype. It capably operates each of the individual game modes. The image above displays the prototype operating on Mode 4. In this instance, the 4-Digit Seven Segment Display correctly outputs the user's reaction time.

Early on in the week Eric discovered a complication that prohibited the consolidation of all four game-modes into one program. Each individual game-mode functioned properly on the Arduino Mega prototype but upon consolidation into one program, none of them functioned. This complication occurred because many of the same variables within each game-mode were initialized to activate different algorithms. Therefore, Eric and E.J. spent the majority of the week working out this issue. Eric also measured and cut the poly foam insert. E.J. was unavailable to work due to illness and contributed by updating the website and modifying the PO list and expenses throughout the week.

After embedding the eleven buttons into the vest we identified the anode (positive) and cathode (negative) terminals designated to each button. After identifying the correct terminals for both the push-buttons and LEDs, we began to solder the corresponding anode and cathode input wires and ground wires to the push-button terminals. The above image displays the preliminary soldering progress for the Fencing M.A.T.E..

This entire week was dedicated to connecting the respective wires to both the input and ground terminals for the push-buttons and LEDs. The team spent a majority of the week charting methods for appropriate wire management within the conduits of the vest. The group concurred on creating three groupings for the interior wiring: ground wire, input wires for the LED, and input wires for the push-buttons. Shortly after, the group began to solder the respective wires according to the grouping charts. E.J. and Eric spent the rest of the week soldering and adding heat-shrink around each connection as both a safety precaution and method of protecting the interior electrical wiring.

After connecting the corresponding wires to each push-button, the team decided to solder male-to-female extensions to the Arduino Mega. These specific extensions allow for the interior wires to be easily connected to each respective input port. This process involved removing the Arduino Mega's existing headers with the aid of pliers and a soldering iron. Afterwards, the Arduino Mega was mounted to the interior of the vest both for protection and easy accessibility for maintenance.

The next objective was to implement an interface system to toggle between game modes. Five incisions were made on the back of the fencing vest for each of the buttons. Each button was then programmed to correspond to a specific game-mode. The LED within each button was also utilized to easily allow users to recognize the state of the current game mode.

During Spring Break the group decided to take a step away from the Fencing M.A.T.E. and reconfigure the design procedure. With the group more determined than ever we sufficiently soldered together all remaining connections. The group also decided to take advantage of the LEDs in each push-button to add an aesthetically pleasing element to the Fencing M.A.T.E.. This was incorporated to allow the user to easily recognize the selected mode by referencing the illuminated button on the control panel.

This week consisted of the final modifications to the Fencing M.A.T.E.. The group finished soldered the remaining wires and began a process of wire management. In the end, all interior wires were secured in their conduits within the foam piece of the vest. This final phase marked the completion of engineering the Fencing M.A.T.E.. The above video displays the Fencing M.A.T.E. operating Mode 3.

After the completion of the Fencing M.A.T.E., the group saw it necessary to create a manual to familiarize users with the button functions and modes embedded within this product. The group was also tasked with creating a poster illustrating the complexity of the design process involved in creating the Fencing M.A.T.E..

The group saw it necessary to deliver our product to the Birmingham Fencing Club for preliminary testing. After letting fencers from various experience levels and ages try our product we received a few critiques to the Fencing M.A.T.E.. The primary criticism was that the buttons were too slick and caused the metal foil to slide off upon contact. At the conclusion of our testing session at the Birmingham Fencing Club, coach Sun tested our product and desired us to modify the Fencing M.A.T.E. to her preferences. Her preferences included, moving down the two buttons located on the shoulder regions and creating a left, right, or all preference for Mode 2. Coach Sun's desires come from the intention of making the Fencing M.A.T.E. an authentic fencing practice tool. Once the modifications and maintenance performed on the Fencing M.A.T.E. were completed, the final product was delivered to the Birmingham Fencing Club.