Assignment 18
23.5.2018
Applications and implications
Goals of this week:
- Propose a final project that integrates the range of units covered answering the question listed bellow
What will it do?
My final project, modular helmet creates a versatile building surface on the top of your head. This surface can be used to create unique designs on the top of your head by using different kind of materials and electronics. With theses designs, users can act as different characters.
The helmet consist of modular MDF structures that are bonded together so that the helmet adapts to user´s head so that it can be taken off and put on the head with ease. Modular pieces are made by the user according to his or her´s needs and attached to helmet either directly or by using 3d printed frame-modular piece connectors. Connection between modular pieces and the helmet is achieved by connecting strong ferromagnets in modular pieces to metal washers inside the helmet. Because of this, modular pieces can be attached and unattached easily. Even so, the magnetic bond between the ferromagnet and metallic washer is capable of holding the weight and shape of even more heavier and complex materials like metal and wood.
Electronics of the helmet include a mainboard, a lightsensor board and an individual LED boards which are powered by two 3V button batteries. The lightsensor board measures chages in the room lighting, mainboard gets this information and controls the brightness and On/Off situation of individual LED´s. Goal of this electronic system is to illuminate helmet in dark environment to higlight existing details like shapes of modular pieces and create new visual elements like fast light patterns.
Who's done what beforehand?
There are multiple Fabacademy students that have created different kind of helmets before me. As a final project, Jasmin Rubinovitz created bike helmet by using composites whereas there are multiple tutorials online which teach how to build led interface for motorcycle helmet motorcycle helmet. Hovewer, I didn´t found modular helmet designs that connect both electronics and modular design.
My modular helmet is made of the modular pieces, the frame and of the inner part. For the frame, I have got lot of ideas from Yogi Kulkarni´s laser engraving assigment. He created a geodecim by using the laser cutter. I´m also using the laser cutter for similar kind of shape, so I used the geodecim calculators which he mentions on his page.
What will you design?
I will design the following things:
- Modular frame pieces
- Instructions to assemble modular pieces
- 3d printed modular-frame connector pieces
- Frame attachment solution for the inner part of the helmet
- Head attachment strip for the helmet
- Electronic board system to change the status of the LEDs according to the data got from the light sensor
- Board controlling interface
What materials and components will be used/ Where will they come from/ How much will they cost?
I listed my assumptions to following excel-template:
![](images/Week18-ApplicationsImplications/Excel.jpg)
What parts and systems will be made?
The following parts will be made:
- Modular pieces from paper, fabric, and other materials like wood
- Modular-frame connector piece
- Electronic holders
- Frame made of modular triangle geodecim pieces
![](images/Week18-ApplicationsImplications/Ompeletta.jpg)
- Inner part of the helmet
The following systems will be made:
- Mainboard-ledBoards-LightSensor board system
What processes will be used?
Following processes will be used:
- Laser cutting = subtractive process: Creation of the frame pieces and frame parts for the frame pieces
- 3d printing = additive process: Creation of the modular-frame connector pieces
- Embroidering= additive process: Creation of few modular designs
- Board milling = Electronic production: Milling of the board system boards
- Embedded programming (C, Arduino)
- Electronic design & manufacturing: Input device (Light sensor) Output device (LEDs)
What questions need to be answered?
- How to connect modular frame parts together succesfully?
- How to attach the frame to inner part of the helmet?
- How to control LED´s?
- How to achieve firm bond between the frame and modular pieces?
- How to attach electronics?
How will it be evaluated?
My project will succeed if:
- The helmet can be put on and taken off from my head -> The structure is able to bend
- The helmet stays well on top of my head -> The frame is secured to inner part which is secured to my head
- Modular pieces can be created, connected and removed succesfully -> At least 10 modular pieces can be connected together to form the frame
- Input from light sensor is capable of changing the status of the LED´s -> The boards work and they are able to send eligible data to each other
What questions need to be answered?
- Is the helmet durable enough according to the current plan? If not, how to make it more durable?
- How the modular pieces could be designed on the top of 3d head model to enavble better fit?
- Could the helmet be build from the press-fit-kit? If could, how the helmet could be packed and sold for the customer?
What tasks need to be completed?
The following tasks should be completed:
- Design and build a durable frame that fits your head
- Design and build different modular designs and connector pieces that can be used to attach designs to the frame
- Design and build the inner part that is connected to the frame and to my head firmly
- Design and build electric board-system that works according to requirements
- Design and build system that attaches electric board system to the frame
- Document and visualize the helmet
What is the schedule
From the 27.5 to 20.6 the schedule is as follows:
28.5-3.6 Focus on finishing the documentation of week projects. When some extra time, develop the frame further
4.6-10.6 Finish the documentation and finish the frame and the method to connect modular pieces
11.6-17.6 Finish the electronics, inner part attachment system and documenting
17.6-20-6 Create presentation and visual material for the helmet.
In future: Develop the helmet design and technology forward for the own use and even for the commercial purposes
FILES made/used THIS WEEK
![Creative Commons License](https://i.creativecommons.org/l/by/4.0/88x31.png)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.