Project Description

The skate accelerometer consists of a tri-axis accelerometer mounted to a skateboard. It is to be mounted on the center of the board. Two accelerometers will be imbedded in two Velcro bands. These bands will be worn around the ankles of the user. An accelerometer will also be fitted to a helmet. These extra accelerometers are necessary to provide reference points for the accelerometer attached to the skateboard.

Each of these accelerometers will be coupled with a wireless system. The Arduino Xbee Shield Wireless Module will be used because it includes a wireless system and an accelerometer. The signals are transmitted to a microcontroller which is interfaced with a laptop computer to be analyzed and processed. The microcontroller that will be used is the Arduino Diecimila USB Microcontroller Board which uses a USB interface.

Position, speed, and acceleration of the skateboard will be measured with this data. Not only will these values be found but patterns will be detected. This will allow the computer to identify tricks performed and calculate hang time as well as height of jumps.

This data will be converted into an animation that can be recorded and displayed on the computer screen. A long term file of trick history will be made.

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Status Report 2/12/09

We are well in the implementation phase of our project.

Materials to mount the accelerometer and microcontroller on the skateboard have been obtained. We are using an electrical box that can be screwed to the bottom of the skateboard.

Currently we have had success with getting the wireless system to work. The next step is to receive data from the accelerometer and transmit it over the wireless system. Once this data is recorded we can analyze it.

Using the trapezoidal rule we have been able to produce velocity data from the acceleration data. We are optimistic and excited with our progress. We are not sure if you ever found our website address. It can be found at skateacc.blogspot.com.

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About Me

Logan, Utah, United States
Electrical Engineering student at USU. Responsible for the crop circles in England.