Bactec started with a problem, an issue that had been irritating me for a while. Slouching over my desk studying for my GCSEs and A Levels had left me with terrible posture, my neck hanging forward and my back curved.
Now there a lot of issues that arise from having poor posture, the most prevalent being back pain, headaches and a drop in self esteem from having a less attractive appearance. All these issues were starting to get to me and with an understanding that poor posture was an increasingly common problem, I set myself this problem:
How might we generate a product that not only effectively improves the user’s posture but achieves this goal conveniently to create a hassle-free experience?
After a lot more in-depth research into the negative effects of bad posture, biomechanics and the pre-existing solutions on the market, I could start to ideate my way through the problem. Below are six of the most promising ideas that resulted from ideation.
The First Prototype
After an in-depth analysis of the concepts, talking with users and comparing with the project brief, it was decided that the posture correcting backpack was the concept to be taken forward into the development phase.
A backpack is an ideal platform for a posture corrector as it is already a part of daily life for both students and working adults alike. Wearing the backpack for an hour a day is not a stretch or nuisance.
Investigating a variety of mechanisms, I began development on a design that utilised a pawl and ratchet mechanism. The benefits of using such a mechanism included being able to tighten and loosen the straps around the shoulder whilst also being able to lock them in position.
This device which was tested stand alone was then also integrated into a typical backpack. The main objective of this initial prototype was merely to gauge whether the concept of a posture correcting backpack is feasible. In this state the device in the backpack is clearly too bulky to fit anything else in there and its inconvenient for the user to reach back. Knowing that the bare concept worked meant I could continue development working on reducing the size of the mechanism and improving usability.
The Second Prototype
The target here was to create a smaller mechanism that could easily be integrated into a backpack. Retaining a pawl and ratchet mechanism was deemed ideal but upgrading it to a motorised system would be beneficial. Using a motor means a switch could be used to control the posture corrector and a switch can easily be wired up into the backpack strap making it very usable and eliminating the issue of needing the user to reach back.
A lot of thought went into where exactly the mechanism would be positioned in the backpack to maximise storage space. It was decided to place it in the bottom of the backpack, giving it a false floor so its not getting in the way.
A 9V battery powers an Arduino Uno microcontroller which is connected to both a rotary encoder and a stepper motor driver. The rotary encoder acts as the control knob, rotating tightens or loosens the backpack straps and clicking it locks the straps in position. After many calculations, I determined I needed a stepper motor with some decent torque to tighten the straps so I went with a NEMA 17 with a gearbox. A smaller less powerful stepper motor controls the location of the ratchet gear’s locking counterpart. It is a NEMA 8 stepper with an integrated lead screw. These steppers are connected up to the stepper motor driver which is powered by a 11.1V LiPo battery in this prototype.
The Final Solution
The final solution resembles a finished product substantially more than the prototypes. The mechanism is hidden in a compartment acting as a false floor to the backpack so the only features that give away that it is not a normal backpack are the rotary encoder switch located on the strap and its additional weight due to the electronics. The elastic cord that runs through the straps into the backpack is concealed by channels designed into the inside of the backpack.
Although I was unfortunately unable to manufacture this product due to COVID 19, a detailed plan was created that involved many processes including 3D printing, vacuum forming, laser cutting, machining, etc.
On the software side, the only change made from the second prototype was constraining the number of rotations the shaft could make, meaning the straps could not be tightened excessively and the shaft can’t rotate in the opposite direction. The mechanism itself was upgraded in the sense that the moving parts were separated from the area in which excess cord accumulated this eliminated any jamming complications. In order to package the mechanism the ratchet’s counterpart now meshes perpendicularly instead of coming in from the side.
Although this was a project I took on myself from a problem I experienced, it does not mean others didn’t have the same problem. With the resources I had available to me I was able to undertake a school-wide survey in which 170 students participated. Around 80% of people agreed it doesn’t look like a piece of medical equipment like traditional braces. The second question was ‘ Would this backpack fit into a professional work environment?’ to which nearly 90% of people said it would.
Only 2% of students said they had perfect posture which means 98% of people have room for improvement.
The majority of students answered that they would be willing to pay up to £75 for this product in order to improve their posture so there is clearly a market there that can be reached.
Bactec as a project received recognition in the 2020 TeenTech Awards as a finalist in the best innovation category.
The project was also allocated a Gold Crest Award by the British Science Institution and commended for having a ‘solid prototype’ with an idea that I should ‘bring to market’.