Key Takeaways
- The problem of hand tremors was addressed through a series of high-tech and low-tech solutions
- A gyroscope and reaction wheel were initially explored as potential solutions, but proved impractical due to size and noise
- The use of an accelerometer and brushless motor showed promise, but ultimately a more passive design proved more effective
- A wrist-mounted handle allowed the wearer to grip and stabilize their hand, suppressing the tremor and enabling the use of simple handheld objects
- The project demonstrates the importance of iteratively testing and refining solutions to find the most effective approach
Introduction to the Problem
The story of [It’s Triggy!] and his grandma’s struggle with hand tremors is a heartwarming and inspiring tale of innovation and perseverance. Hand tremors can make even the simplest tasks of daily life a challenge, and [It’s Triggy!] was determined to find a solution to help his grandma. He embarked on a journey to explore the potential of high-tech solutions to stabilize his grandma’s hand and make life easier for her. The video documenting his project showcases the various ideas and prototypes he developed, each with its own unique approach to addressing the problem of hand tremors.
Exploring High-Tech Solutions
The first build involved a gyroscope, which proved unsuccessful in stabilizing the hand. However, this initial failure led to the idea of building a reaction wheel, a concept that showed promise. The reaction wheel was designed to counteract the forces from tremors, stabilizing the hand through a simple yet ingenious mechanism. An accelerometer was used to track the movements of the arm and hand, with the magnitude of the movement controlling a powerful brushless motor mounted on the wrist. If the tremor caused a hard tilt to the left, the motor would spin up to create a counter-torque, cancelling out the involuntary movement. Although this solution worked to a degree, the resulting device was large and noisy, making it impractical for everyday use.
Refining the Design
The limitations of the reaction wheel design led [It’s Triggy!] to revisit earlier work involving the use of a tuned mass damper to settle tremors. This approach involved combining 3D printed wrist mounts with various spring and cantilever designs. However, this solution ultimately didn’t work as well as hoped, and [It’s Triggy!] was forced to re-evaluate his approach. It was at this point that he noticed the tremor was mostly confined to the hands, while the wrist remained steady. This observation inspired a new design direction, one that would focus on stabilizing the hand rather than the entire arm.
A Passive Solution Emerges
The breakthrough came when [It’s Triggy!] designed a wrist-mounted handle for the wearer to wrap their hand around. This simple yet effective solution allowed the wearer to grip and stabilize their hand, suppressing the tremor and enabling the use of simple handheld objects like kitchen utensils. The wearer’s own grip proved to be the key to stabilizing the hand, and this passive design ultimately proved more effective than the high-tech solutions explored earlier. This outcome highlights the importance of iteratively testing and refining solutions, as well as being open to exploring different approaches and design directions.
Conclusion and Reflection
The project undertaken by [It’s Triggy!] demonstrates the value of perseverance and creative problem-solving in addressing real-world challenges. Through a series of prototypes and design iterations, [It’s Triggy!] was able to find an effective solution to help his grandma manage her hand tremors. The project also highlights the importance of considering both high-tech and low-tech solutions, as well as being willing to pivot and adjust the design direction as needed. Ultimately, the success of the wrist-mounted handle design shows that sometimes, a more passive and simple solution can be the most effective approach to addressing a complex problem.