2021 - Rory McLynskey
a third year GROUP project introducing Arduino to create functional prototypes
This was easily the most difficult project thus far, as creating an electronically enabled product which performed a novel and unique function with no coding background is not easy. The context behind this project was disabled archery, and the challenges faced by archers who want to improve their performance.
03
CAV.alier
At the very beginning of the project, we felt it was important to go out to Belmont Shooting Complex and interact/observe with a couple of para-archers. Matt McDougall, one of the three members is a professional archer, so managed to put us in contact with Kieran (blue shirt) and Chris (Qantas sweater). To gain an understanding of our context, Ryan and I asked Matt if we could have a shoot, the results of which are shown in the top right image below.
It's harder than it looks...
loss of stamina. impaired form. tilted. no opportunity for correction.
we have a problem.
unintrusive. clear input/output. accessible. simple interface.
The market for archer performance assist products for disabled is non-existent. Para-archery is an emerging sport and so lacks the funding and technology for supporting athletes. The range of shooting-assist products for able-bodied archers is also very thin, but does exist. The primary inspiration was the Mantis X8.
Four distinct characteristics from the Mantis were identified as being particularly valuable.
- lightweight
- straightforward function (simple inputs/outputs)
- does not impede the shooting process
- use of colour
These factors were evidently important in our system.
market research.
[interface]
right hand + left hand? man or woman? disabled friendly.
market research.
[product]
It was important to find a product within the existing archery inventory to design within, as creating a seperate product specifically for disabled would simply highlight their disability. Chest guards are designed to reduce to opportunity of injury caused by loose fitting t-shirts on men and women interfering with the release of the arrow, specifically the bowstring. Typically, chest guards comprise of several layers of flexible material. A base layer of lycra/spandex is used to mould to the users body shape, with a layer of mesh fabric facing outwards (pictured) to provide breathability and eliminate friction or hooking fibres. Therefore, a combination of materials that don't discriminate body shapes, is suitable to left and right handers and is easy to put on were essential elements.
Introduce ideation.
ideation.
breathability. ease of use. not a bra...
arduino prototyping.
display LED's. vest haptics.
Arduino coding was by far the most difficult thing I had ever done in my course. Luckily, I had two fairly straightforward functions related to the same input, the gyroscope. The first two videos show the effect of tilting the gyro on the vibration motors and the display LED's. The final stage of prototyping was the fitting of the arduino's into the display and the vest. Pictured in the third video is the shell printed by Matt, with the archer illustration drawn by myself in Illustrator graphically showing whether the archer is leaning or swaying. Like the example in the market research, the use of colour association to communicate a message is utilised in a clear way. For example, the red light can be immediately linked to leaning too far right, making the thin engraving obsolete (which is a good thing).
laser printing the nylon & mesh...
vest prototyping.
The second stage of prototyping was the vest creation. Easily the most fun part of the process, the vest prototype was laser cut to abide by the anthropometric measurements. To imitate the textures on the actual vest, two seperate layers were cut, the soft, stretchy lycra which moulded to the archers chest as well as the spongy, breathable mesh.
FINAL PROTOTYPE
Six seperate haptic vibration sensors were stitched into the underside of the vest, with spare cloth used to cover them. Each of the motors were placed intentionally to be able to indicate to the wearer whether they were leaning too far forward, back, left or right. This was determined by the gyro, which in the actual product would be fitted into the vest. The post shot display would average the data from the previous shot and indicate what direction the user was leaning towards, a simplified display to immediately convey the needed information.
An awesome group project, and a shoutout to Matt McDougall and Ryan Kelly for being awesome group members and designing the compliment products in the CAValier series.
