Day 4

Today’s progress focused on refining both the hardware reliability and the overall user experience of the project. We began by individually testing all four EMG sensors to verify signal consistency, stability, and responsiveness. Each sensor was checked for proper muscle signal detection and noise levels, and all four sensors were functioning correctly under live testing conditions. After confirming individual performance, we proceeded to integrate one EMG sensor with the Dino game control system. The sensor successfully detected muscle activations in real time, allowing smooth and responsive gameplay control. The jump actions in the game were accurately triggered through EMG input, demonstrating that the signal processing pipeline and browser communication were functioning reliably.

On the software side, significant effort was dedicated to improving the web interface. The webpage was refined to improve responsiveness, visual clarity, and overall usability. Adjustments were made to the layout, game feedback, and sensor interaction logic to create a smoother user experience and reduce latency during gameplay.

In parallel, we worked extensively on the physical enclosure design for the system. Multiple iterations of the CAD model for the casing were created and evaluated. Each revision focused on improving component placement, wire management, accessibility, structural stability, and overall compactness of the design. The iterative CAD workflow helped optimize the enclosure for both practicality and aesthetics while ensuring that the electronics could be securely housed without interfering with sensor performance.

A major hardware improvement implemented today was replacing the previously used ESP32 board with the XIAO ESP32S3. This upgrade was made to reduce electrical noise and improve the quality of the EMG readings. Initial testing after the switch showed cleaner and more stable EMG signals, which is critical for accurate muscle detection and reliable gameplay interaction. The smaller form factor of the XIAO ESP32S3 also contributes to a more compact and efficient final design for the wearable system.

Overall, today’s work significantly improved the project’s sensing reliability, software polish, and hardware integration, bringing the system much closer to a stable and fully functional prototype.