FlexiGlove: a Real Time Device to Stretch Better!

Around 10% of the general population suffers from hand and wrist pain and one of the easiest ways to prevent and improve chronic wrist pain. A big part of physical therapy is the exercises and stretches that come after each appointment and it can be very hard to monitor and check if you are performing them properly. The purpose of the glove is that it helps the user stretch their hands by running an algorithm that confirms if the user properly stretched.

My goal with the FlexiGlove was to create a device that was fashionable, comfortable, and it supports the user. I came up with this idea because as an avid crocheter and knitter, pain will flare up in my wrists and hands and the solution to this is that I need to frequently stretch my hands and wrists.

Circuit Components:

Because I didn't have access to a soldering iron, I made my circuit using a breadboard, but you can solder the components together instead of using a breadboard.

1. ELEGOO 170 tie-point Breadboard
2. The reason I used this breadboard was due to its small footprint and I could hide it better in the device
3. Arduino Nano
4. Pre-Soldered MPU-6050

Glove:

1. Long Fingerless Glove
2. I wanted to use a thin underlayer to build the circuitry on so I chose this device, but I ended up needing to modify the sleeve to be shorter.
3. Crochet Cover
4. I crocheted a modified arm warmer to cover the hardware components and I based it on this pattern by Ariel Tong, but I made some modifications

Machines & Software:

1. Autodesk Inventor
2. Arduino IDE
3. Bambu Studio
4. Bambu Lab A1

This part of the project is pretty simple, you just have to solder the wires together according to the circuit diagram. Like I mentioned earlier, unfortunately I didn't have access to a soldering iron so my circuit is built on a breadboard, but you could wire it differently.

1. I used this video to help me wire the circuit

My software experience is very limited, I only have experience in JavaScript and Python, so trying to code an Arduino was a big leap. I was really struggling with this step of this process, but I managed to create a simple algorithm that analyzes the data collected by the MPU-6050.

I utilized Arduino IDE for the software and I used the built in serial monitor to provide feedback to the user and the code is attached below. You just have to upload the code to Arduino IDE and plug the device in to get it running!

The next step of this project was making a spot for the breadboard to sit on the sleeve. I cadded a quick plate to sit on the back of the glove to provide a flat surface using Autodesk Inventor which is attached below. Thankfully, this solution gets hidden pretty well and provides a clean slate for the breadboard.

Next, you need to attach the plate by sewing it on using the guides on the sides. I ended up needing my sister as a hand model because this step is quite finicky. Make sure to pin down the plate first because it slides around the glove when you sew it on.

Finally, I just stuck the ELEGOO Breadboard on the back of the plate and the hardware was done!

The design of the crocheted cover is modified from this pattern by Ariel Tong. The modifications were pretty simple and included:

1. I started with 32 chain stitches instead of 57 but this depends on how long you want the cover to be
2. At row 3 I skipped stitches 5-13 and I worked the two halves of the square separately before rejoining in row 8
3. I also added a white shell stitch to the openings of the glove
4. and finally I made a 10 by 7 double crochet rectangle to serve as the cover of the hardware components

Also at this step, you can hem the glove to your desired length if you want to which I ended up doing

It's important to have a strict attention to detail when sewing everything together to end up with a nice finished product and remember to sew in all of your ends once done.

1. Sew around the breadboard and try to keep the edge of the crochet cover as close to the plate as you can. I outlined this in the blue square in the photo
2. Follow the purple lines and sew a running stitch around the outside to attach the liner to the crochet cover.
3. Finally, you can add the cover to hide the hardware components. Use the photo above to sew the cover on the red and blue lines together.

Optional step: I crocheted a shell border around the top and bottom of the glove just to make it prettier, but decorate it however you want to!

This project was very exciting to me because I've never worked in combining fashion and technology. I definitely want to work more in this direction and I'm already thinking of more ways to make this better!

Thank you for reading and I hope this inspires you to make something!