Engineering Proposal
Sibora Boba & Jana Elwassif
The City College of New York
Writing for Engineering: ENGL 21007
Professor Jacobson
29 November 2022
Introduction
About half of all women and one-quarter of all men will experience osteoarthritis of the hands by the time they are 85 years old (Arthritis, 2021). However, mobility issues are not limited to the elderly. From 2013 to 2015, 7.1% in the age range of 18-44 years in the United States, reported to have a doctor-diagnosis of arthritis (“Arthritis Related Statistic”, 2021). This stiffness and pain affect one’s ability to perform everyday tasks like washing hair. The precise back and forth movement of the fingers and raising their arms for extended periods of time can be very painful for those with arthritis in the hands, arms, or those who have other health concerns like autoimmune diseases (Arthritis Foundation, 2022). These people are then dependent on a caregiver to wash their hair. Our AutoScrubber™ is designed with the intent of greatly reducing this dependency and giving people with health issues greater freedom and independence in their life. The AutoScrubber™ is a hair scrubbing cap that attaches to the shower wall. The user would push a button to lower or raise the cap onto the user’s head, another button to dispense shampoo, and then another button to start or stop the scrubbing process. Optimally, the user would only need help mounting the scrubber and shampoo holder to the wall, and occasionally refilling the shampoo holder and charging the batteries. When purchasing, buyers can choose different sizes to accommodate different head shapes and sizes and ensure a proper clean.
Current Innovations
Scalp massagers are often used to help the user in shampooing their scalp efficiently, however people with mobility issues in their arms, wrists, and fingers won’t be able to comfortably hold and use this tool for long periods of time (Quinn, 2022). Shampoo trays/basins are also used for people who have mobility issues to make showering easier, more convenient, and more comfortable. However, they require assistance from a caregiver, and therefore offer little independence or privacy for the user (Wrabel, 2018).
There is a deficit in the market for a product like the AutoScrubber™ which gives the user a greatly increased sense of autonomy over this part of their lives. Our innovation addresses the problems of the currently existing innovations. Users do not have to worry about the discomfort of washing their hair or using tools and they don’t have to compromise their privacy. The AutoScrubber™ also appeals to users who can’t stand in the shower. The cap can be installed at any height, meaning it can be installed to be low enough to reach the user if they use a chair in the shower.
Technical Description
The main components of the AutoScrubber™ are the helmet, the lifting arm, and the shampoo dispenser. All these components are connected via a Bluetooth remote, allowing for the user to use a remote to first have the arm lower the cap onto their head, turn on the scrubbing feature and dispense shampoo onto their head. Once they finish, they can use the remote to turn off the scrubbing and lift the cap up so that they can use the shower normally.
Shampoo Dispenser
Bottle:
The shampoo bottle is made of PCR plastic, which is a recycled plastic that is durable and cost-effective (Edward, 2018). It’s held to the wall using a durable suction cup. The bottle would hold about 16 oz of shampoo. Empty, the bottle would weigh about 0.2 lbs. It can be refilled with shampoo when it is empty.
Shampoo Bottle Cap:
The bottle contains a screw-on cap that can open to refill the bottle with shampoo and close tightly to prevent any spills in case the bottle falls. It contains ridges on the inside of the cap that align with the ridges on the bottle to keep the bottle closed.
Wiring compartment:
Within the bottle there is a compartment against the top of the bottle. This holds the Bluetooth circuit board and the battery pack, and the electronic pump. There is a hole within the compartment that the pump lays on top of. The liquid intake straw of the pump goes through this hole so that it can collect the soap. This compartment minimizes the pump, wires, and circuit board interaction with the soap.
Automatic Shampoo pump:
The electric pump creates a suction that pulls the soap up the liquid intake tube and into the liquid outtake tube that will send the shampoo through the cap. It has valves that prevent the liquid from falling back down into the bottle. The pump tubes have springs to prevent the tubes from tangling with each other. It is connected to the Bluetooth circuit board that allows the pump to pump the shampoo only when the user presses a button on the Bluetooth connected remote (bigclivedotcom, 2020).
This is connected to the pump. It contains an antenna that receives the signal that is created when the user presses the corresponding button on the remote. The signal is then sent to the pump so that it takes up the shampoo and sends it through the cap.
The waterproofed Arduino microcontroller is connected to 12 V of external power from a battery, 7 DC motors, and a Bluetooth module. The Arduino is also connected to the automatic pump. The Bluetooth module is paired to a remote which allows users to press the respective button when they want to apply shampoo. When the user presses the button on the Bluetooth remote, it sends a signal to the Bluetooth module, that signals to the Arduino that in turn sends the signal to power the electric pump and dispense the shampoo (Hommer, 2021). It is covered in acrylic to make the circuit board waterproof and resistant to humidity, ensuring the circuit board is not affected by the water in the shower or the shampoo in the bottle. (Cadence PCB Solutions, 2022).
Battery Pack:
For the Bluetooth circuit board and the electronic shampoo pump to function, the wiring compartment will also hold a waterproof battery pack. This will hold a 12 V battery pack that can be accessed from the top of the shampoo bottle. The wires of the battery pack will be connected to the circuit board and the automatic pump to power those components.
Shampoo tubes:
This tube is connected to the outtake tube from the electric pump. After the pump gets shampoo from the bottle, it sends it through the tube that is external to the device. The tube is connected to the scrubber cap. Once it is inside the cap, it diverges into 4 separate, smaller tubes. These smaller tubes are placed in designated spaces in between the scrubbers and do not interact with the motors. This type of tube allows for the shampoo to be directly dispensed on the user’s head and spread to different parts of their head effectively, allowing for a more efficient wash.
Cap Exterior
Outer Shell:
The outer shell of the cap is made of polycarbonate. This material was chosen for its excellent impact resistance, weather resistance, high heat resistance as well as its light weight (Aurora Sports, 2020). The impact resistance would aid in protecting the inner components if the cap faced any brute force and the weather and heat resistance is necessary to withstand the conditions of a shower. Users wouldn’t have to worry about how having the showerhead on would damage the cap even if the water was very hot. There is an insertion hole for the shampoo tube in the outer cap which leads into the interior to be applied to the hair.
On the outer shell, the battery compartment is screwed closed. The 12 V battery is rechargeable and can be disconnected from the microcontroller, taken out, recharged, and reconnected. This allows for the cap to use a battery light enough to be stored in the cap that can continuously supply sufficient energy.
Visor:
At the bottom front of the cap, a visor extends inwards where the user would press their head towards. This serves as an extra measure to protect the user’s eyes from runoff shampoo during the scrubbing process. It is also made of polycarbonate to withstand the same conditions as the outer cap.
Cap Interior
Circuitry:
The waterproofed Arduino microcontroller is connected to 12 V of external power from a battery, 7 DC motors, and a Bluetooth module. The Bluetooth module is paired to a remote which allows the user to turn the scrubbing on and off, apply shampoo to the hair, and raise and lower the cap.
Inner Cap:
In the inner cap, there are 7 circular hair scrubbers with silicone prongs that scrub the head. The scrubbers are each connected to a DC motor which turns about 90 degrees in alternating directions to effectively clean the hair and scalp. The scrubbers do not make full or large rotations to avoid hair tangling. The scrubbers are set in a polycarbonate shell which can withstand extended contact with water and shampoo.
Wall Mount/Arm
Suction Cup:
To hold all the components firmly in place, a heavy-duty suction cup is attached to the arm of the device and creates a vacuum against the wall. Heavy duty suction cups can hold up to 100 lbs, making it strong enough to hold the device firmly against the wall.
Lifting arm:
The metal arms are made of aluminum oxide tubing, since this metal is light and resistant to corrosion. (Industrial Quick Service, n.d.) It also maintains its hardness and shape in high temperatures which will help it resist the possible high-water temperatures of the shower. (Advanced Ceramic Materials, n.d.). It is also a strong material, relative to its low weight making it ideal for supporting the weight of the cap (Eagle Stainless, 2022).
There are two separate metal casings. The first tube is attached to the suction cup and contains all the circuity. It also holds the motor and contains two holes that allow for the tips of the motor to extend outward through the holes. This casing completely covers the circuit and motor to prevent damage from the water. The second tube is longer and is attached to the helmet. This tube also contains two edges that are connected to the motor tips. As the motor moves, it moves the longer tube in the same direction, allowing for the helmet to be lowered to the user’s head and lifted once the user is finished using it.
Circuitry:
The joint of the arm is made of a Geartisan DC Gear Motor which has strong load capacity and can support the weight of the arm and cap. The motor is connected to an Arduino Uno microcontroller, powered by a 12V rechargeable battery pack with a connected Bluetooth module. The motor is controlled by a Bluetooth remote that is paired to the Bluetooth module, allowing the user to lower the cap with a push of a button (see Fig. 2).
Cost Analysis
Cap
~875 cm^2 polycarbonate for inner shell ≈ $6.90
~1000 cm^2 polycarbonate for outer shell and visor ≈ $7.88
7 DC Motors ≈ $21
Arduino Uno = $20.70
Wires ≈ $1
7 Scrubbers ≈ $11.76
Arduino Bluetooth Module (HC-05) = $2.47
12 V Rechargeable Battery = $9.95
Total for Cap ≈ $81.66
Lifting Arm
8” Suction cup ≈ $20
Arduino Uno = $20.70
Wires ≈ $1
Arduino Bluetooth Module (HC-05) = $2.47
12 V Rechargeable Battery = $9.95
Geartisan DC Motor = $15
~1.5 sq ft. Aluminum ≈ $13
Total for Arm ≈ $30.42
Shampoo Dispenser:
3.25” Silicone Suction Cup ≈ $0.83
Bottle = $0.15
Pump ≈ $10
Circuit Board ≈ $2
Tube, Silicone ≈ $1
Total for Shampoo Dispenser ≈ $13.98
Bluetooth Remote Control ≈ $10
Total Device Cost: $136.06
Retail Price: $250.00
Manufacturing time: ~ 10 hours
Contributions
Introduction: Sibora Boba
Current Innovations: Sibora Boba, Jana Elwassif
Technical Description and Associated Cost/Time Analysis:
- Shampoo Dispenser: Jana Elwassif
- Cap: Sibora Boba
- Wall Mount/Arm: Jana Elwassif/Sibora Boba
Presentation: Jana Elwassif
Diagrams: Jana Elwassif
Citations: Sibora Boba
References
Alumina tube, aluminum oxide tube, al2o3. Advanced Ceramic Materials. (n.d.). Retrieved November 29, 2022, from https://www.preciseceramic.com/products/alumina-tube/
bigclivedotcom. (2020, September 09). Inside an automatic foam soap dispenser with clever pump [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8RCrJ5w5Qk
Cadence PCB Solutions. (2022, October 13). Common methods for waterproofing electronics materials. Cadence. Retrieved November 29, 2022, from https://resources.pcb.cadence.com/blog/2020-common-methods-for-waterproofing-electronics-materials
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, October 12). Arthritis related statistics. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved November 29, 2022, from https://www.cdc.gov/arthritis/data_statistics/arthritis-related-stats.htm
Edward. (2018, June 12). What are PCR plastics and how are they used? O.Berk Company. Retrieved November 27, 2022, from https://www.oberk.com/packaging-crash-course/pcr-plastics
Get ready for your day with less pain and hassle. Living With Arthritis. (2019, May 28). Retrieved November 28, 2022, from http://blog.arthritis.org/living-with-arthritis/get-ready-day-less-pain-hassle/
Hommer. (2021, August 20). Bluetooth circuit board-how to count as a high-quality Bluetooth board. OURPCB. Retrieved November 28, 2022, from https://www.ourpcb.com/bluetooth-circuit-board.html
Industrial Quick Search. (n.d.). Aluminum Tubing & Piping. Industrial Quick Search. Retrieved November 29, 2022, from https://www.iqsdirectory.com/articles/aluminum-metal/aluminum-tubing-and-aluminum-pipe.html
Osteoarthritis of the hands: Arthritis foundation. Osteoarthritis of the Hands | Arthritis Foundation. (2021, October 14). Retrieved November 22, 2022, from https://www.arthritis.org/diseases/more-about/osteoarthritis-of-the-hands
Steel pipe and tube: Choosing aluminum or stainless steel. Eagle Stainless. (2022, February 23). Retrieved November 29, 2022, from https://eagletube.com/about-us/news/aluminum-or-stainless-steel-pipe/#:~:text=Aluminum%20tubes%20are%20often%20chosen,ratios%20and%20good%20fatigue%20resistance
Tap-Sensor (n.d.). Kege Pump [Photograph]. Tap-Sensor. https://www.tap-sensor.com/blog/what-is-automatic-soap-dispenser-and-how-does-it-work.html#2-pump
Three material used in helmets’ outer shell. AURORA SPORTS. (2020, December 25). Retrieved November 21, 2022, from https://www.aurorahelmets.com/three-material-used-in-helmets-outer-shell/
Wrabel, D. (2018, January 4). How to wash hair for bedridden seniors – at your side home care Houston Texas. At Your Side Home Care Houston Texas – Home Care Provided by At Your Side Home Care in Houston TX. Retrieved November 29, 2022, from https://www.houston-homecare.com/elder-care-in-the-heights-tx-wash-hair-bedridden-seniors/
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