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Final project

Week 01

The last couple of months I collected a lot of ideas.

Based on video's / work we saw during bootcamp, the local session, I got inspired to try to make it big but not too big.

Swim monitor

Every Saturday morning I go to the indoor pool to improve my swimming technique / speed. I always swim in the 2nd lane (whereas 6 being the ones for the masters). To improve I need to focus on technique and then speed. But swmming around I've no idea of how my body is floating in the water. And speed drills? Actually I hate those.

Of course I followed a course and was once filmed in the water using a camera on a stick; whereby a coach walks along side to film, you. But that has been a long time ago. And it is both costly and time consuming to do that again.

Regarding the speed drills. Yes I have a watch but Ihave to manualle activate and deactivate it. So I'm always starting with one hand on the other, give myself some speed and the end I have to find the right button again. Depending on how good I do this, the speed measurement is kind of inaccurate.

What if there was a way to (more accurately) measure my speed and make get frequently inside into the way I swim?

Solution

The [swim monitor] is a system that enables swimmers to:

  • Track their speed, lap time, distance while swimming
  • Be challenged/paced by a pre-programmed exercise
  • Compete with another swimmer (gamefication)
  • Afterwards see how they moved through the water

Visuals/ mockups

The [swim monitor] is a system that consists of multiple parts:

  • Start/ stop (on both sides of the pool) that the swimmer can use to start/stop the monitor
  • Lap monitor that keeps track of time, speed
  • Pacer that shows how fast a swimmer should swim to meet his/her criteria
  • Camera that films a swimmer from the front, side and behind
  • Storage that combines timely data with visual data

Non-functionals

  • It has to be safe especially around/ in water
  • It is not allowed to pollute the water in any way (pool water is clean water)
  • It should be possible to install/ deinstall in 10 minutes time (as other people might need the pool)

Open water buddy

I personally like to swim in open water whether it is to improve my distance or just to cool down. Usually I do this in a rive ("de Vecht") which is very near by. This river is very popular and, especially in the summer, populated with boats.

So when I swim a longer distance I'm constantly looking around to navigate but also to look around whether boats actually see me. And as I swim alone there is nobody who can take a picture of me (just for fun later on).

And when I'm in the water to cool down I usually get out quit quickly as I have no fun just being in the water; I like to do something. Even if I'm with one of my kids throwing a ball, it gets boring after a while.

What if I could have buddy that guides me and plays with me in the water?

Solution

The [Open water buddy] is a device that:

  • Shows you the way (pre programmed route/ geo-fence)
  • Tries to catch you or any other person that is close by (like a shark)
  • Follows you around while you swim
  • Monitors you while you swim (distance, photo, video)
  • Randomly goes any direction so that you have to catch it
  • Can be set to stealth mode to film wildlife
  • Comes to you when needed
  • Can be controlled remotely

Visuals/ mockups

The [Open water buddy] is a device that consists of multiple parts:

  • Simple interface to activate a function / user feedback
  • Camera to film and take photo's
  • GPS tracker for loaction\
  • Light(s) for guidance / protection
  • Intelligence to recognize people/ objects / birds
  • Storage that combines location data with visual data

Non-functionals

  • It has to be safe especially around/ in water
  • It is not allowed to pollute the water in any way (although it is open water)
  • It should be small/ strong enough to be thrown away (like a ball)
  • It should be quiet
  • It should be possible to put a shark vin in top
  • It should be possible to put a yellow rubber duck on top of it

Week 2

I thought about creating a new page but just updated this one for now. Biggest decision is that my final project will be, what I now call, the Open Water Buddy. The main reason: I have no idea how to make it 😉. Sounds silly but what the heck; I only live once. First change is the working title.

UWO

Udentified Water Object. Which in a sense does not do justice to what it will be able to do. To better help me design I will decribe it's functions from a users perspective. I will therefore call this person "User".

The object supports 2 main type of modes: normal and game mode.

NORMAL MODE

Scenario 01: GUIDE ME
  • User wants to go for a swim
  • User enters the water and turns on UWO
  • User selects "GUIDE ME"
  • User sets total distance in meters
  • User sets interval distance in meters
  • User selects "ACTIVATE"
  • UWO starts moving away from the user and keeps a safe distance
  • User start swimming
  • UWO signals when the total/ interval distance has been reached

Optional:

  • User selects photo on/off at interval
  • User selects video on/off
    • User selects continuous or interval/duration in seconds
Scenario 02: FOLLOW ME

Basically the same as GUIDE ME only now the user is followed by UWO.

Optional: - User puts a shark vin on top of the object or a rubber duck

GAME MODE

Scenario 03: CATH ME IF YOU CAN

Looks similar to "GUIDE ME". Object moves away from the user. Difference is that the movements of the object are random but always meant to get away from the swimmer. Of course you can set the maximum radius in which the oject is allowed to move. Also the maximum speed while moving.

Scenario 04: JAWS

Looks similar to "FOLLOW ME". Object tracks the user but tries to catch it. There is a multi-player mode which means that it will try to catch any swimmer it can. Again here you can set a max radius and max speed while moving.

WILDLIFE MODE

  • User wants to film wildlife on the water from nearby
  • User turns on UWO
  • User selects "WILDLIFE"
  • User sets total radius in meters
  • User sets total time in minutes
  • User selects "ACTIVATE"
  • User puts UWO in the water
  • UWO starts moving away from the user away from the shore
  • UWO goes into stealth mode
  • UWO moves towards wildlife
  • UWO films wildlife
  • UWO returns to the starting point once time is up

Non-functionals

I adjusted my non-functionals accordingly

  • It has to be safe. This means
    • no sharp edges that can cut you
    • soft impact if you get hit or you hit the object yourself
    • no change/ low risk of an electric shok when you touch the object (especially in water)
  • It is not allowed to pollute the water in any way (although it is open water)
  • It should be small/ strong enough to be thrown away (like a disc/ frisbee)
  • It should be quiet when in stealth mode
    • so animals are not disturbed or spooked by it
  • It should be self-supporting regarding energy
    • at least 30 minutes when in game mode
    • at least 2 hours when in guidance mode
    • at least 4 hous when in stealth mode
  • It should be difficult to detect it
    • only external sensors are above water
    • overal height above water should be kept to a minimum
  • It is able to put itself in an upright position
  • It should be possible to attach special accessoiries on it. For example
    • a shark vin (game mode)
    • a rubber duck (stealth mode)
  • It's direction should be clear for other vessels on the water when it is dark

System integration

UWO as a system will consist of several subsystems.

UX

Imagine being the water; maybe the user already has goggles on. This means that the interface should be easy to use and it's information clearly visible; even when it is dark(er). Rotating knobs? LED display in numbers. On the other hand may be the interface should be outside UWO. This would make it lighter? But what if you want to change some stuff while you are swimming. If the UX is outside how do you operate it then. Hmm..

Based on the directions from the user this subsystem is able to navigate in the right direction, the right speed. It's inputs are:

  • GPS location
  • Object detection (distance in meters, direction)
  • Swimmer detection (distance in meters, direction)
  • GeoFence
  • Mode/ scenario

It uses this information to pick a path at the right speed. For instance depending on the scenario it will I go toward or away from a swimmer.

While it is navigating it will output traveled distance in regular intervals.

Awareness

This subsystem is all about detecting objects; surroundings. It's input are:

  • GPS location
  • Map data (water side, buoys)
  • Camera/Image feed (maybe 360?)

Whether the camera feed is continous or just images I don't know yey

It uses the information to detect and output:

  • if UWO will hit something (if continuing in the direction)
  • what that something could actually be (could be wildlife, buoy, shore, swimmer)
  • at what distance
Imagery

This subsystem is responsible for detecting/ recording UWO's surrounding and storing it. It's input are:

  • GPS Location
  • Time/date
  • Continous camera feed (maybe 360?)

There is no output at this time but this could be cleaned images that are needed for the awareness subsystem

This subsystem is responsible for all lights above (ships, vessels) and under water (to follow UWO). It's input are:

  • Navigation lights on/off
  • Guidance lights on/off
  • System warning lights on/off (this is to show what the status is of UWO)
    • low battery
    • stuck/ don't know what to do
    • ...
Central unit

This part is responsible for the overall command structure; for receiving and providing information to the different subsystems.

Visuals/ mockups

Must stuff I can visualize myself but my biggest concern at the moment is the propulsion. I would like to use some type of jet engine (the ones that create forward motion based on pumping water; so no propellor). I think this would be fast and safe. So before I start creating a newer version of my 2D/ 3D sketch I asked for inspiration from GenAI. Short summary it also came up with a waterjet propulsion idea. For now I will assume I can create this.

GenAI also mentioned the term holonomic robot In short if I could accomplish this UWO would be able to "move in any direction from any orientation, creating an incredibly mobile robot. So, it's easy to move the robot in a congested area".

First 3D model in Solvespace

See week 2 for a description of the process. Just again the result for now.

Week 03

During our local session on Thursday, Henk suggested to discuss our final projects with Bas Pijls; just as an independent person. Regarding my idea he had some thoughts/ tips:

  • Student Mkhitar (2025) made a submarine; look into that
  • Water pressure from a "peralstaltic movement" is not fast enough
  • By the pump; it is very tricky to make yourself
  • Water tight is possible using epoxy.
  • Maybe I can create my model from "piepschuim" and cut out what I want (I will learn this during CNC week), then put epoxy in it and suc it vacuum (sounds nice 😄)
  • Overall do-able but choose what you make yourself