Progression Weeks 12, 13 & 14

In these 3 final weeks, I give all my effort to finish FYP1 proposal report. All research done before this have to be put in the proposal report and the proposal should sound convincing.

The datelines for the proposal report is 19 December 2014.

Progression Week 11

FYP 1 PRESENTATION

My  assessor for my presentation are Dr Mohd Noor and Madam Sabrina. I had presented about my idea that is the Development of Electric Wheelchair controlled by EMG circuit complete with its methodology, problem statements and many more.

                                              

During the presentation, Madam Sabrina more questions about how the process is carried out to get the best EMG signal to move the wheelchair. For her, in her experience for obtain EEG signal itself are very difficult because the voltage produced is very low. Dr Mohd Noor more to support Madam Sabrina question because for him, the EMG signal itself plays an important role in the production of this wheelchair.

At the end of the presentation, they both give advice and views on project that I will run. They asked me to consult more with my supervisor on this project.

Progression Week 10

Preparation for my presentation slide

For this week, I started doing my presentation slide. There are eight topics that need to attach in the slide show, where are:

• Introduction - the background of the project title
• Problem Statement - problems that need to be solve
• Aim and Objectives - Objectives of the project must support and achieve the aim
• Scope and Limitation - explain general and method to be used
• Literature Review
• Methodology - consists of Block Diagram and Flow Chart 
• Expected Budget
• Expected Result

The presentation slide must not be less than 8 slides and should not exceed than 15 slides. The total slides must not include front page.

Progression Week 9

WORK PLAN

Table below shows the Gantt chart which is the overall planning for the preparation of Meter Bill for Distribution Panel. The time frame allocated for this research study is 4 months. It is started in September 2014 and will be completed in December 2014. It is divided into 14 weeks. The Gantt chart for this project is shown in Table.

The chart is divided into 13 tasks to achieve the project objectives. Each task will follow the sequence form week to week. Based on the chart, the most challenging task is making a research about EMG signals and components to be used in this project. It needs more time to find and survey suitable components and material that going to be used for the project.

Besides, the designing of flow chart of the product and the block diagram are also a challenging task during conducting this research. It needs more understanding on how the system work as the block diagram is easier for drafting the exact situation of how the system works.

Progression Week 8

The Illustration for the EMG Electric Wheelchair

Figure shows the design illustration of the product of EMG Electric Wheelchair.

Progression Week 7

Block diagram for whole system

Based on figure above, it can be seen that the input, process and output part. 

The Input part

The system starts when EMG signal detected by surface EMG electrode. Surface EMG electrode need be used because it is non invasive and safe to the user. Next the signal will be filtered and amplified by AD620 IC. 

The Processing part

In this stage, the decomposition of EMG signal is processed by the EMG circuit design. 

The Output part

For the final stage, the signal in voltage condition will be powered the motor circuit to move the EMG electric wheelchair.    

Progression Week 6

THE COMPONENTS AND SOFTWARE 

After go through some websites in the internet and talk about my project with some of my senior and my supervisor, I came out with this components and software for my project.

• surface EMG electrode - the important part to detect the EMG signals.
• AD620 IC - to amplify the EMG signal produced
• 
  

Progression Week 5

BENEFITS of EMG application

- Device / Machine / Projects related to EMG

1) Smart Controller using EMG sensor (video) - A new wireless controller using EMG, acc. and gyroscope is introduced. EMG controller detects specific human motions and intentions and can be used many kinds of controllers.

2) CS 780 - Robotics Theory & Practice: Application of EMG Sensor As Manipulator Controller (video) - LynxMotion Johnny5 with SSC-32 servo controller circuit, controlled via Arduino and EMG sensor. Instructional relay program between microcontroller and robot was written in C.

 

Progression Week 4

AIM AND OBJECTIVE

I have highlighted several aim and objective for my project.

AIM 

• EMG electric wheelchair can use to paraplegia so they can move freely without anyone's help. 
• EMG electric wheelchair also benefits to other user as long as their muscle movement are in the best condition.

OBJECTIVE 

• To apply EMG signals to extract information about posture and movements of the muscle shoulder. 
• To develop the electric wheelchair controlled by EMG circuit.

Progression Week 3

1) Research on Paraplegia

Paraplegia is an impairment in motor or sensory function of the lower extremities. It is usually the result of spinal cord injury or a congenital condition such as spina bifida which affects the neural elements of the spinal canal. While some people with paraplegia can walk to a degree, many are dependent on wheelchairs or other supportive measures. Wheelchair mobility is an important skill to learn. Most paraplegics will be dependent on a wheelchair as a mode of transportation. Thus it is extremely important to teach them the basic skills to gain their independence.

2) Research on EMG signals detection technique

1) EMG and Muscle Activity - Tech Tips with Vernier (video)

2) Surface EMG (video)

 3) Research on EMG circuit design

1) How to design a single supply EMG circuit (video)

2) Basic EMG Signal Processing (video)

Progression Week 2

Objective : 

• to help student in the preparation of Final Year Project 
• to familiar student with the journal

List of Activity : 

• Attended briefing about Final Year Project at TTL 1 presented by Dr Muhd Noor and Dr Fahmi
• Retrieved information from http://www.ieee.org/index.html for the journal

Conclusion : 

• Understood the rules and what to be done in a fyp 
• got three journals retrieved from website which are ; (1) EMG Signals Detection Technique in Voluntary Muscle Movement (2) The Design of Wheelchair Based on SEMG Control (3) A New Control Method for Power-Assisted Wheelchair Based on the Surface Myoelectric Signal

Progression Week 1

Project Description

In recent times, the use of wheelchairs has increased rapidly. This is because with the aging of the current population, the demand for wheelchairs is increasing not only among the disabled but also among the increasing aged population. Therefore, I want to develop a new controller for power-assisted wheelchairs. Conventional power-assist controllers only focus on the amplification of the human input force using torque sensor. the proposed controller does not use a torque sensor but an electromyogram sensor to estimate the driver’s intention. I also use a disturbance observer to compensate for the lack of propelling torque information since it is difficult to simply regard the myoelectric signals as propelling torque. Then, I decide assist torque by combining the filtered myoelectric signals and the estimated human torque signal calculated by the disturbance observer. Experimental results show that the proposed power-assist method realizes fast, stable, and smooth acceleration. With the help of exploitation of myoelectric signals, disabled persons can have a chance to improve their life with their muscle movements.

Objective : 

• to make sure student have supervisor for the Final Year Project

List of Activity :

• Chose Mr Syazwan from Medical Electronics Section as the supervisor
• Discuss with advisor about the project title

Conclusion :

• Decided topic for Final Year Project which is "Development of Electronic Wheelchair controlled by EMG circuit"