Concept

What does it do?

My product is the "What should I wear today?" thermometer. The aim of it is to offer a tangible interface for temperature values. That is, it shows the temperature with a combination of numeric scale (usual thermometer) and a scale of clothes. THe scale of clothes will show what are the appropriate clothes for the day. In both types of scale, the temperature value will be displayed by illuminating the corresponding LEDs. I plan to get the temperature values from the Internet using a Raspberry Pi. The underlying idea is to help small children or people with disabilities or in general, anyone that could benefit from a tangible interface, to understand the meaning of a temperature value.

Who has done what beforehand?

I started doing some research about previous work when I had the idea at the beginning of FabAcademy. I found plenty of examples of DIY handicrafts for kids, most of them tangible, some of them using also clothes, and even some are for sale like the Monkey Weather Chart. These examples are not linked to any real value, but relay on one checking the weather. Also, I found also webpages adapted for kids as Kids Weather Report that shows the temperature, a visual representation of the weather and two kids dresses up. In the same line, I found some mobile apps showing what to wear like iDress for Weather. But I did not find any tangible interface combining clothes and electronics, that get real temperature data.

Architecture

Electronics

3d object design

Parts & Processes

This list is similar to the one in assignment 18 with small updates: I could not do the embroidery, and the figure and the patterns were all hand made. On the other hand, I added a couple of laser cuts.
  • Electronics design and production
  • Embedded programming (mostly C)
  • Output devices: neopixels
  • Input devices: Hall-Effect sensor
  • Network: Different parts will communicate with Asynchronous Serial Communication
  • 2D Design:
    • vinyl cutter for copper fold
    • Laser cut interface holders and shelves from mdf board
    • laser cut structure for thermometer and digits
    • laser engrave numbers in thermometer
    • laser cut front doors
    • milling of the different boards
  • 3D design
  • CNC router of main structure
  • 3D print hinges for front doors
  • Mould for knobs
  • Moulding and casting (knobs)
I think it would be faster to indicate which parts I did not do. I did not do the hinges for the back door.

BOM

ABCDEFG
1
Main Board
2
QuantityComponentValuePrice/unit(€)
Price total (€)
ProviderNOTES
3
1ATTINY44-SSU0.630.63Digikey
4
1RESONATOR20MHZ0.430.43Digikey
5
1LED ORANGE CLEAR 1206 SMD0.290.29Digikey
6
1RES 1-4W 1% 1206 SMD10KΩ0.10.1Digikey
7
1RES 1-4W 1% 1206 SMD1KΩ0.10.1Digikey
8
1RES 1-4W 1% 1206 SMD0Ω0.10.1Digikey
9
1CAP CERAMIC NP0 1206 SMD1µF0.190.19Digikey
10
64 POS (2x2) HEADER CON (2.54mm) SMD0.684.08Digikey
11
16 POS (3x2) HEADER CON (2.54mm) SMD0.710.71Digikey
12
1CONN RECEPT MINI USB2.0 5POS0.890.89Digikey
13
14
TOTAL per board€7.52
15
Number of boards1
16
TOTAL€7.52
17
18
Neopixels controller boards
19
QuantityComponentValuePrice/unit (€)
Price total (€)
ProviderNOTES
20
1ATTINY45-SSU1.291.29Digikey
21
1RESONATOR20MHZ0.430.43Digikey
22
1RES 1-4W 1% 1206 SMD10KΩ0.10.1Digikey
23
1CAP CERAMIC NP0 1206 SMD1µF0.190.19Digikey
24
14 POS (2x2) HEADER CON (2.54mm) SMD0.680.68Digikey
25
16 POS (3x2) HEADER CON (2.54mm) SMD0.710.71Digikey
26
27
TOTAL per board€3.40
28
Number of boards2
29
TOTAL€6.80
30
31
Digits board
32
QuantityComponentValuePrice/unit (€)
Price total (€)
ProviderNOTES
33
1RES 1-4W 1% 1206 SMD499Ω0.10.1Digikey
34
30CAP CERAMIC 50V NP0 1206 SMD100nF0.164.8Digikey
35
1CAP ALUM 20% 10V RADIAL220µF0.520.52Digikey
36
3SMT RT Angle Male Header 0.1" 0.10.3DigikeySold in 36pos. Used to build 3 header pin
37
30ALITOVE WS2812B RGB ADDRESABLE LED (5V)0.164.8Amazon.deSold as 100pcs. Similar to neopixels
38
39
TOTAL per board€10.52
40
Number of boards1
41
TOTAL€10.52
42
43
Thermometer board
44
QuantityComponentValuePrice/unit (€)
Price total (€)
ProviderNOTES
45
1RES 1-4W 1% 1206 SMD499Ω0.10.1Digikey
46
10CAP CERAMIC 50V NP0 1206 SMD100nF0.161.6Digikey
47
1CAP ALUM 20% 10V RADIAL220µF0.520.52Digikey
48
15SMT RT Angle Male Header 0.1" 0.11.5DigikeySold in 36pos. Used to build 3 header pin
49
10ALITOVE WS2812B RGB ADDRESABLE LED (5V)0.161.6Amazon.deSold as 100pcs. Similar to neopixels
50
4CON RCPT 2.54mm SMD 3POS0.351.4Digikey
51
52
TOTAL per board€6.72
53
Number of boards1
54
TOTAL€6.72
55
56
Individual Clothe board
57
QuantityComponentValuePrice/unit(€)
Price total (€)
ProviderNOTES
58
1LED CLEAR 1206 SMD0.290.29DigikeyEach board a different color: blue, green, yellow, orange and red
59
1RES 1-4W 1% 1206 SMD1KΩ0.10.1Digikey
60
3SMT RT Angle Male Header 0.1" 0.10.3DigikeySold in 36pos. Used to build 3 header pin
61
62
TOTAL per board€0.69
63
Number of boards12
64
TOTAL€8.28
65
66
67
Clothes controller board
68
QuantityComponentValuePrice/unit (€)
Price total (€)
ProviderNOTES
69
1ATTINY44-SSU0.630.63Digikey
70
1RESONATOR20MHZ0.430.43Digikey
71
1LED ORANGE CLEAR 1206 SMD0.290.29Digikey
72
1RES 1-4W 1% 1206 SMD10KΩ0.10.1Digikey
73
1RES 1-4W 1% 1206 SMD1KΩ0.10.1Digikey
74
1CAP CERAMIC NP0 1206 SMD1µF0.190.19Digikey
75
6SMT RT Angle Male Header 0.1" 0.10.6DigikeySold in 36pos. Used to build 6 header pin
76
14 POS (2x2) HEADER CON (2.54mm) SMD0.680.68Digikey
77
26 POS (3x2) HEADER CON (2.54mm) SMD0.711.42Digikey
78
79
TOTAL per board€4.44
80
Number of boards1
81
TOTAL€4.44
82
83
Hall Effect sensor board
84
QuantityComponentValuePrice/unit(€)
Price total (€)
ProviderNOTES
85
16 POS (3x2) HEADER CON (2.54mm) SMD0.710.71Digikey
86
1HALL EFFECT SENSOR LINEAR ANALOG SOT23W 1KΩ2.22.2Digikey
87
88
TOTAL per board€2.91
89
Number of boards2
90
TOTAL€5.82
91
92
Hall Effect sensor controller board
93
QuantityComponentValuePrice/unit (€)
Price total (€)
ProviderNOTES
94
1ATTINY44-SSU0.630.63Digikey
95
1RESONATOR20MHZ0.430.43Digikey
96
1LED ORANGE CLEAR 1206 SMD0.290.29Digikey
97
2LED BLUE CLEAR 1206 SMD0.290.58Digikey
98
1RES 1-4W 1% 1206 SMD10KΩ0.10.1Digikey
99
1RES 1-4W 1% 1206 SMD1KΩ0.10.1Digikey
100
1CAP CERAMIC NP0 1206 SMD1µF0.190.19Digikey
101
6SMT RT Angle Male Header 0.1" 0.10.6DigikeySold in 36pos. Used to build 6 header pin
102
14 POS (2x2) HEADER CON (2.54mm) SMD0.680.68Digikey
103
26 POS (3x2) HEADER CON (2.54mm) SMD0.711.42Digikey
104
105
TOTAL per board€5.02
106
Number of boards1
107
TOTAL€5.02
108
109
110
Other components
111
Quantity and unitComponentValuePrice/unit (€)
Price total (€)
ProviderNOTES
112
1.00 mFlat Ribbon Cable Multiple 10 Conductors(1.27mm)
2.2 €/m2.2Digikey
113
1.00 mOther Cables0.7 €/m0.68
sp-elektroniikka (local shop)
114
12CONN SOCKET IDC 4POS (2x2) DL SR 30AU0.678.04Digikey
115
6CONN SOCKET IDC 6POS(3x2) DL SR 30AU0.674.02Digikey
116
6MAGNET ROUND NDFEB AXIAL1.16.6Digikey
117
40Screws (M2,M3,M5)0.312Fab Lab Stock
118
1Metal Hinge (pack of two)4.94.9Clas Ohlson
119
3FR1 Single side circuit board stock 1.23.6Fab Lab stock
120
1OSB3 board 11x1197x2600 mm 3,11 m²1515Stark Suomi
121
13mm MDF board7,52€/m24Stark Suomi
122
180.00 cm3ABS-M30 filament0.29 €/cm352.2Stratasys
123
46.00 cm3Soluble support material0.32 €/cm314.72Stratasys
124
0.42 m24mm Acrylic orange clear63.00 €/m226.46Vink Finland
125
3M copper tape with conductive adhesive 4Budnick Converting
126
1Red Spray Acrylyc painting77Tokmanni
127
0.1Smooth-On OOMOO™ 30 Silicone Rubber (1.27Kg)46.44.64Silcom
128
0.1Smooth-On Smooth-Cast® 305 Liquid Plastic (0.86Kg)42.64.26Silcom
129
130
TOTAL€174.32
131
132
SYSTEM TOTAL€229.44

Final Analysis

Answers

The questions came from assignment 18 > questions to be answered
  • How should I define the protocol for the networking connection?
    • Finally, what I have done is a broadcasting This works grate in my architecture.
  • What is the best material to make the thermometer? Candidates are paper, fabric and acrylic (or other plastic)
    • Finally, I have build a box with MDF. And I did not cover the boards with anything. However, I did used rice paper over the digits which helped to better define the different segments
  • How is the best way to get the data from the Internet?
    • I almost have the rasperry pi working, just need to integrate. But this was an extra, so I will do it later
  • Can I use the neopixels with ATtyni44A?
    • Yes! I can. This was great news
  • Can I make the interruption work for attiny44 (I had some problems in assignment 13)?
    • Yes! The interruption from the hall effect sensors works great. I had already, in any case, identified the problem in assignment 13. It has to do with reading data in the interruption, which is not a good choice (as it stays waiting for data there).

Evaluation

My own criteria was set in assignment 18 > evaluation. I considered this would succeed if I managed to show the temperature with the thermometer scale and the clothes. I that is done. I also added the digits. And, although not yet integrated, the code to get the data from the internet is done.

Reflection and Future

This has been quite a process. I had a good idea of the architecture of the system, but even with that, many problems raised during the path. I luckily managed to solve all of them, but I did had to repeat some boxes several times. The thing I have learnt with this final project is that there are a lot of details in design that needs to be considered. I mean, I had the big vision of it, but then it comes reality. I really think I have learnt a lot.
I will now finish the communication with the internet to get the data. And I would like to build my own temperature sensor also. Then I would allow to choose between local sensor or data from the internet. On the other hand, Obs is a great material, but it needs a bit of love before leaving it for the kids. Even after sanding the pieces for a long while, I still get some wood sticks in my hands when working with this.