A group of New Mexico State University students are developing a device that will assist sight-impaired swimmers. Four electrical engineering students under the guidance of professor Steven Stochaj are researching the project as part of their capstone senior project.

(Pictured left to right: Electrical engineering students Kenneth Stevens, Gabriel Madrid, Amy Garduno and John Watson. Photo by Isabel Rodriguez of NMSU)

"We have already tested the device in the pool, with excellent results meeting our expectations," said Kenneth Stevens, lead engineer.

The device is a receiver that uses audio tones to indicate positions to swimmers, steering them toward the end of the pool and signifying when they venture too far left or right.

Stevens and his teammates, Amy Garduno, Gabriel Madrid and John Watson, presented the swimming aid to Stochaj and instructors Robert Hull and Krist Petersen at the NMSU Natatorium on June 29.

"We used a modified webcam to capture frames and process the images to filter the color of the object (the swimmer) and track its position," Stevens explained. "The filtering allows us to adjust the color to be recognized and tracked by the software to determine the swimmer's position. The position is related to a set of pre-drawn boundaries in the display, and an audio tone is generated. The tone is sent to the swimmer via radio communication. The swimmer hears the signal through a receiver, contained in a waterproof case. He also uses waterproof earphones to react appropriately to the audio warning signals."

The students use an FM receiver to develop their idea. Other solutions included a magnetic water system and a path of bubbles to guide swimmers through lanes.

The FM device is enclosed in a waterproof case that is strapped around the swimmer’s chest. It weighs less than a quarter of a pound. With audio signals coming from the camera and computer software, the communication system works to four feet. The tracking system works to a depth of two feet.

Once the equipment has been set up, it runs on its own. There doesn't need to be anyone on the computer end to send signals to the receiver (swimmer).

To improve the aid, students said they would like to develop it to function deeper underwater. They also would like to market the device to organizations, so that it can actually assist sight-impaired swimmers. The group would also like to include an additional tone to indicate to swimmers when they've reached the end of the lane. The current tool used is a tapper, a pole with soft ends. Additionally, the students hope to develop the aid to assist more than one swimmer at a time.

The current estimated cost is less than $2,000; but, the students want to lower that to about $700.


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