Current status of project:

This past week we spent the majority of our effort on reviewing study results of existing solutions such as the Heat Observation Technology (H.O.T.) System by Hothead Technologies and temporal scanners made by Exergen. Thanks to many of the supporting studies and papers from these products, we were able to evaluate the use of some of our design ideas and requirements. Also, we identified a variety of design specifications based on industry standards and client input. An important part of the design specification came from the National Operating Committee on Safety Equipment for Athletes (NOCSAE). We also continued researching the possibility of using a mouthguard as a way to take temperatures. Ultimately, our exploration of existing solutions and requirements has led us to lean away from this design for reasons that are laid out in our preliminary report. We currently have completed our preliminary presentation and are working on incorporating all of our individual areas of the preliminary report into a complete paper.

Work planned for next week:

We intend to bring together all of our write ups on background information, project need, design specifications, literary searches, and existing solutions to make up our preliminary report by Wednesday morning. Since the content is all present, our goal is to ensure consistent language and formatting throughout the report. Once the report is completed, our next steps will be to complete the DesignSafe analysis and begin work on the project website. We also plan to layout design ideas that support our reasoning to select the use of a mouthguard sensor or an in-helmet sensor.

Anything needed from client or TA or instructor to continue work:

No questions or requests at the time.

Current status of project:

We met this past weekend to better define the existing problem of heat-related illness and heatstroke in athletes, specifically football players, and looked at existing technologies that might be of use in the design we aim to develop. We have found articles online that claim that the problem is both widespread but preventable, although we hope to find peer-reviewed published papers documenting studies that also indicate as such. Existing technologies include the Heat Observation Technology (H.O.T.) System by Hothead Technologies, a temperature monitoring system inside various types of helmets, and the temporal thermometer made by Exergen for both commercial and medical use. We also found a system measuring core temperature via a mouthguard, as well as various helmet system patents. Finally, we have an outline prepared for the preliminary report and presentation for next week, and have divided up the outline.

Work planned for next week:

We intend to find published literature to document and define the problem of heat-related illness and heatstroke as being widespread but preventable. We will investigate the reliability of measuring temperature from the temporal artery and the relationship between the skin surface temperature measurement near the temporal artery and the actual core body temperature. We are looking further into the existing technologies to better understand their thermometry methods. The H.O.T. System does not have many details online regarding its functionality, so we are contacting Hothead Technologies to learn more about their product. Exergen has a list of peer-reviewed published papers, abstracts, and letters regarding the reliability of temporal artery thermometry, so we are reading further into each article to look for data or algorithms that might be helpful. We will also be defining an initial set of specifications for our sensing system.

Anything needed from client or TA or instructor to continue work:

We are contacting Marc Schmidt to inquire about specifications regarding the force and acceleration the sensor would have to be able to withstand within the helmet, as well as the tests that the helmet would have to pass once the sensor is installed.

Current status of project: We visited the Rawlings test facility in O’Fallon, Missouri. Marc Schmidt showed us around the test facility and some of the rigorous testing that specifically helmets go through so that we had perspective on how robust the system would have to be. We had a longer conversation afterwards regarding the current starting point of the project and some of the larger question regarding the project. Other than this meeting, we identified three areas to begin research. These included current practice for skin temperature readings, the progressing of overheating leading to heat stroke or other heat related events, and the current studies relating skin temperature to core temperature.

Work planned for next week: We plan to review our preliminary research in the three areas listed above and then identify the areas that we should dive deeper into. The hope is that we can begin to split areas of research among our team members based on our strengths and specific parts of interest in the project.

Anything needed from client or TA or instructor to continue work: Nothing this week

Current status of project: We have decided to take the Helmet Temperature Sensor project that was proposed by Biju Matthew from Jarden Team Sports. Marc Schmidt will be our mentor and contact person throughout the project.

Work planned for next week: We will be going out to the location in O’Fallon, Missouri on Tuesday, September 10th to see what work has been done by the company. We will also be getting a tour of the facility from Marc Schmidt. We will begin background research. We will have our project scope defined by Wednesday, September 11th.

Anything needed from client or TA or instructor to continue work: Nothing this week.