Auto Spot

Inspiration

We believe all exercises should be safe, and working out alone should always be available to all. Popular exercises such as the bench press often require a second person (a spotter) to ensure you're safe. When you lack a spotter, it's dangerous to attempt these exercises alone. Whether you want to get a quick lift in amidst your busy day, or just want to venture out to the gym alone, being solo shouldn't be a deterrent for specific exercises. Our project aims to eliminate the risks with solo exercise.

What it does

Our mechanism consists of an algorithm, a chip, and a motor. Our algorithm detects a barbell and tracks its location, determining when the user cannot lift it alone. The algorithm sends a signal to a microcontroller chip connected to a motor, activating the safety mechanism that lifts the bar off you.

How we built it

Using OpenCV, we use Python to compute the bar's location. Using rep failure detection, we can determine whether the user needs a spot or not. Our microcontroller (a Teensy 4.1) receives a binary signal from our Python code, which controls a motor controller, powering a motor that leverages cables to lift the barbell up.

Challenges we ran into

We had trouble getting the motor to run for a couple hours, before realizing that we had a faulty wire. It was also a major challenge in planning the physical components for our project, such as a support beam to hold up the mechanism, and deciding the best way we could demo our project, considering we are not in a gym.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

Getting the barbell detection with CV working was very fun. It was also rewarding to get the motor working, which was the final piece of our project. Seeing it all come together from a vision to the final product was worth the effort.

What we learned

We learned how to connect software with hardware, as we connected our OpenCV Python components to our motor.

What's next for Auto Spot

We hope to make fitness open to everyone, whether it's through accessibility, safety, or enjoyment. Auto Spot is just a glimpse into our passion for exercise & fitness.