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1. Principles and practices

Plan and Sketch a Final Project

I am making an interactive mood lamp. This lamp will contain an:

  • Internal Clock

  • Microphone

  • Temperature Sensor

This lamp will change colors/brightness in response to environments with a sense Of time, temperature, and sound. I decided on this project because freshman year I did a big LED sign that changed color based on the temperature it was in the room. I wanted to take the idea of that project and take it to another level by adding more Sensors and making it into a design that is more aesthetically pleasing. I also have a not weird long love for lights and lamp fixtures. I love all my projects lighting up or glowing in some way or another.

Pre-Project Design Specification Considerations

  • What do you want your project to do?

I want my lamp to be able to react to voices and other sounds, change colors based on the temperature from body heat, and to have a sunrise progression mode [it will go from one color to another over the span of 30 minutes to wake me up at a certain time].

  • Will your project be inside or outside?

It is going to be strictly indoors. I plan to create it out of wood which is easily worn and warped through outside elements.

  • Will your project be portable?

It is a lamp so it will usually be stationary but yes, it is possible to move around.

  • Will your project connect to the Internet?

I do not think it will need to connect to the internet because it will have a dial to change the modes.

  • Will your project use Bluetooth?

No, it will not use blue tooth I don’t believe.

  • Does your project use a vinyl cutter?

No, it is not a requirement for the project.

  • Does your project use a laser cutter?

Yes, I will use it to create designs on the wood and cut out the thinner parts of the wood.

  • Does your project use a 3D printer?

My project could possibly use a 3D printer to create the light dome inside the lamp or other parts.

  • Does your project use a large CNC machine (Shopbot)?

I most likely will use the CNC to design the individual parts of the lamp such as the base or the top.

  • Does your project have intelligence (Arduino, Raspberry Pi, computer)?

Yes, my project will use an Arduino.

  • What are your project inputs?

The inputs will be sound, temperature, and time.

  • What are your project outputs?

My output is the lamp changing colors based on the inputs and the mode it is in.

  • What are the dimensions of your project?

I am anticipating it to be no bigger than about 6x6x11 but that is subject to change.

  • What materials will you use?

I plan on using wood, acrylic, and plastic from 3d printing.

  • How will you conceal the electronics?

I want to have compartments built into the base and top of the lamp so I am able to hide the electronics and they can not be seen through the lamp but also still access them if needed.

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Week Management

Date Week Project
Feb 02 Computer-aided Design Yes
Feb 09 Computer-Controlled Cutting No
Feb 16 Electronics Production Maybe
Feb 23 3D Scanning and Printing No
Mar 02 Electronics Design No
Mar 09 Computer-Controlled Machining Maybe
Mar 16 Embedded Programming Maybe
Mar 23 Molding and Casting No
Mar 30 Output Devices Yes
Apr 06 Mechanical/Machine Design No
Apr 13 Break
Apr 20 Input Devices Yes
Apr 27 Networking and Communications No
May 04 Interface and Application Programming Maybe
May 11 Wildcard Week
May 18 Applications and Implications Yes
May 25 Invention/Intellectual Property and Income Yes
Jun 01 Project Development Yes
Jun 08 Project Presentations

For a lot of these weeks I am not completely sure whether or not I’ll be able to do something for my project but I will be actively updating the chart as I figure that out.


Last update: May 26, 2022