Variable Speed Treadmill for Studying Neonatal Rats
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Sponsors/Clients | |
Team Name | Rat Pack |
Duration | Fall 2018 - Spring 2019 |
Faculty Adviser | Dev Shrestha |
Mentor | Jacob Miller
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Team Members |
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The goal of the project is to design, build, and evaluate a variable speed and variable incline treadmill for exploring the impact of locomotor activity on the development of motor control and musculoskeletal tissues. For a video introduction, follow this link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1XA3Up0-xQ&feature=youtu.be
Problem Definition[edit | edit source]
Background[edit | edit source]
Murine models are routinely used as an alternative to human testing for a variety of applications. Often an exercise factor is introduced to evaluate its influence in behavioral and physiological changes. Accordingly, many medical research supply companies offer commercially available, variable speed murine treadmills including the Omnitech AccuPacer, Colulbourn Treadmill, and Maze Engineering Treadmill. All these products are very cost prohibitive which prevents any poorly funded or newly-established labs to conduct murine studies involving exercise. Another limitation is the lack of a transparent belt design which is imperative for comprehensive gait tracking. While products such as DigiGait use a transparent belt, they integrate uncustomizable, proprietary gait tracking software and lack other customary features including incline adjustment. Furthermore, all available products were designed for use on fully grown subjects and lack important design considerations required for use in developmental studies. These considerations include small form factor, external controls for use in an incubator, and lower operational speeds. Therefore, Rat Track was developed using off the-shelf components and open source technology which offers customization, local construction, and lower costs. Rat Track also provides additional features and design considerations for use in gait tracking of developing murine models.
Specifications[edit | edit source]
The client has listed the project requirements in order of priority. It is anticipated that all of the following requirements will be met.
HIGHER Priority
- Belt size: ~12 cm width x 20 cm length
- Belt material that could be wiped off and cleaned, will not tear easily, and possibly be replaceable
- Variable speed control ranging from 0.5 cm/s to 15 cm/s
- User friendly interface for speed control – preferably developed in an open-source software program or via microprocessor
- Treadmill will be operated in temperatures from 25 to 35 degrees Celsius
- Removable transparent walls and bumpers
MEDIUM Priority
- Variable ramp/incline angle from 0 to 15 degrees.
LOWER Priority
- Automatic timer
- Safety features including emergency stop button
- Transparent belt and housing for video gait analysis (video camera mounted below the belt)
Progress Tracking[edit | edit source]
Budget[edit | edit source]
The allocated budget was $2000
Design Considerations[edit | edit source]
Incline Mechanism
Automatic Incline
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Manual Incline
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Motor Type
DC Motor
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Stepper Motor
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Control Interface
Touch Screen
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Button/Knob
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Belt Material
Preliminary Design
Project Learning[edit | edit source]
Lab Tour
Tour of Dr. Martins Lab to learn more about motor types and linear actuators. See full tour report here File:Ratpack martin lab tour.pdf
Control Interface
Research of different options for control interfaces. See control interface report here File:Ratrack userinterface.pdf
Final Design[edit | edit source]
Overall Design
Rat Track consists of a transparent belt elevated above a platform where a motion tracking device or camera could be placed. The belt surface can be inclined between zero and fifteen degrees and is driven by a stepper motor that can operate at speeds between 0.5 and 15 cm/s. Above the belt surface is an acrylic enclosure for containing the subject and facilitates gait tracking from the sides and front. The control box houses the majority of electronics including an intuitive touchscreen interface for setting the time and speed of the treadmill. Furthermore, the control box is separate from the treadmill and can be operated outside of an incubator or other controlled environment.
• Incorporates simple design and widely available components for easy replication
• Includes design considerations for use with smaller, younger subjects
• Costs a fraction of what commercial options cost
Items | Description |
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A threaded tensioning device will be implemented to ensure that the belt remains in tight to the rollers and provides a flat surface | |
The belt is made out of marine grade PVC clear vinyl and will allow for video based motion tracking from underneath. The belt can be easily replaced and cleaned. | |
A stepper motor will power the treadmill at a large range of desired speeds | |
An intuitive touchscreen user interface allows the user to control the speed, set a timer, and start or stop the treadmill. | |
Acrylic walls will keep subjects from falling off the treadmill and allow video motion tracking from the side. They are also easy to clean. | |
Inclination angles can be adjusted to a range of 0 to 15 degrees, although the device will be optimized for 0 degree operation |
Wiring Schematic
Arduino Code
Validation[edit | edit source]
As specified by our client, the Rat Track had to operate with linear speeds of 0.5 to 15 cm/s, with a resolution of 0.1cm/s. The formula used to control the stepper motor delay based on desired linear velocity was a function of the steps per revolution (controlled by the DM320T Stepper Driver) and the radius of the treadmill’s drive roller.
The 106 converts the delay in seconds to delay in microseconds used in the Arduino code. However, initial tests showed that at speeds above about 12cm/s (i.e. where the delay in microseconds became smaller, and thus required more precise timing from the Arduino) were less accurate than slower speeds. In order to verify these results and form a calibration equation, speed tests were filmed using a smartphone’s slow-motion video setting. These tests were analyzed in video editing software in order to count the number of frames it took the treadmill belt to travel a set distance, marked with pieces of tape.
The exact time taken to travel the distance between the markers was found by dividing the number of frames by the framerate (in frames per second) of the camera.
Velocity in centimeters per second was then calculated by taking the distance between the tape markers (measured in centimeters) and dividing by the time.
Multiple trials were run over a wide range of velocity values. The results were then plotted to find a line of best fit. The equation of this line is the calibration equation used by the Arduino to get accurate results within 0.04 cm/s. The equation already factors in the steps per revolution (800 steps) and the radius of the drive roller shaft (1.11125cm).
Team Members[edit | edit source]
Colin Burkhalter
Major: Mechanical Engineering
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Stuart Sater
Major: Biological Engineering
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Stephen Schoonen
Major: Biological Engineering
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Mitchell Williams
Major: Mechanical Engineering
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Additional Documentation[edit | edit source]
Meeting Minutes
Presentations
File:Ratpack design review presentation.pdf
File:Design Release Presentation.pdf
File:EXPO Rat Track Presentation.pdf
Client Interview