Project

# Title Team Members TA Documents Sponsor
3 Electricity-Generating Device Retrofitted for Spin Bikes with Wall Outlet Plug Connected to Gym's Grid
Best Overall Project (FA21)
 Elisa Krause
Raihana Hossain
Tiffany Wang
 Bonhyun Ku design_document1.pdf
final_paper1.pdf
photo1.JPG
photo2.JPG
photo3.JPG
presentation1.pptx
proposal1.pdf
video
**Elisa Krause (elisak2), Raihana Hossain (rhossa2), Tiffany Wang (tw22)**

**Problem:** Something we take for granted everyday is energy. Constantly, there is energy consumption in malls, offices, schools, and gyms. However, the special thing about gyms is that there is always someone using either the elliptical, bike or etc. Now what if, along with losing those extra pounds, you can also generate some electricity using these machines? Our device is a straightforward and cheap alternative for gyms to have retrofitted spin bikes that generate electricity, and for the gym to save money by using the electricity generated by the bikes that can be connected to the gym’s grid by simply plugging the device into the wall outlet.

**Solution Overview:** We are retrofitting a spin bike with an electricity-generating device that can be plugged into the wall outlet, which will be the path to send the generated electricity back to the gym’s grid to be used. The amount of electricity generated can also be monitored and displayed with the device.

**Solution Components:**
* **[Retrofit for Electricity Generation]** Component that attaches to any spin bike on the outside (straightforward and simple retrofit) and generates electricity when the bike is being used.
* **[Send Power to Gym Grid]** Component that reverses the typical direction of the wall outlet and sends the energy generated by the bike riders back to the gym’s power grid.
* **[Metering]** Component that records and displays how much energy was generated between the times when someone presses a button on the device. The first button press will reset the display. The second button press will show how much energy was generated from the time when the button was first pressed.

**Criterion for success:**
* Retrofits any (or the majority of) spin bike types
* Energy generated from people working out on the spin bikes is sent from a wall outlet to the gym’s power grid
* Device displays the power generated by a bike during the time of two button presses.
* Show that our power output being generated matches and syncs up with a sinusoidal input using a mock setup to simulate the grid

GYMplement

Srinija Kakumanu, Justin Naal, Danny Rymut

Featured Project

**Problem:** When working out at home, without a trainer, it’s hard to maintain good form. Working out without good form over time can lead to injury and strain.

**Solution:** A mat to use during at-home workouts that will give feedback on your form while you're performing a variety of bodyweight exercises (multiple pushup variations, squats, lunges,) by analyzing pressure distributions and placement.

**Solution Components:**

**Subsystem 1: Mat**

- This will be built using Velostat.

- The mat will receive pressure inputs from the user.

- Velostat is able to measure pressure because it is a piezoresistive material and the more it is compressed the lower the resistance becomes. By tracking pressure distribution it will be able to analyze certain aspects of the form and provide feedback.

- Additionally, it can assist in tracking reps for certain exercises.

- The mat would also use an ultrasonic range sensor. This would be used to track reps for exercises, such as pushups and squats, where the pressure placement on the mat may not change making it difficult for the pressure sensors to track.

- The mat will not be big enough to put both feet and hands on it. Instead when you are doing pushups you would just be putting your hands on it

**Subsystem 2: Power**

- Use a portable battery back to power the mat and data transmitter subsystems.

**Subsystem 3: Data transmitter**

- Information collected from the pressure sensors in the mat will be sent to the mobile app via Bluetooth. The data will be sent to the user’s phone so that we can help the user see if the exercise is being performed safely and correctly.

**Subsystem 4: Mobile App**

- When the user first gets the mat they will be asked to perform all the supported exercises and put it their height and weight in order to calibrate the mat.

- This is where the user would build their circuit of exercises and see feedback on their performance.

- How pressure will indicate good/bad form: in the case of squats, there would be two nonzero pressure readings and if the readings are not identical then we know the user is putting too much weight on one side. This indicates bad form. We will use similar comparisons for other moves

- The most important functions of this subsystem are to store the calibration data, give the user the ability to look at their performances, build out exercise circuits and set/get reminders to work out

**Criterion for Success**

- User Interface is clear and easy to use.

- Be able to accurately and consistently track the repetitions of each exercise.

- Sensors provide data that is detailed/accurate enough to create beneficial feedback for the user

**Challenges**

- Designing a circuit using velostat will be challenging because there are limited resources available that provide instruction on how to use it.

- We must also design a custom PCB that is able to store the sensor readings and transmit the data to the phone.