Final Project: Planning¶
Week 2
During Week 2, I worked on creating a visual identity for my final project by designing a logo. This helped me give the project a recognizable face and set the tone for how I wanted it to be perceived. You can check my logo making process by clicking on the following link. Logo process
Week 5
Initially, I imagined my bird feeder being used on a college campus. To validate this, I conducted a small survey where I asked students, “Would you be interested in having a bird feeder on campus that collects bird data?”. The response was minimal, and I noticed that students didn’t seem very engaged with the idea. This made me realize that the college environment might not be the right context for my project.
During Week 5, I reflected on this feedback and did more research to find a better fit. That’s when I shifted my focus to zoos or wildlife centers. where people are already curious about wildlife and would appreciate an interactive, educational experience. This pivot helped me redefine the purpose and target audience of my project and made the connection between the bird feeder and the tangible data visualization much more meaningful.
Week 6
I did my research to gather information on the techniques used for gathereing bird data
Week 7
Sketch
This is the design sketch of the bird feeder, showing its structure and key features like food storage, waste collection, and electronics.
Week 8
As electronics is not my domain. I started exploring the electronics for my final project by attempting to design a PCB schematic. I initially planned to use the Raspberry Pi Pico, but during this phase, I experimented with the Seeed Studio Xiao microcontroller. This week helped me begin thinking about the electronic components I’ll need and how they will be connected on a PCB. Although it was an early stage, it was an important step in understanding how to build the electronics side of my project more efficiently.
Component List
| Component | Function |
|---|---|
| Raspberry Pi Pico | Microcontroller for processing and connectivity |
| Microphone module | Captures bird sounds for interaction |
| Vibration motor / Servo motor | Enables self-cleaning mechanism |
| PCB (custom milled) | Integrates all circuit components |
| LED indicators | Signals food level or activity |
| OLED Display | Displays bird species detected (?) |
User Interaction
- Refill the feed storage from the top, which is covered to prevent contamination.
- LED indicators provide real-time feedback on food levels
- The feeder can be mounted in multiple ways depending on user preference—standing or hanging
