Train Together
Description
Within 2 weeks, we worked full-time to implement a prototype system to do physical exercises together. The prototype enables the user to ask others to joint a training session via pressing a button. The matrix then displays an execise. LEDs indicate when the exercise starts and ends.
Year
2020
Contribution
brainstorming + development of one of three prototypes
Context
University project for the course Physical Computing; group of 3
Skills
Arduino, Breadboard, Physical Computing, Prototyping, Fusion 360, Fritzing
Background
As due to Covid we were stuck at home, we decided to implement a prototype system to do physical exercises together. In a group of three, each team member created a physical prototype based on an Arduino. The prototypes communicate with each other to provide a way to invite others for syncronized exercising and to suggest an exercise. The button is used to start an exercise session, the display shows an animation of the exercise.
Materials
We were randomly given a set of components to work with for building our prototype. I had a 8x8 LED Matrix, 3 LEDs and a Photoresistor to work with. I used the photoresistor for going online (when you are up for a training session) and offline (to mute the device when you do not want to exercise). Therefore, you have to take off the head. The LEDs indicate the state with yellow for receiving a training request, green when an exercise is running and red when the exercise is over. Multiple buttons allow to select a body region you want to train. An exercise is randomly suggested under consideration of the chosen body part.
Breadboard Setup with Fritzing
Breadboard
3D model with Fusion
I designed a 3D Model for the prototype using Fusion 360. The model incorporates the 8x8 matrix, the buttons for the selection of exercises and the LEDs to indicate the state. The head can be taken off to cover (unmute) or uncover (mute) the photoresistor.
Communication
In order to enable an exchange between the devices, they connect to the local WLAN and communicate via a shared server using web sockets. For this purpose, a JSON message format was defined to establish a session, respond to a session request and receive an exercise. The prototype switches states based on those requests.