16. Applications and Implications
Assignment
Propose a final project masterpiece that integrates the range of units covered.
Your project should incorporate:
- 2D and 3D design
- Additive and subtractive fabrication processes
- Electronics design and production
- Embedded microcontroller interfacing and programming
- System integration and packaging.
Where possible, you should make rather than buy the parts of your project. Projects can be separate or joint, but need to show individual mastery of the skills, and be independently operable.
See Final Project Requirements for a complete list of requirements you must fulfil.
The answers to the questions below will allow you to create your BOM (Bill Of Materials).
Answering Key Questions About The Project
What will it do?
My final project is going to be a synthesizer that can take the inputs of the sensors and generate different sound in real time based on the changing values.
Who has done what beforehand?
- Jamse Fletcher from Fab Lab Manchester made a digital music synth
- Maya Kishi-Andrieux made a 9 Axis Sound Spatializing Helmet
- Yadid Ayzenberg made a AVR MIDI Controller
- Edwin Dertien from Fablab AMsterdam made the FABulously Furry Synthesiser Module
What will you design?
I will design the PCB, shield and the program for generating the sound, basically every part of the device.
What materials and components will be used?
I will have a 3D printed case, an acrylic front panel, self cut PCB with FR1 material, an ESP32 as the main controller, a small speaker, some input sensors, and a headphone jack.
Where will they come from?
The components I'm using will come from the stock of our lab, and for the things that we don't have, I will by them from TaoBao.
How much will they cost?
Here's the BOM of the project I collected:
| Item | Cost (￥) |
|---|---|
| ESP32 Dev Module | 19.82 |
| GY91 accelerometer and gyro scope module | 15.1 |
| MAX98357 I2S amp module | 5.65 |
| 8Ω 1W speaker module 15mm | 2.69 |
| SS12D11 G5 switch 3 pin | 0.97 |
| PJ-320D 3.5mm headphone jack SMD | 0.48 |
| SMD Button 12x12x5 | 0.15 |
| 0.96inch I2C OLED screen | 8.8 |
| 2X 15P female pin headers | 0.48 |
| FR1 single side copper clad laminate 15x20cm | 10.29 |
| PLA 3D print filament 18.3g | 0.74 |
| Trasparent Acrylic 50x100x2mm | 0.19 |
| M3 Copper stand 6mm | 0.07 |
| Screw M3x4mm | 0.02 |
| Total | 65.45 |
What parts and systems will be made?
- The circuit which connects all the components and PCB that holds them.
- The input/outputs that the user can use and the way of the user interaction.
- The structure and parts that assembles the device.
- The software system that generate and output sound in real time running on the device.
What processes will be used?
- 3D modeling and 3D printing for the case
- PCB design, milling and soldering for the circuit
- 2D design and laser cutting for the front pannel
- Embeded programming for the software
What questions need to be answered?
- What algorithm do I need to generate real time sound data?
- How to create different kind of sound and what's their data look like?
- How do I map the sensor data to the sound that I'm generating?
- Can I run the software on the embeded device and make it drive the speaker in real time?
How will it be evaluated?
The device is assembled and built with a complete structure and can function properly. If I managed to make it output some different sound without stuttering then it will fullfill my goal of experimenting with sound generation.
Some additional functionality may be added such as the ability to plug in different sensors, streaming music from the serial interface or network, outputing sound and save it to files, etc