Garage Parking Indicator Dec 06 09 Abstract Parking

Garage Parking Indicator Dec 06 -09 Abstract Parking your vehicle in the garage is a task that most of us take for granted. We head home from work or school, raise the garage door and drive on in. However, for some people that task is not so easy. Senior citizens and individuals with a visual impairment can have difficulty accurately parking their vehicle in the center of the garage. This causes problems such as running the vehicle into items stored in the garage, difficulty in opening obstructed doors and even damage to the garage structure and or vehicle. The Garage Parking Indicator provides a visual feedback to the driver that indicates if the vehicle is close to a predetermined ideal location in the garage at that moment. With this feedback, the driver can make corrections in the path of the vehicle until the correct position is indicated. Introduction Project Requirements Problem Statement General Problem Statement The goal is to produce a device that provides a visual guide to help a driver position his or her vehicle correctly while it is being parked in a garage. This function is very similar to a tennis ball hung on string to indicate the position of the vehicle. General Problem Solution Create an electronic equivalent to the tennis ball on a string method. An approach to this solution is to utilize a laser to let the driver know when the vehicle is in the correct position. The laser will be powered through the automatic garage door opener. Operating Environment The device will be placed in an environment exposed to extreme changes in temperature and humidity, as well as dust and insects. Users People who require assistance with parking a vehicle in their garage. In particular, elderly people, and other individuals with a reduced feel for the dimensions of the vehicle. Uses The device is intended to be used to help individuals park their vehicles in the correct position. Limitations • The garage has a door and an electric door opener. • There is a suitable mounting place for the device in the garage. • The same vehicle will be parked in the same position every time. • The garage door opener includes a standard incandescent light bulb which comes on when the door opener is activated. • The unit has an unobstructed “line of sight” to the vehicle. • Vehicle is parked forward into the garage. • Device must retail for less than $40. Assumptions • One device will provide guidance for two parking stalls • Installation should be easy, using simple hand tools • The system should turn on and off automatically • Designed for household power (120 V) Design Objectives • Visual guide • Ease of installation and use • Accuracy Functional Requirements • Automatic on/off control • Provide position feedback to the driver Design Constraints • Weather resistance • Device power source and control • Device cost • User safety Measurable Milestones • End-product Design • Product prototype • Product testing • Product documentation • Product demonstration View of power unit installation Apr. 25, 2006 Jun. 09, 2006 Nov. 01, 2006 Nov. 10, 2006 Dec. 05, 2006 View of mounted laser device Resources and Schedule Project Schedule Gantt Chart Financial Requirements/Personnel Effort Expected End-Product • Mountable wall/ceiling unit – includes adjustable position indicators • Power supply unit • Installation instructions and user manual Approach and Considerations Proposed Approach: Block diagram of product functionality Technologies Considered: • Ultra sonic sensors • Laser tripwires • Laser distance measurement • Laser pointer as a visual guide • Sound, vibration and light detection for on/off control • Utilize garage door opener as power source and on/off control • Timing circuit as switching mechanism Items Printing Documentation Lasers Casing Power Converters Other Subtotal Labor at $15. 00 per hour Kulseng, Lars Finck, Kevin Wiltse, Daniel Seals, Richard Total Cost W/O Labor: $10. 00 $16. 64 $3. 15 $5. 45 $8. 71 $43. 95 Cost With Labor: $10. 00 $16. 64 $3. 15 $5. 45 $8. 71 $43. 95 Total Hours: 122 150 75 110 457 $1, 830 $2, 250 $1, 125 $1, 650 $6, 898. 95 Closing Summary Parking an automobile for senior citizens and individuals with a visual impairment can be a challenging task that threatens their mobility in society. The solution that is put forth in this project will use a single, easily mountable device that uses a visible laser to guide the user to the correct position. The device will turn on and off automatically, to further the ease of use. The garage parking indicator provides a solution that is modern, affordable and easy to install for the intended users of the product. Team Information Testing Considerations: • Field test of prototype • Usability of user manual Team Members Kevin Finck kfinck@iastate. edu Side view of implementation EE Lars Kulseng Cpr. E shambat@iastate. edu Richard Seals Cpr. E rseals@iastate. edu Faculty Advisor Dr. Gary Tuttle gtuttle@iastate. edu Client Senior Design Daniel Wiltse EE dlwiltse@iastate. edu Webpage http: //seniord. ee. iastate. edu/dec 0609/