10. Applications and Implications¶
For the assignment this week, I had to propose a final project masterpiece that integrates the range of units covered, answering a variety of the following questions under the Final Project Idea.
What will it do? Who has done what beforehand? What will you design? What materials and components will be used? Where will they come from? How much will they cost? What parts and systems will be made? What processes will be used? What questions need to be answered? How will it be evaluated?
I will be updated this website as I go along the following weeks.
I covered my idea for my final project back in week 1. Much of the information below is also covered in week 1.
What will it do?¶
It is a capacitive touch sensor map that can display corresponding continent names. Originally the idea was that it would play videos, but given the current situation, an LCD display is a more viable output device. The idea is that when someone touches a certain continent, the continent name will show up.
Who’s done what beforehand?¶
I so far haven’t been able to find a capacitive sensor world map. However, there have been conceptually similar projects, like MIDI boards, or games that are similar to Operation Game, except with more outputs. I found this Exploding Kittens project that seemed functionally similar to mine. However, they used Adafruit capacitive touch products and electrical paint. I discovered that the BareConductive Touch Board does exactly what I need for my project; I may be referencing it for electronics.
What will you design? What parts and systems will be made?¶
- Map surface and copper sheet cutout designs in Inkscape; laser cut
- Wooden back frame and parts in Fusion360; CNC milled
- Capacitive touch sensor boards in EAGLE; Othermill milled
- Possible network ATmega328p chip board to take in all the inputs in EAGLE; Othermill milled
What materials and components will be used?¶
The Map¶
For the map portion, I will need to use wood and copper sheets. I will need to CNC mill out a sheet of wood in the shape of the map, and have smaller copper sheets stuck onto the wood. Each place that a copper sheet/sensor is used, the wooden sheet under it would have a hole milled so that I could solder wires onto the copper from the back.
The Frame¶
The frame portion is the back rectangular portion of the device. I have three possible designs for the frame/map interaction. Generally, though, I only need wood to make it, and I will use different joints.
Output¶
I will add to this after the Output Devices week, but I will most likely use an LCD display. I will also most likely use this display, using I2C communication to use fewer wires.
Extra Parts¶
Extra parts may include 3D printed holders for the chips in the frame section, or corner covers for the frame.
Where will they come from? How much will they cost?¶
For larger scale parts, I will use the following materials:
| Material | What it’s for | Where it will come from | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Copper sheets | Capacitive Sensors | Basic Copper | Cost will vary depending on size of project |
| Wood | Map / Frame | Lab Provided | N/A |
| Display | Output Device | DFrobot | $9.90 |
All other parts for electronics and possible 3D printing is available in the FabLab.
What processes will be used?¶
- CAD Fusion360 and Inkscape: designing map and frame
- Laser cutter: copper sheet (might be CNC milled)
- CNC: wood map and frame
- 3D printing: electronics platforms in frame (most likely)
- EAGLE: design electronics
- Bantam: PCB milling
- Embedded Programming: Arduino or Atmel Studio IDE
- Input device: capacitive sensors
- Output device: LCD 16x2 display
Here is a table I made from week 1 that also goes over some processes:
| Process | Project Implementation |
|---|---|
| CAD | Project design in Fusion360 |
| Laser/Vinyl Cutting | N/A |
| Electronics Production | Electronics in the box behind the map |
| 3D Printing | N/A, maybe stand to hold electronics |
| Electronics Design | Designing the electronics/boards for the project |
| CNC | Cutting the wood for the back box and the extrusions |
| Embedded Programming | Program the project so that it shows the name of the continent |
| Molding and Casting | N/A |
| Input Device | Capacative sensors (copper map) |
| Output Device | LCD Display |
| Interface and Application Programming | Most likely a processing interface |
| Embroidery | N/A |
What questions need to be answered?¶
- How will I use capacitive sensing– will I use multiple loading sensors like I used from week 9, or will I use one breakout board for multiple sensors?
- Will I use ATmega and ATtiny communication if I do use multiple loading sensors (multiple ATtiny412’s)
- How will I communicate between the input recieved and differentiate it for separate display names?
How will it be evaluated?¶
It will be evaluated on its ability to show different continent names specific to certain sensors.