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Final Project - Description

Final project idea

Project planning

Details
Date Module name Final project part
Feb 01 computer-aided design 3D modeling of the pebble
Feb 08 computer-controlled cutting engraving test of the ring, wood and mask
Feb 13 parametric, algorithmic, generative design flower patern generation?
Feb 15 embedded programming starting programation of esp
Feb 22 3D scanning and printing print plastic version of the pellet
Mar 01 electronics design designing pcb
Mar 08 computer-controlled machining millling wood structure and top part mold
Mar 15 electronics production crating pcb
Mar 22 molding and casting casting resin for the top part of the pebble
Mar 30 output devices controlling leds, mp3 player(?) and vibration motors
Apr 05 mechanical design, machine design
Apr 12 break, midterm review
Apr 19 input devices dealing with light sensor, switch and capacitive sensor(?)
Apr 26 networking and communications control pebble parameters wirelessly
May 03 interface and application programming creating UI for pebble
May 10 wildcard week
May 17 applications and implications
May 24 invention, intellectual property, and income
May 31 project development

Introduction

My idea for the final project is to create a device to help people to relax helping them to do “Heart coherence” exercices. The principle is to self control our breathing at a specific rate around 5 breathing per minutes.

Heart Coherence is a physiological state characterized by synchrony between the heart rate variability (HRV) and breathing. It is used as a tool for managing stress and promoting well-being. The principle is to regulate breathing at a certain rate to bring the heart rate into a specific pattern, which has been shown to improve stress management, emotional regulation, and overall health.

During her pregnency my grirlfriend has to do those excercices during 5 minutes several times a day to prevent stress. Now that our daugther is born, sources of stress are differents but still numerous but the habit to makes thoses exercices is difficult to keep. Here is born the idea of a device to help to (at least try) to stay relaxed.

There is several existing tools to do so like this youtube video:

If you are interrested, the goal is to inhale slowly and deeply while the ball is raising, then exhale slowly when it go down. Try to maintain this slow breathing pattern for several minutes when you feel stressed or need to calm down.

There is already some mobile-phone apps to help in those exercices: image

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.martinforget.cardiaccoherencelite&hl=en&gl=US

The object

My idea is to create an object in a pebble form that will help you to breath in rythm and remind you to do your exercices. It can sit on your office desk and flash lights to reminds you to relax regularly will working. It can be bring in you pocket and help you pratice even with closed eyes thanks to embedded vibration motors . You will have to touch the pebble to launch an 5 minutes exercices. An array of rgb leds will display a colored light parttern going from the center to the edges of the device at a low frequency. The effect is not easy to describe with words, I will come back here with a video as soon as I made a quick prototype with neopixel rgb led strip…

image

Photomontage of the meditation pebble in hands

image 3D rendering of the pebble with Fusion360

Components

My goal is to have an aestehic “multimaterial” object, with a base milled in wood with CNC, the cover molded in resin and a ring in metal wich can be customized by milling or engraving text (like mantras) or geometrical paterns, flowers etc…

image splitted view of the pebble (without battery and pcb)

The top layer is not an lcd but a fixed image, however, one can choose our favorite patern changing the mask before molding resin on it. Or perhaps it can be simply a mask under a transparent resin cover, we will see during prototyping!

image Different masks for customisation

image Schematics of the lighting part of the project

Base Options

  • Ambiant light detection to adjust leds brightness
  • Multimaterial: wood, brass, resin (natural would be better)
  • Customisation: brass/wood engraving, mask choice on resin
  • Vibrations in rythm, cat purring style, heart beat
  • Side buttons for on/off and mode selection: light, vibrations or both
  • Capacitive or ir sensor to aknowledge/refuse session request
  • Works on battery for at least 3 days at 5 sessions/day

Smart phone connexion

  • Bluetooth smart phone connexion
  • Choose frequency of meditation call
  • Choose prefered time ranges if used at work for example
  • Record duration and count of sessions
  • Choose prefered color panel
  • Adjust vibration intensity
  • Enable/disable auto light level
  • Automaticaly set Phone into plane mode
  • Battery monitor

Options to investigate

  • Integrated mp3 player with preloaded sound and a jack plug for music ?
  • HP integrated ?
  • Use as smooth alarm clock ?
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