Wiznet makers

The WizBeacon is designed to aid visually impaired swimmers in mastering flip turns and navigating the pool. It provides audio cues to help swimmers time their flip turns and stay oriented in the pool. With precise sound signals, swimmers can navigate more confidently and improve their performance. 

The need for reliable orientation tools for visually impaired swimmers is well-documented. Paralympian McClain Hermes, for instance, utilizes various methods such as tappers, sprinklers, and stroke counts to know when to flip at the wall. The WizTurn offers an user-friendly solution by providing consistent audio cues, eliminating the need for physical contact or manual counting. This device enhances independence and precision, making it a great asset for visually impaired swimmers.

Cognitio Problematis

Swimmers utilize the flip turn as a mode to transfer energy and maintain speed. The three phases of the flip turn, the approach phase, the turn phase and the exit phase are all important to consider when analyzing how to do a correct flip turn. Maintaining velocity, achieving optimal knee flexion, time on the wall and overall reducing drag force are important variables to measure when evaluating the technique of a flip turn.  

Visually impaired swimmers struggle to know how far they are from the end of their lane, risking injury and impacting performance. Accurate distance is crucial for safe and effective kick turns. Beginners also find it difficult to keep swimming in straight direction.

The following are three ways to signal a swimmer when to stop and turn or to do a flip turn.

•  An instructor or friend can take a kickboard and tap the swimmer’s shoulder with a kickboard when the swimmer is 3-4 ft from the wall. 
• The same person can tap the swimmer on the head with a "bonker" (a long pole with a tennis ball or 1 ft of a swimming noodle attached to the end) when he or she is 3-4 ft from the end of the pool (Lepore, Gayle, & Stevens, 1998). Bonkers are used in international competition for athletes who are blind. 
• For a swimmer with low vision, a sprinkler placed at either end of the pool to disturb the 

Solution

I propose a solution where the swimmer can feel independant without the need of an external personal guiding the swimmer. To achive this the swimmer must get reliable and consistant feedback regarding the surrounding.

The solution will consist of multiple acoustic becons which are staggered equidistant from each other.  

Two becons on the far end of the pool will have waterproof ultrasonic sensors attached to them which will help in timing the feedback for the swimmer. 

The becons will actively produce acoustic feedback in constant intervels 

Design

The Surf 5 is an excellent choice of microcontroller for this project due to its Power over Ethernet (PoE) feature when combined with the WizPoE-P1. 

Without any anchoring the WizBecon fails to be submerged due to its overall bouyant nature and lack of any significant mass in it. 

To overcome this, we use the ethernet connected as a tether to anchor the Becon and keep it submerged without being an obstruction. 

To minimize the risk of the beacon getting flooded we use an external water proof RJ45 conector  

Waterproof RJ45 Connection

Also to ensure the integrity of the beacon shell we use Polyethylene terephthalate Glycol (PETG) FIlament to 3d print the beacon shell. This ensures high strength and maximizes resistance to flooding of the shell. PETG is also a non soluble material which helps to maintain its integrity in the pool. 

For future designs I have modified the becon structure increasing the thickness inside the becon body to avoid any sort of flooding into the beacon.

WizBeacon 2.0 Body

WizBeacon Cap with standoffs to support the Bone Conduction Transducer

WizBeacon Cap without the Waterproof RJ45 connector

Ultrasonic sensor Holder using vacuum cup

Working 

For the WizBeacon to function as intented, Apart from the Surf 5 and WizPoE-P1 we are using:

• JSN-SR04T Waterproof Ultrasonic Module
• Adafruit I2S 3W Class D Amplifier Breakout - MAX98357A
• Adafruit Bone Conductor Transducer with Wires - 8 Ohm 1 Watt
• Male Break Away Header

Bone Conduction Transducer Mounted on Beacon Top Cap

PoC