MR. Flippers （づ￣3￣）づ╭🐧～

What does it do?

MR. Flippers is a penguin shaped desk buddy that helps me stay focused while studying. It lets me set timers such as Pomodoro, Flowmodoro, etc. or custom set focus timers, tracks my sessions in a log and tracks streaks to keep me going, and plays alerts and health reminders such as hydration alerts through a speaker. It has adorable eyes that look aware to make it seem really "alive." Everything runs standalone. I just plug it into a wall and it works on my desk.

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Intellectual Property (License)

I am using the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0) license.

This means:

• Anyone can share and remix my work
• They have to give me credit
• No commercial use (I am not selling this)
• They have to use the same license if they share their version

Who has done what beforehand?

Focus timers exist as apps on phones or as commercial products like the Pomodoro timer cube or tomato. But none of them are an offline standalone device with a personality, streak tracking, health reminders, and voice alerts. The closest things are simple Pomodoro timers with buzzers, but they don't have audio feedback, session logging, streak tracking, or an expressive character like a MR Flippers.

What sources did you use?

• Seeed Studio documentation for XIAO ESP32 C3
• U8g2 and FluxGarage RoboEyes library documentation
• RTClib and DFRobotDFPlayerMini references
• Fab Academy documentation from previous students for PCB and enclosure inspiration
• AI

What did you design?

• A custom PCB with connectors for all components
• A full 3D printed penguin enclosure with multiple shells, twist and lock head joint, and internal mounting holders for all the component
• A PCB mounting ledge
• A stand/holder for MR Flippers

What materials and components were used?

BOM

The 3D printed enclosure used PLA and TPU filament from the lab. A 5mm clear pink acrylic sheet was laser cut for the stand. M3 screws from the lab were used for PCB mounting.

Where did they come from?

Most components came from the Fab Lab or were ordered through Amazon and Robu.

How much did they cost?

What parts and systems were made?

• 3D printed: Head shell, face plate, body shells, belly plate, feet, flippers, beak,internal holders and standoffs for every component
• Milled and soldered: Custom PCB
• Programmed: Full menu system with timers and Focus Blueprint on the C3, posture detection on the S3, communication between both boards via UART

What processes were used?

• 3D design in Fusion 360 using the Form workspace for organic shapes
• 3D printing for all enclosure parts
• PCB milling and soldering
• Embedded programming in Arduino IDE
• Laser cutting a holder for MR Flippers.
• Embedded programming in Arduino IDE

What questions were answered?

How accurately can MR. Flippers track and store when your best focus times were?
Very accurately. The DS3231 RTC keeps time with ±2 minutes per month drift, which is fine for tracking daily focus sessions. The Focus Blueprint stores timestamps of every completed session in the XIAO's flash memory. By looking at the log over time, I can see my highest recorded sessions and the total number of sessions for each week.

Will 3.3V produce enough volume from the speaker through the DFPlayer?
Yes. The DFPlayer Mini runs on 3.3V logic but expects 5V for the amplifier. I powered the DFPlayer from the xiao's 5V pin instead of 3.3V pin. The volume is plenty loud for a desk environment.

Will all the 3D printed joints hold together reliably after full assembly?
Yes, after several redesigns. The twist and lock head joint failed in early prints because the tabs were too thin. I increased wall thickness and added fillets at stress points. The snap tabs on the body shells also hold firmly. Everything stays together during normal use.

How will it be evaluated?

MR. Flippers works without a laptop connected.It can boot up with the animation of the eyes, navigate the full menu using the rotary encoder, run accurate custom timers and sounds, save session data, and play audio alerts through the speaker along with custom stored audio in the sd card..

What worked? What didn’t?

What Worked?

• The menu system and timers work perfectly. I can scroll through options using the rotary encoder, select Pomodoro or custom timers, and the countdown runs correctly. The Flowmodoro mode also works as expected.
• The OLED displays show cute faces on the face screen and timer information on the belly screen. The face changes expressions depending on what's happening, which makes MR. Flippers feel alive.
• The RTC and Focus Blueprint work. My session data (start time, end time, duration) gets saved to the XIAO's flash memory. The streak tracking also works and keeps me motivated to study every day.
• The rotary encoder navigation is smooth and responsive. Turning scrolls through menu options, and pressing selects. Long press goes back, which feels natural.
• The PCB finally works after multiple versions. I fixed the short circuits and ground issues from earlier designs.
• The DFPlayer and speaker produce clear voice alerts. The hydration reminders play at set intervals, and the timer completion sounds are loud enough to hear even with headphones on.
• The 3D printed enclosure came out looking like a penguin! After many reprints and adjustments, all the shells fit together. The eyes on the OLED really make it look alive.

What Didn't Work

• Posture detection:This was part of my original plan but I ran out of time.

What are the implications?

• Focus tools can be fun: A penguin on your desk is more engaging than a boring app.
• Streak tracking work: Seeing my streak keeps you motivated to keep up every day.
• Offline is good : No WiFi, no phone app, no distractions.
• Health reminders matter: Hydration alerts helps take care of myself while working.
• Open source:Other people can refer files and build their own version.

Thank You So Much For Visiting ㄟ(≧◇≦)ㄏ And Byeeeeee (～￣▽￣)～ (＾Ｕ＾)ノ~

Files (Download Zip files):

• Kicad PCB board
• Arduino IDE File

I couldn't add the fusion file since it's a bit too large.