Project Description: The Easy Com Armband is a device built for special military operations that transmits emergency signals through simple and secret vibrations from one armband to another.

The Easy Com Armband is a device, designed to help the U.S. Marines in secret and dangerous operations. When the U.S. Marines or Military Special Forces go into a highly dangerous combat operation, their lives on the line. Specifically, in hostage or kill-list operations, often less than ten soldiers are assigned the task to enter an unmapped building in order to find their target. One of the militaries challenges is communication. Radios and face to face communication are mainstream in these operations; however, these methods are not always the most effective. Our goal in this project was to design a device that made communication easy but secret, so highly sensitive information can be transmitted to save a life.

The Easy Com Armband transmits emergency signals through simple and secret vibrations from one military style armband to another. In special operations when a soldier becomes injured or captured by the enemy, their chances of survival are slim. Emergency radio communication is often ineffective because the enemy witnesses the same transmission and can respond to the military's actions. With our device, a soldier in need of aid can simply tap their armband and transmit a code to fellow soldiers who receive the same code through a series of vibrations. If the U.S. Marines could transmit emergency information in a fully secret manner, imagine how lives could be saved.

The military uses hand signals and short vocal commands to communicate in the heat of combat. However, these forms of communication are limited in the range, versatility, and time required to send a message. Therefore, Zack and I created the Easy Com armband to streamline and expedite communication between soldiers on the front lines. The Easy Com works by connecting two mini arduinos over the internet where they would be able to send and receive binary messages. Users would have to simply press down on a button to activate vibration motors on other devices. Because the Easy Com communicates through vibrations, it is silent. It allows for messages that can be felt instead of audible commands that could get drowned out in the chaos of combat. In addition, the Easy Com is capable of much longer ranges than hand signals or auditory commands. It is capable of using wifi or bluetooth signals to connect devices which would allow for hundreds of feet of range. Our device is also incredibly versatile. Using a vibration based communication system would allow soldiers to create their own coded messages or use a more universal binary code system like morse. Lastly, the Easy Com armband can double as a normal military armband where soldiers can attach badges for their ranks and unit. This offers an additional  level of concealment for communication devices and would also allow for wear out of combat. 

Slide 1: Over the past two weeks, Alex and I worked on the Easy Com Armband. The Easy Com Armband is a device that allows for easy and silent communication between military personnel in combat or veterans on the homefront. 

Slide 2: This is our context image. Many veterans struggle with PTSD and have a difficult time communicating about their conditions with family or friends outside of the veteran community. People experiencing PTSD often experience flashbacks that can last for minutes or even hours. 

Slide 3: As said on the slide. Problem/Solution.

Slide 4: When first designing this product, we explored the many ways we could use interface to improve the communication between military personnel and veterans. Anyone can use a telephone, however, the Easy Com Armband is a device personal to the military that explored a new realm of vibration-powered communication.

Slide 5: When we began researching, we found that the most common form of communication in the military is via radio. We liked this product but wanted to make something unique.

Slide 6: This image is of two military patches, a sense of pride and communication for many veterans or active military personnel. Often veterans will wear their patches after they have returned from war. We wanted to ensure that we incorporated the aspect of pride and customization in our final project.

Slide 7: This is another one of our precedent images of morse code. Since we wanted to make our device communicate in a manner specific to the military, we decided that morse code could be an interesting approach.

Slide 8: This is our first prototype made of cardboard. Notice the three layers.

Slide 9: Here is the outside of our second prototype. We used hot glue to make the comfortable felt layer and the slick khaki layer.

Slide 10: Prototype in action.

Slide 11: This is an image of our third prototype with the brown khaki layer on the outside, plastic for waterproofing on the inside, and felt for the side next to one's arm.

Slide 12: Prototype in action. Notice the laser cut U.S. Marines Patch.

Slide 13: Here is a diagram of two armbands communicating.

Slide 14: Here is our electrical diagram.

Slides 15-17: Final images.