The Wingman: Self-Spotting Bench Press

Students:Chris Potts (EE) & Lane Caffaro (ME)

Project Supervisors:Professor John Spinelli (EE) &Professor Jennifer Currey (ME)

Motivation

Health and fitness have become the focus of many Americans Working out and weight lifting

Maximize potential muscle growth Working muscles until failure

Dangerous without a spotter Work until lifter doubts he/she can lift the bar Human spotter will become obsolete Still augment muscle capacity with safety as a priority

Goals

Lifting subjects Inexperienced vs. experienced Age Sex

Parameters Vertical range: 1.2-2 feet Horizontal range: 3-4 inches Weight range: 45-300 pounds Maximum time to lift bar: 2 seconds

Performance Criteria

Free weight system No constraints on barbell’s directional motion Comfortable and unobtrusive grip on the barbell

Human Spotter Provide assistance to the lifter only when it is necessary Recognize when the lifter can no longer lift the barbell

Manual activation by switch or automatic activation by system

Output device Total time and repetitions

Lift barbell and weight Relatively quick manner

Design Requirements

Activation switches Passive state to active, return to passive

Grip switches and sensors Recognize when lifter needs assistance

Electromechanical interface Pressurized air to raise/lower pneumatic

cylinders Output display

Total time and repetitions

Block Diagram

System Design

Switches

Micro switches Placed in “V” Passive to active/Active to

passive Ribbon switches

Bottom and upper conductors separated so pressure completes the electrical contact

Manual activation of system

Unobtrusive Run length of barbell

Sensors

PING))) Ultrasonic Distance Sensors Sonar – pulse transmitted, echo return Range: 0.75 in. – 10 ft.

Barbell Design

Solenoid Valve with Coil

Lifting mechanism Air pressurized pneumatic cylinders Electrical interface

SN754410 quadruple half-H driver interface device Deenergized in upright for safety

Flow Chart Algorithm

Evaluation Parameters

Horizontal = 12 in., Vertical = 1 ft., Time = 2 s. Free weight

Unobtrusive grip No directional constraints

Human spotter BASIC Stamp communicated properly

Micro switches activated by energizing solenoid Ribbon switches deenergize solenoid Sensors deenergize solenoid

Barbell uneven or stationary LCD

Lift barbell and weight Up to 300 pounds successfully

Future Work Wireless

Horizontal sensors

Better mounted sensors

Regulator for amount of weight

Ready beep/System failure alarm

Adjustable vertical range of pneumatic cylinders

Conclusion

Working prototype of The Wingman: Self-Spotting Bench Press

Even without a human spotter he/she can work muscles until failure

Safety is a priority

The Wingman… there to take the fall so you can be the strongest of them all

Questions