17. Invention, Intellectual Property and Income

This week I worked on defining my final project idea and started to getting used to the documentation process.

Dissemination Plan

The project is mainly aimed for wheelchair users who have mobility at least in the upper limbs to control the joystick or for users who have a caregiver that can control it. As for the fundation, I bought the motors, wheels, and everything related to the motors case, while the electronics was mainly given by the university. I don't plan to have a remuneration from the work, so I chose the Creative Commons (by) license. However, I'll be using this project for a subject called ASE III (Área de Síntesis y Evaluación or Synthesis and Evaluation Area), where we should be creating and postulating projects for the biannual expo inside the university.

Future Possibilities

In the future, I'll be continue to improve the project as a team with some colleages at the university. I already have some modifications that might imporove it, such as:

  • Give a space to the LED to be seen from the outside to be sure that the bluetooth connection is done.
  • Make the motors case from a lighter material.
  • Improve the motors case to not be so close to the floor.
  • Put a lid to the motors case to avoid damage to the motors.
  • Change the wheels for other ones that suit better to different surfaces.
  • Use a protection cover for the case to avoid exposure to water.

Slide and Video Drafts

The slide and video cannot be completed yet, since my project isn't finished yet. However, I already have some ideas for them. I also will divide the information among the slide and the video, otherwise there would be a lot of information covered in onle single thing.

Slide

In the slide I plan to show the different processes used for it to be achieved. These processes include some of the topics covered through the weeks, :

  1. Week 2 (Computer Aided Design): to design the PCB cases.
  2. Week 4 (Electronics Production): to create both PCBs.
  3. Week 5 (3D Printing): to prin the PCB cases.
  4. Week 6 (Embedded Programming): to make the codes for both PCBs.
  5. Week 8 (Electronics Design): to design both PCBs.
  6. Week 9 (Output Devices): I'll be using DC motors.
  7. Week 11 (Input Devices): the device sending information for the direction of the motors is a joystick.
  8. Week 13 (Networking and Communications): the way of sending the information from one PCB to the other is via Bluetooth.
  9. Week 15 (Wildcard Week): in order to have a soldered case for the motors.

However, I don't think all the weeks are going to be presented in the slide, because that would be a lot of information. That's why I'd only be putting the most important ones or the ones that are closely related to others, such as computer aided design with 3D printing and electronics production with electronics design.

Video

I already have a mini idea for the video. As the slide will already be showing the processes needed for the project, I thought that the video should be showing how is the proper way to use it and install it. The video also will be showing how are the cases from the inside. The order of the video might be as follows:

  1. Show the cases.
  2. Show installation.
  3. Show its functionality.