Spring 2016 A-TeChToP Detailed Mission Profile
By: Cody Dunn (Project Manager)
Overview
This blog post discusses the Mission Profile in more detail and explains the California FITNESSGRAM, a standard test implemented at California public schools in elementary, middle, and high school.
Table of Contents
Mission Profile
A-TeChToP’s mission is to successfully monitor the illnesses stated in the project objective for a child between the ages of 5 and 13 while playing on a playground for thirty minutes. The Central Sensor Suite will be attached to the child’s chest and then the child will perform specific exercises and later play freely. Data will be sent continuously to a guardian-monitored computer and, if the child displays the symptoms of an illness, the guardian will be warned.
The device must be durable enough to withstand the small collisions and mild weather changes (light rain) associated with playground play.
Requirement
The device shall not hinder the child from completing the California FITNESSGRAM [5].
Exercises
The exercises for testing the device were based on the California FITNESSGRAM, a physical fitness test used to measure the health and well-being of children in elementary, middle, and high school. California public schools are required to administer the test. There are six main fitness areas: aerobic capacity, body composition, abdominal strength and endurance, trunk extensor strength and flexibility, upper body strength and endurance, and flexibility [1]. The child must attempt one exercise from each category and then receives health ratings.
The following list explains the exercises chosen from the allowed options in each category. It also explains how the device must accommodate the exercise.
Aerobic Capacity
One-Mile Run: The device must be sturdily attached to the child such that is does not fall off or bounce around while the child is running. It should also be resistant to sweat from the aerobic activity.
Body Composition
Body Mass Index: The weight of the child cannot be affected significantly by the weight of the device. The device should not alter the child’s height.
Abdominal Strength and Endurance
Curl-Up: The central portion of the device cannot hang over the child’s stomach so that the child may complete the sit-up. There cannot be uncomfortable portions of the device of the child’s back for when the child lays down.
Trunk Extensor Strength and Flexibility
Trunk Lift: The device must be sturdy when the child lies on his/her stomach. The device also must have a thin profile such that the trial for the test is considered legal.
Upper Body Strength and Endurance
Push-Up: A-TeChToP must not impede the bending of the arms and should not be so bulky such that it will prevent the child’s arms from reaching 90 degrees each repetition.
Flexibility
Shoulder Stretch: The device cannot influence the movement of the shoulders along the rotator cuff. It cannot hang in the way of touching hands in back of the child.
Quantitative Performance Standards
The quantitative performance standards for passing the California FITNESSGRAM can be found at: http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/pf/documents/pft15hfzstd.pdf
These charts provide the minimum number of each exercise necessary to pass the test in the healthy range (Fig. 1). The device should not hinder the child passing these marks.
Fig. 1: The chart demonstrates the minimum number of curl-ups (sit-ups) for a female to pass the test in the healthy range [1].
Playground
Testing A-TeChToP on a playground presents another set of challenges. The device must be able to withstand the environmental conditions associated with the terrain. For example, playgrounds are built on sand pits, so the device must be dust proof. They are also outdoors, so the device must be splash proof and have the durability to withstand sunlight. Slides and monkey bars suggest the device should be durable enough to withstand small impacts and be placed appropriately so as not to interfere with movement and fun [2]!
Fig. 2: One possible playground for testing in Long Beach is Stearns Champions Park [2]
Release Form
Since a child may be injured for any of several reasons during the testing process, a release form was written to prevent possible trouble after testing and reduce student liability. The release form has been attached below so that future groups may have participants sign the form.
Conclusion
The fitness test and playground provide many criteria for the A-TeChToP device. The group will have to be very strategic in meeting the challenges presented.