final project brainstorm

getting started

I have many final project ideas. Some possible, some too easy, some reasonable, some dumb, and was a bit overwhlemed by choice.

I decided to start by brainstorming a wide variety of ideas, then narrow down to a few favorites to explore further.

I figure that although I won't have time to complete all of these, and some may be awful, it could be a fun point for a new student to start in future years!

Plants & Light

As a plant parent, I’m always looking for ways to help my plants thrive. I’m also interested in light and color, and how they affect mood and productivity.

• Propagator Station — Elegant rack with optional LED grow/light dial. CNC wood LED
• ChromaPot (Anti‑Overwatering Pot) — Soil moisture changes pot color; screams/sings if overwatered. sensors materials
• Sun‑Follower — Planter that turns with the sun for better light. mechanisms solar

Playful Machines

• Music Box Creator — Turn a sung melody into a physical disk for a music‑box reader. signal proc CNC
• Compliment Mirror — Generates a random/custom compliment when you look in. CV audio
• Swear Jar 2.0 — Detects swears; logs or “charges” via playful mechanism. NLP IoT
• Wake‑Up Puzzle — Alarm that only stops after solving a small physical puzzle. mechanisms UI
• Backpack Stilts — Folding stilts that fit in a backpack (for fun + reach). folding aluminum
• Dog Talk Helper — Button/soundboard to help dogs “communicate.” audio BLE

Kits & Education

• DIY STEM Kit — Printable/laser‑cut kit for biking safety or physics demos; links to Girl Scout background. laser documentation
• Sew/Mend Custom Station — Campus pop‑up station for mending & customization. textiles fixtures
• Foldable Lecture Table — Light, pull‑out table for note‑taking in cramped classrooms. mechanisms composites

One‑offs & Misc

• Fridge assessor/recipe maker (with pantry option).
• 3D‑print material with varying magnetic field that moves on its own — what’s the purpose?
• Umbrella for the bike (also listed above).

Idea spotlight — Kinetic Earring Earphones

Concept. Earrings that look like jewelry but double as wireless earphones; motion or body‑heat assists charging (“kinetic earpods”).

Early sketches

Preliminary sketches for the earphone idea:

Next steps

• Pick two directions (one hardware‑heavy, one design‑heavy) for week‑by‑week prototyping.
• For each, define inputs/outputs, BOM, and at least one measurable success metric.
• Draft a minimal semester roadmap (what to prototype in each HTMAA week).