Week 18: Project Development
Tasks for this Week
Answer the following questions:
- what tasks have been completed?
- what tasks remain?
- what has worked? what hasn't?
- what questions need to be resolved?
- what will happen when?
- what have you learned?
What tasks have been completed?
Kokoro soft toy assembled and working.
- Fabric laser cut and engraved
- Toy sewn
- UV resin eyes cast and attached from custom designed mold
- 3D Printed Nose designed and made
- PCBs milled for toy and console
- Toy electronics installed and integrated
- Toy programming to pick up touch and hugs
- Cases printed for console and toy electronics storage
What tasks remain?
Remaining work is mainly in regards to the console which is extra, but will be completed shortly as it is a part of enhancing the interactivity with Kokoro.
- Finish soldering all the components for the console
- Adjust holes and reprint console case
- Finish programming the console
- Explore alkaline battery power for the soft toy electronics to make it a safer product (Note: Do not use button batteries as they have safety implications for children)
What has worked? what hasn't?
Laser cutting and engraving the fabric turned out really well, I was able to get a perfect cut out heart for the pocket, which would have been nearly impossible for me to do with scissors. The engraving guides were also really useful to getting a smooth sew done.
The electronics in the toy work, although I had to play around with the capacitive touch sensitivity to get it working properly.
I originally thought about actuating the ears on the soft toy, but after some testing they were too heavy and the noise of the servos took away from the serenity of patting/hugging Kokoro.
With the console case I made a hole a little close to the edge of the print, so it didn't print completely properly, just needs a minor tweak and re-print.
Also with the console I found that I had to trim down the main PCB to fit in the right spot in the case. The button PCB also is a bit large and needs to be made smaller, will do a re-design and mill before finalising updates to the case re-print.
What questions need to be resolved?
- How effective will the accelerometer in the console be at picking up steps/activity?
- Will I need to redesign the board and case for the toy to incorporate safer alkaline battery power?
What will happen when?
The console will be complete in time for the Fab Lab conference in Bhutan so I can show Kokoro in person to Fab Lab Network friends new and old.
The alkaline batteries in the toy are not as urgent, but I do not want to leave it for long, as if I run workshops it would be the preference to use this so that they toy will be considered more safe.
What have you learned?
I have learnt so much during this course. One thing I realised while sitting soldering away is that I can now make things with electronics - I can design a solution, make my own boards, source components, solder them together, program them and have a solution made.
Coming into this course I new a bit given I set up a Fab Lab, but what I have learnt are even more skills. I feel more confident using the machines in the Lab and I can give better advice to users. I also now have a body of work that I can show people to demonstrate by competence in making.
I still have more to learn, but I feel that Fab Academy has given me the boost I needed to get my confidence up to make more things. I have also made new friendships doing this course and they are priceless.