Study archive - Week 17

Applications and implications

The task of the week is to propose a final project that integrates the range of units covered, answering:

1. what will it do?
2. who's done what beforehand?
3. what materials and components will be required?
4. where will they come from?
5. how much will it cost?
6. what parts and systems will be made?
7. what processes will be used?
8. what tasks need to be completed?
9. what questions need to be answered?
10. what is the schedule?
11. how will it be evaluated?

1. What will it do

The final project refers to building a smart home device that measures the temperature in a mug and time. The information is wirelessly sent to and then displayed on a computer device and control panel. With the control panel the user is able to control the device and the data.

Basic features:

• activate/deactivate system (reset)
• measure temperature in coffee mug
• send data (temperature, time, and reset signal) to computer device and control panel
• display temperature, time, reset on LCD
• display temperature, time, reset on GUI on a computer device screen

System components

• mug holder (3d printing)
• temperature sensor for coffee mug
• control panel (plywood laser cutter and milling)
• on/off buttons for activate/deactivate/reset
• LCD
• (LEDs, optional)
• networking components (wired and wireless)
• power sources
• computer and GUI

A sketch of the system and interactions is shown below. The LEDs will be implemented if time allows.

2. Who's done what beforehand?

Doing some research, I found that a similar device (in fact, a mechanical tea alarm) was presented at a TV show Manlab by James May in episode 5 season 3 (see here the episode; the relevant part starts at min 35 and ends at 41:40). My proposal is different because it is digital. Some advantages are: the sensor is not in the mug, but in the mug holder; the information is visually presented on a control panel and computer screen. For this project I choose to tailor the mug holder for the most popular mug in Finland, Arabia Moomi Series. All source files are open and one can develop futher the device, e.g., to incorporate an audio alarm, customized mug holder for other types of mugs, different computer devices such as mobile phone.

3. What materials and components will be required? 4. Where will they come from? 5. How much will it cost?

Material/component	Source	Cost
ABS-M30 for the 3D printing	Fablab Oulu	n.a.
Support material for the 3D printing	Fablab Oulu	n.a.
NTC thermistor	Fablab Oulu	2.98 USD
Microcontroller ATTiny 44A	Fablab Oulu	1.51 USD
LEDs x 6 (max 10)	Fablab Oulu/SparkFun	3.5 USD
Other electronic components	Fablab Oulu	about 10 USD
FTDI cable	Fablab Oulu	16 £
XBee x 2	Fablab Oulu/SparkFun	50 USD
LCD	Fablab Oulu	8.38 USD
On/off switch	Fablab Oulu	1.95 USD
Plywood	Fablab Oulu	about 10 USD
Total	-rounded-	about 100 USD

6. What parts and systems will be made? 7. What processes will be used?

Part made in Fablab	process used
1. Mug holder with slot for electronics	3D design and 3D printing
2. Electronic board for LCD and control panel	Electronics design, production, and embedded programming
3. Electronic board for temperature sensor	Electronics design, production, and embedded programming
4. Wired and wireless networking	Electronics design, production, and embedded programming
5. Plywood case for control panel	2D design and laser cutting
6. GUI	Interface and application programming

8. What tasks need to be completed?

Tasks 1-6 in table above need to be completed.

9. What questions need to be answered?

Calibration of the temperature sensor has to be done. The use of leds on mug holder as well as on the control panel has to be designed if time allows.

10. What is the schedule?

The deadline for presentation and finishing the project documentation is 17.06.

• Week 20 (16. - 22.5) Define final project concept
DONE
• Week 21 (23. - 29.5) Make bill of materials and adjust final project concept based on availability of components
DONE
• Week 22 (30.5 - 5.6)

(1) Design and fabricate the physical interface: the control panel case and the mug holder

(2) Start the electronics design and production

• Week 23 (6. - 12.6) Work on electronics production including networking and HCI programming
• Week 24 (13. - 17.6) Finalize the final project, documentation, and presentation. Aim is to present on 17.6.
• Week 25 (20. - 29.6) Revise weekly assignments (CNC, output devices, networking)

11. How will it be evaluated?

The project is evaluated a success if the mug holder sends correct data to the panel and computer, displays it and the user is able to interact with the control panel and GUI. Random users can also be asked to provide feedback.

The product is a proof-of-concept and the aim is to extend it further by adding more functionality and/or design features. The project aims also to rise students/children interest in electronics, programming, and especially data analytics. By using a simple, everyday situation to generate data, people of all ages and backgrounds can be involved in the process of creating visual analytics.