Chapter III

Research Methodology
This chapter gives the outline of the research method that was used in the

study. The research design of the study described the instrument needed to gather

data, the procedures, and the methods used to analyze the data will also be

described.

Research Method and Design

This study used a quantitative research method since the researchers

collected measurable data about the Sonic Belt—such as how far it can detect

obstacles and how the buzzer or vibration responds. The researchers used

experimental research design as the main goal was to test the sensing performance

of the device in different situations that the visually impaired face. Through this

design, the study tested how well the Sonic Belt could detect obstacles by checking

if it was accurate, reliable, and easy to respond—many trials were done to make

sure the results were steady and trustworthy. To make the study stronger, advice

and guidance were also asked from three scientists at the Department of Science

and Technology (DOST) and an engineer, who helped improve the testing and

development of the device. Their guidance was a big help in us improving the design

and confirming the usefulness of the project.

Sampling Sites

The study was conducted at Buting Senior High School, a public educational

institution located at A. Santos Street, Buting, Pasig City. The fabrication and

integration of the SonicBelt's components, such as the "HC-SR04" ultrasonic sensors

and Arduino Nano micro-controller were conducted in EPDC under DOST, which

offered a regulated environment and accessible laboratory facilities. The Preliminary

field experiments is carried out on Room 403 which lies near to the institution with

the objective of replicating authentic navigation scenarios. This locations are chosen

for the ease of access and safety, enabling the researchers to assess the SonicBelt

performance against common obstacles like walls, posts, and pedestrian flow. The

chosen site also allowed for multiple trials indoors, where testing was conducted with

a blindfolded individual to guarantee the precision and dependability of the data

gathered on detection range, response time, and alert feedback.

Description of Samples

Ultrasonic sensors, are one of the preferred sensing devices available for

detecting surrounding objects in robotics; they tend to be supported more over

vision-based systems. On the opposite spectrum, technical vision systems usually

require heavy image processing, whereas ultrasonic sensing works rather on the

basic principle of sound waves, which can be thought of as a much simpler and

therefore cheaper way of detecting objects. In the area of robotics, especially in the

making of bionic robots, these sensory systems are incorporated to mimic the

function of human receptors. These allow robots to perceive their surroundings and

respond to external stimuli like human perception.

 However, this direct approach to sensory perception tends to be insufficient,

for distance measurement becomes an important element in maintaining accurate

reading as well as the functionality. Distance sensing has found numerous

applications; one being in the field of robotics navigation, where it becomes important

for the detection of objects and obstacle avoidance required for smooth operation.

Thus, accurate sensing is invaluable in other applications such as industrial

automation and security systems.

The HC-SR04 ultrasonic sensor is one among the topmost devices widely

used for non-contact distance measurement: the sensor is affordable and good for

distance measurement non-contactly. The function of this sensor is to send an

ultrasonic sound pulse and measure the time taken for the echo to return from hitting

an object, and then using the measured time delay to calculate the distance at high

precision. Because of its reliable, cost-effective, and easy-to-integrate specifications,

HC-SR04 has become a de-facto standard in most robotic applications, especially in

the detection and avoidance of obstacles.

The robots thus will use ultrasonic sensors like HC-SR04 for enhanced

detection and measuring distances with the surrounding objects. With this

integration, the prototype can perform tasks aptly while ensuring the high accuracy of

real-time environmental sensing (Dimitrov, Kondratiev, Kuznetsov, Truvin, & Zhmud,

2018).

Arduino Nano, as the name implies, is a very small open-source electronic

supporting board, which is an 8-bit AVR microcontroller based. It comes in two

different types: one based on ATmega328P and another one based on ATmega168.

Although similar in function to other boards in the marketplace, it is much more

petite; therefore, it's perfect for any project involving less memory space and less

GPIO for external connections.

These include such wonderful features as fourteen digital pins as a means to

interface with other component types for control; 6 analog inputs, each having 10 bits

of resolution; 2 resets pins; four pins for powering the unit practically everything was

integrated on board. Similar to any other Arduino boards, this model also runs on 5V

and operates using input voltages ranging from 6-20V and has its recommended

working range at 7-12V. This device runs at a clock frequency of 16 MHz,

guaranteeing a constant timing for processing tasks.

Arduino Nano comes with USB connectivity, unlike most Arduino boards,

which use a standard USB port; with this design, it employs a mini USB port. It does

not come with a DC power jack, so supplying power from an external DC supply is

not possible; this breadboard-friendly design thus easily integrates into different

electronic projects. The Atmega168 variant has up to 16 Kbytes of flash memory (2

Kbytes reserved for the bootloader), 512 bytes of EEPROM, and 1 Kbyte of SRAM.

On the contrary, the Atmega328 variant has 32 Kbytes of flash memory (2 Kbytes

reserved for the bootloader), 1 Kbyte of EEPROM, and 2 Kbytes of SRAM. The

Arduino Nano is comparable to the Arduino Uno, although it is relatively smaller and

does not have a DC power jack. It is small and versatile enough to be included in

projects where efficient space utilization with fairly powerful processing is required

(Ashely, 2021).

Research Instrument Used

This study employs a range of methods and instruments to evaluate the

potential of the SonicBelt, a wearable obstacle detection device using an ultrasonic
sensor for the visually impaired. These instruments are essential in measuring the
device’s detection range, response time, operating frequency, and power
consumption, ensuring its accuracy, efficiency, and reliability. Through these
assessments, the SonicBelt can be validated as a durable and functional assistive
technology that enhances mobility, safety, and independence for its users.

Multimeter. An instrument commonly used to measure voltage (volts, V),

current (amperes, A), and resistance (ohms, Ω). It serves as a way to measure and

identify faults in electrical systems.

Measuring Tape. A measuring tool used to find the length or distance of an

object or area. The units of measurement is typically centimeters (cm) or meters

(m).

Oscilloscope. An instrument that shows electrical signals as waveforms on a

screen, showing how the voltage change over time. The vertical axis represents

voltage (V), while the horizontal axis represents time (seconds, s). Frequency can

also be derived in hertz (Hz).

Stopwatch. A device used to record the duration of an activity, usually

expressed in seconds (s)

Data Gathering Procedures

The data gathering procedure of this study was carefully designed to make

an actual prototype of the wearable smart device. In order to evaluate the efficiency,

functionality and assistive capability of the wearable smart device, the researchers

made sure that each phase of the study follows a direct and logical flow.
 Figure 1. Development of Wearable Smart Device

Preparation of Materials

The study started with the preparation of materials needed for the wearable

smart device. The materials listed such as the HC-SR04 Ultrasonic Sensor, Arduino

Nano, breadboard, buzzer, switch, jumper wires, and a 9-volt battery were bought

and tested by the researchers and then organized it. Permission to utilize the

school’s laboratory facilities was also secured from the Natural Sciences Department

of Buting Senior High School.

Prototype Development

After the materials were ready and prepared by the researchers, they moved

on to the development of the prototype. They had a meeting and thought about the

design and planned it carefully, especially the placement of the sensors for effective

obstacle detection. Then, they made a sketch of the prototype and made a consult to

a few DOST experts. After finalizing the layout and consultations, the components

were assembled on the breadboard to ensure both portability and stability. The

Arduino Nano was then programmed with codes that allowed the sensors to read

distances and activate the buzzer when an obstacle was detected.

Calibration and Responsiveness Testing

After the researchers were done building the device, they performed the

calibration and responsiveness testing. It was first done indoors to verify and

measure the detection range of the ultrasonic sensor and if the buzzer responded

accurately and in time to the obstacles. The researchers made a few trials to

stabilize the performance of the sensors before proceeding to the formal testing.
Field Testing and Data Collection

The Field testing was conducted in both indoor and outdoor settings. Indoor

trials were done in the classroom and hallways, while outdoor trials were carried out

along A. Santos Street near the Buting Senior High School. Different obstacles were

tested such as walls, chairs, and doors to test the wearable smart device capability.

During these tests, data were gathered on the physical properties of the system,

including its size, weight, and power consumption. Efficiency measures such as

detection range, response time, and operating frequency were also noted, as well as

its assistive capability by measuring the distance between the alert signal and the

actual contact with the obstacle.

Data Analysis

The data collected from all the trials were then analyzed. Results were

tabulated, averaged, and compared with the objectives of the study. Any errors,

delays, or false alerts that were made was also identified for possible improvements

to the device.

Prototype Evaluation

For the final part, the wearable smart device was evaluated based on the

findings from the analysis. This stage determined the overall efficiency, accuracy,

and assistive capability of the wearable smart device, providing evidence of its

usefulness as a supportive tool for visually impaired individuals.

Statistical Treatment

Statistical treatment deals with the analysis and interpretation of data

collected from a study through different statistical tools. The researchers used

descriptive statistics to explain the data and to understand it more.

Dimensions. According to Yarnell, the formula of volume is used to determine the

unit blocks of an object. In this research, it describes the physical space occupied by

the Arduino Nano and HC-SR04 Ultrasonic Sensor in the system. It uses the

formula:

V=L×W×H

Where:

V = volume

L = length

W = width

H = height

Power Consumption. According to Electronics club, power consumption determines

how much energy the system uses over time. It is useful in determining costs of

energy and to optimize energy utilization. It uses the formula:

P = (V × I)

Where:

P = power in watts

V = voltage in volts

I = current in amps
Detection Range. According to Keyence Corporation, detection range is the

maximum distance at which the Ultrasonic Sensor can reliably say that an object is

in front of the sensor. It uses the formula:

D = (T × 0.0343 cm/s)/2

Where:

D = distance

T = time the ultrasonic pulse take to go to the object and come back

0.0343 = speed of sound

Mean. Cuemath states that mean is used to measure na central tendency. In this

research, it measures the average response time of the system. It uses the formula:

Mean = (∑Tbuzzer – ∑Tdetect)/n

Where:

Tbuzzer = the timestamp when the buzzer was triggered

Tdetect = the timestamp when the sensor detects the object

n = total number of trials

Operating Frequency of Sensors. According to Cuemath, frequency is the total

number of occurrences of a repeating event per unit of the given time. In this

research it refers to how frequent a sensor transmits and receives signals, which

determines the range, resolution, and accuracy of detection. It also indicates how

well the sensor would detect objects in varying environments and conditions and

utilizes the formula:

f=v/λ
 Where:

There are three variables in the above formula:

f = frequency

v = speed of sound in the air

λ = wavelength.

Paired t-test. According to Wilkerson, paired t-test is used to observed a two

dependent sets of data where the first sample is paired with the second. In this

research, it indicates how much the device would prevent collision. It is estimated as:

AC = Dalert - Dcontact

Where:

AC = Assistive Capability

Dalert = Distance at which the cane detects and gives an alert to the

user

Dcontact = The distance at which the user would come into physical

contact with the obstacle

 References

A. Article

Dimitrov, L. V., Trubin, V. G., Kondratiev, N. O., Kuznetsov, K. A.,Zhmud, V. A., &

(2018). Application of ultrasonic sensor for measuring distances in

robotics. Journal of Physics Conference Series, 1015,

032189. [Link]

What is Arduino Nano? | Arduino Nano Definition & Pinout | DesignSpark. (2021,

June 29). [Link]

getting-started-guide

Hewes, J. (2025) Power and Energy [Link]

Keyence Corporation (2025) Introductory Guide to Sensors

[Link]
Yarnell, R. ( 2016 ) AREA AND VOLUME WHERE DO THE FORMULAS COME
FROM? [Link]
article=1032&context=mastersessays