Tag: #arduino

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Week 9 – Designing the Object as well as the Experience

This week, we spent our class at Fab lab again. We continued the work with the watch and the human-centered design for our project.

At the first half of our class, we focused on finishing the watch, the one that would detect the curl and twist of the users when they used the watch so that the watch could make sure the users do the exercises as asked. In the previous two classes, we have designed the watch’s surface, laser cut the wood, sewed the strip, and learned the basics of the circuit. In this week’s class, we furthered our understanding of Arduino software. I haven’t done any coding with Arduino since high school, so I still needed some time to get familiar with the software again. Luckily, the main task in class was to understand the sample code and imitate the code rather than write code by ourselves, so it was pretty easy. We first tried some sample codes. After uploading those codes, we saw the effect on the circuit directly. This gave us a better understanding of what the code would do. We first tried the simple “blink” code in which the light bulb would blink. Interestingly, my friend’s light bulb was different from the normal ones, and hers blinked more frequently than that of the rest of us, so we altered the code to adjust for it. We also tested the sample code that would monitor the tilting. After learning the basics of the sample code, we started to build the watch. We first tackled the model itself. By using some zip tools and glue, the watch became stable without using many materials. After making the model, we connected the circuit and uploaded the code written by the staff at the Fab lab. The code would monitor the number of times the user curl and twist the watch. Overall, the watch was not a complicated model to build, yet it was cool to see how we could make something useful to other people with simple tools. Knowing the basics of all those tools that we have been studying for three weeks, we would apply that knowledge in future design.

test the sample blink code
the watch

In the second half of the class, we continued to work on our group project. This time, we adopted the technique of storyboarding. In the process of creating the storyboard, we drew how the users would interact with the design step by step and wrote the key points for each picture. Through this activity, we could have a better understanding of the whole experience the users would encounter. In addition, it made us reflect deeper on the context the design would be used in. One feedback we received was to consider how the user would be introduced to the design and how more people would know about it. After hearing the feedback, I deemed those were important factors to consider because those would help we design a better experience.

Storyboard
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Week 9: Final Session in Fab Lab – Assembling the Pieces and Creating a Storyboard

This week is our final week of learning sessions in the fab lab. In this week, our class is separated in two parts, assembling the pieces of the watch and creating a storyboard for how our product will reach our target consumers.

Assembling the Pieces

In this week, we started with learning how to use the Arduino software to manipulate pre-packaged codes that are available in the software and load these codes to the Arduino, a single board computer. We went through how to make the LED light blink every second and how to use the tilt sensor to allow the computer detect different inputs of the tilt sensor triggered by the different movements of the tilt sensor. Utilizing the tilt sensor made it possible to assemble the watch that detects curl and twists movements. The Arduino board computer with the code that can detect the inputs of the tilt sensor is the core of the watch that can detect curl and twist movements.

Unpacked tool-pack, Arduino connected to desktop (I lost the other pictures I took during the process of assembling)

After learning how to manipulate codes and load codes to the Arduino, we got to the process of learning how to assemble the watch with different parts of the watch. This process is more about following instructions, but the end result is more important to me. I think, the ability to actually assemble the watch is very exciting. I am very proud of the final product, the watch, I assembled because I finally made something. This also familiarizes me with the process that we may need to go through during the Make-a-thon. We will be making and assembling our final product during the Make-a-thon, which may need to go through the same process we went through in the Fab Lab in the past three weeks.

  • Assembled Watch Face
  • Assembled Watch Side

Creating a Storyboard

The second half of the session was working with our team again. We worked on creating a storyboard for how our product will reach our target consumers this time. We needed to draw sketches of the steps of how our product will reach our target consumers and describe the sketches below them in words. We had ideas of how we are going to bring our product to our target consumers; however, we were not art majors. We did not really know how to draw the sketches that we had in our mind beautifully, but we sketched out what we thought in simple strokes that our teammates can understand. This exercise helped us to plan out our marketing strategy in advance and understand our target consumer better. We need to understand how we are going to approach our target consumer before creating the product because we don’t want the product to be created but has no users. I think this is the main reason why we need to create this storyboard before putting together our product.

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Putting It All Together

Sewing the Strap

We met at the Fab Lab for the last time in order to assemble the motion-detecting watch together. Before the class began, I took some time to go back to the Lab to work on the strap of the watch, which was an interesting experience. Although I have done hand sewing before, I have never used a sewing machine, so I had to begin with the first step, which was threading the machine. After a couple of practice, I was able to begin to use the machine, following a guideline on a piece of cloth to get a feeling of the machine and how to control the pace of it. After some practice and building up confidence, I began to work on the strap.

Using the sewing machine to sew the cloth to create a strap for the watch

Although I had to redo a couple of parts because I got too close to the edge of the strap, it was a fun experience overall, moving at a steady pace along the cloth. It was very satisfying to see the result after the string has been cut from the cloth.

Experimenting with Arduino

Back in the class, we began to play around with Arduino, learning about different components and transferring codes over from the computer to it. Since the majority of the class, including myself, did not have any experience with Arduino, we used the example codes that are already on the Arduino program and adjusted them to fit our situation. We first used the code to light up the little bulb by connecting it to Arduino itself. After, we connected the motion-tilt sensor and used a code to show a graph on the computer that represented when the Arduino was tilted.

  • Different components of Arduino

This program was to be used for the motion-detecting watch, so after ensuring that the code worked correctly, we started assembling the watch together.

Assembling the Watch

  • Fully assembled motion-detecting watch
  • Arduino in the motion-detecting watch
  • Different components of the motion-detecting watch

I was very happy to see all the parts come together into what it is supposed to be. From connecting the wires to putting together the different components of the watch, it was as if I was playing with a Lego. Due to the time constraint, we had to rush through at the end, so I cannot tell whether the watch functions correctly or not, but I am looking forward to finding out in the future.

Storyboarding

After the watches are finished with assembly, we got back into our team to continue working on the project. The main focus of the day was to create storyboards to demonstrate how a user would find out about our product, why they would use our product, and how it would be used by the user.

  • Storyboards that my team and I came up with

We first began by creating a profile of the user, using Ryan as our base for it (first picture on the top left corner).

Next, we demonstrated a situation where Ryan would be out in the rain using his power wheelchair without any cover for it, leading to a system shutdown. This situation would require him to receive help from a stranger to be pushed to a dry spot where he can wait until the chair dries and the system can be rebooted (the five pictures on the top row next to the profile picture).

We then looked into how a user may find out about our product, one of which was through a Google search. For example, the users may search “wheelchair protection from rain” or “how to protect a wheelchair from the rain” (two pictures on the left bottom row).

Another way that a user may find about our product is by seeing other users using the product (two pictures on the right bottom row). We also showed how the user may use our product, allowing them to travel safely in the rain.

This was an interesting exercise that again, focused on the users of the product. It made us rethink why the users may use our product and what may be a critical part of creating a successful product for them. By also thinking about how they would find out about our product, we were ensuring that our product would reach out to the intended users.

Moving Forward

Moving forward, we will continue to explore different options already available in the market that serves the similar purpose of our product as well as various materials that can be used to develop it. We are also planning on reaching out to Ryan once again to have a conversation with him regarding the potential design of the product and receive his feedbacks. We will make sure to continue focusing on the users and how to make sure that they will have access to our product.

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Watching It All Come Together

ASSEMBLING.

This week we finished our three-week project at the Fab Lab to create an exercise watch that is able to sense whether you are doing curls or twists correctly. This project was designed so that we would have to use as many of the Fab Lab’s tools as possible, and it was an incredibly interesting way to familiarize ourselves with these resources. This week’s portion of the project included coding the Arduino and assembling the rest of the already created parts. To recap, we used a laser engraver to create the wooden parts of the watch, where we created our own designs to both differentiate between when the watch is sensing curls or twists and to make the watch more interesting for a specified consumer base. Next the watch strap was sewn using one of the Fab Lab’s sewing machines. We also connected tilt sensors and wires to the Arduino. Finally, while we were provided with the parts, the holder for the tilt sensor (the little white thing in the images) was 3D printed from the Fab Lab’s 3D printers. It was really gratifying to finally see three weeks’ worth of work culminate into one final project! These multiple tools have also got me thinking on different applications that we could possibly use in our own prototyping projects, and I’m even more excited to explore the opportunities.

TELLING A STORY.

With the remaining time after the watch assembly, we congregated in our groups and storyboarded the experience that we wanted users of our product to have. This included how the user would find out about, attain, and learn to use our product. As a review, I am a part of Team Solestice, and we are creating a detachable tread that would allow leg prosthetic users to walk on ice while minimizing slippage. We created 7 storyboard boxes in total. The first box identifies who we think the users of our product would be, in Solestice’s case, this would be leg prosthetic users. The next box identifies how the user would find out about our product, which Solestice believes would be through either some internet ad or word of mouth from social media. Following, we showed the prosthetic user going to a store to see the product in person, and possibly asking the store clerk more information about how the product works. The fourth box includes the user watching a YouTube video, which would be uploaded by Solestice, on how to put the tread on, take the tread off, etc. In the next two boxes, we have a prosthetic user putting the tread on by themselves and walking fearlessly over ice without slipping. In the final box, we have the user taking the tread off once they have entered an indoor area and storing it easily. This is the vision that we as a team have for Solestice, and we hope to make it a reality!

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Lighting Up the Bulb

Circuits & Arduino

This week, we continued with our learning at the Fab Lab. Instead of working on the motion-sensing watch like last week, I got to work on a circuit and learn how to use a multimeter. Playing around with the circuit reminded me of my elementary school days when I got to tinker around with the flashlight kit and a mini motor car kit in a science class. Though I did not understand the details during then, I still enjoyed trying various configurations to see which one lights up the bulb and runs the motor and which one does not. With the good memory in my mind, I had fun with the breadboard, resistors, and multimeter, trying to figure out how much of a difference each type of a resistor made to the brightness of the bulb.

  • A circuit with resistors, lightign up the bulb dimly
  • A circuit without a resistor, lighting up the bulb brightly

After playing around with the circuit, we were very briefly introduced to Arduino and its capability. Although this technology is probably not what our project group would use, it was interesting to think how such a small component can have so much computing power.

  • Example of how an Arduino is used for a motion sensing watch
  • Top view of the motion sensing watch

Team Rotam Project Ideas

We also got to meet and receive feedback from the Milestone Labs on our idea of the project. They recommended that we look into different materials that would allow our product to protect the joystick of the power wheelchair. For example, they suggested that we look into the scuba diving suits, which I did not even think of. After hearing the recommendation, it seemed so obvious to me that I should have thought about this before, but while brainstorming, it never came to my mind. That recommendation, however, sparked few ideas of my own, such as looking into the materials of umbrellas. Upcoming week, my team is planning on looking more into what is available in the market for the purpose of protecting the joystick of the power chair as well as different types of materials that could be used to protect it from the water.

After receiving the feedback, the team got together to brainstorm further on our ideas. Last time, we were focusing on additional parts that can be added to the wheelchair to serve the purpose of protecting the joystick, but this time, we focused on how we may be able to make our product be applied to different types of power chairs and not just that of Ryan’s. One idea that we came up with was a DIY molding package. We were thinking that if we could provide a DIY molding package to the users, they can customize the part on their own, ensuring that not only will it fit their power chair, but they could add personal touches and additional comfortability with grooves on the mold and so on.

Outside of the Class

Outside of the class, I managed to find time to go back to the lab to laser cut my own face of the motion sensing watch. While designing this face, I was thinking ‘simple is the best,’ which is how I came up with the design below. I hoped to design the face in a way that it would be very simple and easy for the user to understand it.

  • Completed face of the motion sensing watch

Though this face makes clear sense to me as a designer, I am wondering how different people would perceive it. This thought made me realize how challenging designing is, which is why human-centered designing is crucial. Through the constant feedback from the users, the designer can ensure that the end product would be easily used by the users for the purpose that they are looking for. This is something that my team will constantly keep in our mind as we proceed with the project.

While using the laser cutter, I was curious as to what else the device is used for. I discovered that this technology can be used not just on wood but also on other materials, such as glass and acrylic as demonstrated by various objects shown here. It was also interesting to find out that there are various ways to use the machine, such as cutting, engraving, and vector etching, which are explained here. Looking through images of different things that this machine is used for, it amazes me how much of a detail that this machine can handle.

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Arduinos

This week’s session in the FabLab was especially exciting for me, since I had missed the inaugural week. We delved right in by working with Arduinos, breadboards, and LEDs. You could say it lit up the room. Personally, I had a cool reconnection with a colleague who I had not seen in 11 months who just happened to be an employee at our local FabLab.

Nonetheless, our updated design challenge is oriented around electrical engineering as we are looking to create a sealant for power wheelchairs to prevent the wiring of the steering handle from getting soaked in the rain. This causes malfunctions and deteriorates the wheelchair significantly faster. I do not expect us to do any wiring, however it is beneficial to discover which electrical components are currently most at risk.

Milestone Labs also gave us a plethora of great insight. They recommended looking at wetsuits, boating, fishing, and general aqua activities for inspiration. We were also directed to look at motorcyclists and how they remain protected when riding in the rain. Other general sealants will also be important for us to look at.

Since our main purpose is now to prevent electrical damage from water leakage, the filament of our 3D print is also a vital factor. We need to ensure that the filament would not let water penetrate the electrical circuit.

I believe the biggest challenge will come with customization. If the steering handles are different based on model, then we will most likely need to create 3D printed molds for each model. However, if there is a limited amount of variation then scalability will prove to be a negligible issue.

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FabLab

Unfortunately, I was not able to attend this week’s class and I missed our first day in the FabLab! They have a plethora of tools there available such as the laser engraver, loads of 3D printers, electronic cutters, milling machines, and more. Through the pre-class activities, I familiarized myself with some of the tools through the FabLab’s tutorial page. I can’t wait to get back next week and try them out.

The elementary Arduino tutorial was also extremely useful and was a great introduction into firmware and embedded systems. The FabLab is where we have access to more developed resources which we can use to create the best version of our product.

I also met with Yen, who is a member of the wheelchair track team as well. Our discussion led to some new realizations and I think we are going to need to pivot the scope of our project. We realized than standard, undifferentiated accessories are not really a value add in the user’s lives. Adjustable frames and headsets for children’s wheelchairs are the conclusions that quickly arose once Yen and I had a conversation about her childhood and the scope of our project.