The Development of the idea
The New Idea
The original idea was to place the entire device inside the puffin hole and use Lo-Ra for communication. However, after further consideration, I realized that placing the entire device inside the puffin hole might not be ideal. Instead, I decided to position the main device outside the hole, with only the step response sensor placed inside. This approach minimizes disturbance to the puffins while still collecting valuable data.
Future development
Perhaps later, I am also considering including an AI camera or a microphone in the design, with the data stored on an SD card for later analysis. The AI camera could identify when a puffin has a fish to log that information. While this could be quite complex, it would be incredibly interesting if feasible.
Plan for each week
This is the current plan for each week on how i can do projects related to my final project.
Date | Assignment | What will be done in final project |
---|---|---|
Jan 22 | Principles and practices | |
Jan 29 | Computer-aided design | Design body |
Feb 05 | Computer-controlled cutting | |
Feb 12 | Embedded programming | |
Feb 19 | 3D scanning and printing | 3D printing with copper foils for step response? |
Feb 26 | Electronics design | Design board with inputs and outputs connections |
Mar 05 | Computer-controlled machining | |
Mar 12 | Electronics production | Make and solder main board |
Mar 19 | Input devices | Step response |
Mar 26 | Output devices | e-ink display |
Apr 02 | Networking and communications | Lo-Ra? send logging info to another xiao |
Apr 09 | Mechanical design, machine design | |
Apr 16 | Break, midterm review + evaluation | |
Apr 23 | Molding and casting | Molding and casting around step-response sensors |
Apr 30 | Interface and application programming | website, count info in and out for puffin |
May 07 | System integration | |
May 14 | Wildcard week | |
May 21 | Applications and implications | |
May 28 | Invention, intellectual property | |
Jun 04 | Weekly assignments deadline | |
Jun 09-13 | Final project presentations |
What does it do?
My final project is to create a device that monitors puffins to gather more information about their behavior. To ensure I was monitoring the right aspects, I consulted a puffin expert, Dr. Erpur Snær Hansen, who provided valuable insights into what could be monitored. The main purpose of the device is to track and log how often a puffin enters and exits its burrow, as well as the timing of these activities. By doing so, it could provide insights into when puffins leave to catch fish and when they return to feed their pufflings. Depending on the frequency of these activities, it may be possible to predict how far the food source is located. The device will feature a button connected to an E-Ink display that will show information such as the number of times a puffin has entered and exited the burrow, the name or ID of the device, and the current time.
Here is a list of inputs and outputs:
Input Devices
Device | Purpose | Notes |
---|---|---|
Step Response Sensor | Detects puffin movement in/out of burrow | Could be capacitive or resistive. Low power. |
RTC (Real Time Clock) | Timestamps entries/exits | Use DS3231 or similar; battery-backed |
Button | Manual reset or configuration | Could be helpful in field setup |
AI Camera (future development) | Visual identification of puffins | Needs more power, but potentially huge insights |
Output Devices
Device | Purpose | Notes |
---|---|---|
E-Ink Display | Low-power field display of activity | Only draws power on update |
LoRa | Remote data transmission | Long-range, very low power |
SD Card | Local data storage | Needed if no connectivity |
Website (future development) | For visualizing logs | Could be developed using simple CSV upload scripts |
From ChatGPT Fab Academy Assistant. Here is the chat
Who's done what beforehand?
Various Projects that use similar inputs or outputs or have similar ideas.
- Smart Citizen Project – Fab Lab Barcelona Same ground concept
- Luis Badilla Final Project – Fab Academy 2020 Use as a reference for AI camera
- Portfolio 19 – Fab Academy 2017, Fab Lab Veritas
- Week 13 – Tsuchiya Yosuke, Fab Academy 2019, Kamakura Lab
- Step Response Tips – Fab Lab Kannai Step response documentation
- Matt Blackshaw – Week 8, How to Make (Almost) Anything 2010 Step response ATMega
- Hamman – Week 11, Harvard Section 2015
- Kai Naito – Week 11, Fab Lab Kamakura 2018
Left to be answered
- What did you design?
- What materials and components were used?
- Where did they come from?
- How much did they cost?
- What parts and systems were made?
- What processes were used?
- What questions were answered?
- What worked? What didn't?
- How was it evaluated?
- What are the implications?