before scoping out a specific final project idea, i familiarized myself with some of the CAD tools we talked about in class. i found part-making to be a bit beyond my beginner skills, so decided to follow a blender tutorial i found online. i was able to go from zero idea what i was doing to making this delectable donut:
i then brainstormed a few final project ideas (note: these have been continually edited from what i originally wrote in week 1 as i have learned more and more in the class)
1. diy-Pod
Description: A DIY iPod / MP3 player
User interaction:
- Input: Physical buttons for navigation, volume control, and play/pause.
- Output: Audio playback through headphones and/or a speaker.
- Form Factor: Compact, handheld device with a screen and button interface.
Essential Components:
- Display: A small OLED screen for navigation.
- Control Buttons: For interface navigation and media control.
- Basic Operating System: To handle file management and playback.
- Headphone Jack: For audio output.
- Storage: SD card.
- Microcontroller: To manage user input, screen output, and audio playback.
- Basic case: encase the outline of the device via a mold.
Nice-to-have Components:
- Bluetooth Connectivity: For wireless headphone support.
- Customized Case: 3D printed to fit each specific component and layout of the iPod.
2. "If the Shoe Fits"
Description: A pressure-sensitive board that a user stands on to detect their shoe size.
User interaction:
- Input: The user standing on the board.
- Output: Digital display or app interface showing the shoe size.
- Form Factor: A flat board, similar in size to a bathroom scale.
Essential Components:
- Pressure Sensors: To detect foot size and pressure points.
- Microcontroller: To process sensor data and calculate shoe size.
- Display Module: To show the calculated shoe size.
- Body of the Board: Made through a combination of 3D printing / woodworking / metalworking / plastic mold.
Nice-to-have Components:
- Foot Shape Analysis: Advanced algorithms to recommend specific shoe styles based on foot shape.
- Advanced display module: visualization of pressure areas and outline of foot.
3. "Mood Lighting"
Description: This project involves an array of LEDs that change color based on the user's facial expressions, detected via a camera.
User interaction:
- Input: User's facial expressions captured by a camera.
- Output: LED colors and patterns changing according to detected mood.
Essential Components:
- LED Strips: For the main lighting effect.
- Camera: To capture and analyze facial expressions.
- Microcontroller: To process camera input and control LED output.
- Basic Mood Detection Software: For analyzing facial expressions.
Nice-to-have Components:
- Music Sync: LEDs changing in sync with music playing in the room.
i spent this past weekend (thanksgiving break) doing a deep dive into the feasibility of the shoe-sizing project.
i determined i would want to use an array of force sensitive resistors to measure where force was being applied across a flat surface, allowing for the estimation of foot size and shape:
unfortunately, each of these sensors is 10 mm and about $4. to cover the full area of the average foot with sensors every 10 mm, i would need an array of roughly 18 x 4 sensors. this comes out to $300, and without any FSRs in the fab or REEF inventory i decided to put this idea on hold barring a way to get access to many FSRs cheaply.
so, my new goal is to realize the mood lighting project. i feel confident about designing the LED module, as i've done similar work in previous weeks; the biggest learning curve will be a) setting up a camera and b) implement facial expression recognition.
