Project Description
Prior ECE 480 teams have redesigned the “beep
baseball” and the remote-controlled beeping bases used in a game played
by players with limited or no eyesight. The international game of beep
baseball only uses 2 beeping bases. These bases are placed in the first
base and third base position. When a blind batter steps up to the
batting position he will hear first base beep for one second followed by
a third-base beep for one second. This gives him orientation for hitting
the ball. When the batter hits the ball one of these two bases will
begin to beep continuously. The batter must run to this beeping base.
When the batter arrives at this base the beeping is turned off.
A sighted user watches the game of beep
baseball and controls turning on and off the bases through the beep
baseball base controller user interface. The mission of this semester’s
project team is to build this handheld, battery-powered, wireless
controller with the following features:
1. Main power switch, a recessed slide switch
which turns on and off power to the unit.
2. Blinking green LED which indicates power
is on. (Blinking is used to conserve battery power)
3. Blinking yellow LED which indicates
battery power is low.
4. A removable battery compartment cover to
allow replacement of the battery (this is needed even if the batteries
are rechargeable)
5. A channel select switch located under the
battery compartment cover. This will select the wireless channel used
for communication with the bases. This switch may be rotary or dip.
6. A momentary button switch labeled "Test."
When this button is pressed first base beeps for one second, followed by
third base.
7. A momentary button switch labeled "Base
on/off" When this button is pressed, first or third base begins beeping.
The selection of which base beeps is random, created by a random number
generator.
8. Two red LEDs one labeled "Base 1" and the
other labeled "Base 2". These red LEDs blink each time a transmission
signal is sent to the base. They stay lit to indicate when the base is
left on.
Other potential improvements may also be made
to the base receivers and reduce the cost of the wireless components if
time permits.
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Sponsor
Facilitator
Dr. John Deller
Electrical & Computer Engineering Michigan State University