Sensor Foot Pedal for Hands-Free DAW Modulation and Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing musical instrument pedals and DAW control surfaces limit the musician's ability to perform polyphonically due to their unifunctionality, size, and requirement for one-handed operation, and existing foot-actuated MIDI controllers are not portable or versatile for general use in DAW environments.
Innovation Solution
A foot-operable pedal with a movable element, sensor units, and a microcontroller that supports switch and continuous modulation modes, enabling wireless operation and multi-functional control over DAW parameters, allowing hands-free polyphonic performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If existing wired pedal devices are used, then sustain or volume control functionality is provided, but the device size is large comparable to a shoe and portability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The pedal device is designed to perform multiple functions including sustain control, volume control, and expression control through a single unified interface. The system can operate in different modes (sustain mode, volume mode, expression mode) allowing one device to replace multiple specialized pedals, thereby improving adaptability while maintaining compact size for portability.
2Ease of operation
If hand-operated controllers are used, then parameter control is achieved, but one playing hand must be occupied limiting polyphonic performance
Solution Approach 1:
The foot-operable pedal serves as an intermediary control device that transfers parameter control functionality from hand-operated controllers to foot-operated operation. This allows the musician's hands to remain free for polyphonic keyboard performance while the foot controls parameters such as sustain, volume, or expression through the pedal interface.
3Ease of operation
If foot-actuated MIDI controllers are used, then parameter control is provided, but the device is not portable and requires external power supply
Solution Approach 1:
The pedal device is designed to be self-powered through energy harvesting mechanisms that capture kinetic energy from the user's foot movements. This eliminates the need for external power supplies or batteries, making the device truly portable and self-sufficient while maintaining full parameter control functionality through foot actuation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables hands-free, portable, and versatile control of DAW parameters, enhancing musical expression and workflow efficiency by allowing both hands to be used for playing, and supporting various modes of operation.
Implementation Method 1
a spring arranged to bias the movable pedal element to a neutral position
Implementation Method 2
a sensor unit operably connected to the microcontroller and configured to send data related to the movable pedal element to the microcontroller
Data Source
AI summary
A disclosed pedal includes a base, a movable pedal element actuatable by a user's foot, a spring biasing the movable pedal element to a neutral position, a microcontroller, and a sensor unit, such as an integrated accelerometer/gyroscope dual sensor MEMS device carried by the movable pedal element, configured to send data to the microcontroller indicative of actuation of the movable pedal element, such as by sensing acceleration and angular velocity along three perpendicular axes. The microcontroller can generate an output signal as a function of user input to the movable pedal element and in at least two different modes, selected manually and/or automatically, including a switch mode and a continuous modulation mode. In switch mode the output signal is a discrete trigger, and in continuous modulation mode the output signal is continuously variable over a range.