/INPUT/INPUT/INPUT/INPUT/INPUT/INPUT/INPUT/INPUT/INPUT/INPUT/INPUT/INPUT/INPUT/INPUT/INPUT/INPUT

HOW MANY SENSORS DOES IT TAKE TO CHANGE A LIGHTBULB?

  • From this week, i'm trying to ramp up production towards the final project. With input devices I wanted to focus on the interactivity part: to make and LED change without touch. I recruited the VL53L1X "Time of Flight" Distance sensor. It can measure distances up to 4m (13ft) by sending out an optical wavelength and measuring interference.





    STEP 1: DESIGN AND FABRICATE




  • The schematic hooks up an RGB LED on one side of the board, and the VL53L1X on the other side. In my case I was using the Polulu breakout board for easier integration; it's possible to integrate the sensor (very tiny) directly onto the board. The sensor communicates with the microcontroller through two pullup resistors.






  • Milling went smoothly...until it didn't. The 1/32" bit for routing the outlines broke in the magic hour, and I couldn't find any other suitable options. The alternatives in the lab were too small or too big, so i had to adjust the mill setting in order to make that broken bit work. I tried several unsuccessful passes before eventually coming out with a board that seemed correct. I soldered and assembled the components and called it a night.




    STEP 2: TEST ON ARDUINO IDE




  • I referenced Neil's example on the distance sensor and noticed i needed to install the Polulu library for the sensor, and make sure my Adafruit AVR was up to date (it includes the Wire libraries)






  • However when i try to load the code onto the XIAO, i get this declaration error. I assumed the 'device' was native to the Sensor library, and should be read if I had the library properly installed, but I couldn't debug the error, and I am short on time this week with midterms at the GSD, so i will need to seek medical consultation for this. My LED also refused to blink! Needs solving.