Welcome to Ning Zhang Fab Academy site!

Weekly assignments

Week 01 ✓ Completed Project management

Getting started with project management and documentation process.

Week 02 ✓ Completed Computer Aided Design

Introduction to CAD tools and 2D/3D modeling techniques.

Week 03 ✓ Completed Computer-controlled cutting

Working with laser cutters and vinyl cutters.

Week 04 ✓ Completed Embedded Programming

Working with Arduino and ESP32 microcontrollers.

Week 05 ✓ Completed 3D Scanning and Printing

3D printing workflows and scanning methods.

Week 06 ✓ Completed Electronics Design

Circuit design and simulation tools.

Week 07 ✓ Completed Computer-Controlled Machining

Interlocking round stool — Fusion 360 parametric design, Mastercam CAM, and CNC milling on 18 mm MDF.

Week 08 ✓ Completed Electronics Production

XIAO ESP32-C3 dev board — KiCad to Mods CE G-code, KEXU CNC milling, soldering, and JLCPCB revision with pull-up fix.

Week 09 ✓ Completed Input Devices

HC-SR04 ultrasonic distance sensor on the Week 8 ESP32-C3 board — pulse timing measurement and serial readout.

Week 10 ✓ Completed Output Devices

8-LED WS2812B NeoPixel strip on the Week 8 board — HC-SR04 distance input drives a lit-LED bar graph; group multimeter power measurements.

Week 11 ✓ Completed Networking and Communications

ESP-NOW between XIAO ESP32-C3 (HC-SR04 ultrasonic) and XIAO ESP32-S3 (SG90 servo) — distance on Board A wirelessly drives servo angle on Board B; group MQTT + LoRa experiments.

Week 12 ✓ Completed Mechanical Design, Machine Design

Group XIAO vending machine — explored STS3215 serial bus servos, assigned IDs, tuned gate motion, and delivered test code integrated into the Wio Terminal firmware.

Week 13 ✓ Completed Mid Term Review

Progress summary for Weeks 1–12, JeLamp final-project status, remaining schedule (Weeks 13–20), and local/global instructor check-in.

Week 14 ✓ Completed Mold and Casting

Innovation Department badge — Fusion 360 master pattern, 3D print, silicone mold, AB resin casting, and process reflection.

Week 15 ✓ Completed Interface and Application Programming

Web-based UI on XIAO ESP32 to control servo and NeoPixel via HTTP over Wi-Fi.

Week 16 ✓ Completed System Integration

JeLamp system integration: rock–paper–scissors gesture game with SenseCraft AI on ESP32-S3, I2C to ESP32-C3 NeoPixel PCB, packaging, and assembly plan.

Week 17 ✓ Completed Wildcard Week

Machine vision facial expression interaction for Jelamp using ESP32-S3 camera, Edge Impulse, and NeoPixel feedback.

Week 18 ✓ Completed Applications & Implications

Final project plan for JeLamp — 3-DOF scope, single carrier PCB, BOM, fabrication processes, evaluation criteria, and draft presentation materials.

Week 19 ✓ Completed Invention, Intellectual Property, And Income

JeLamp dissemination plan, CC BY-NC license, business models, project progress, and schedule toward the June 4 final deadline.

Week 20 ✓ Completed Project Presentations

JeLamp final presentation — AI-powered gesture-control robotic arm lamp: summary slide, video, BOM, system integration, and project documentation.

Total Progress: 20/20 weeks completed
More assignments will be added as the course progresses