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Week 18 - Invention, Intellectual Property, and Income
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Dissemination Plan
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Zenbience will be released under the Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0) license. All design files, source code, documentation, and fabrication files will be published on my Fab Academy website and Git repository. This license allows others to share, modify, and build upon the project for non-commercial purposes, provided that proper attribution is given and derivative works are distributed under the same license.

The project documentation will include:

  • CAD design files for the enclosure and figurines
  • PCB design and fabrication files
  • Embedded software source code
  • Bill of materials (BOM)
  • Assembly details
  • Project demonstration videos

What Tasks Have Been Completed?
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  • Defined the final project concept and user experience.
  • Designed and fabricated the custom PCB.
  • Integrated the ESP32 microcontroller.
  • Implemented RFID detection.
  • Integrated NeoPixel LED feedback.
  • Designed the circular enclosure structure.
  • Developed the Pomodoro timer concept and web interface.
  • Established wireless communication through Wi-Fi.
  • Documented the project development process.

What Tasks Remain?
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  • Final assembly of the enclosure components.
  • Final debugging of hardware and software integration.
  • Creating and testing multiple environmental figurines (Fire, Rain, Thunder, and Cricket/Wind).
  • Reliability testing of RFID recognition and timer functionality.
  • Creation of final project video and presentation materials.
  • Completion of final documentation.

What’s Working?
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  • ESP32 connects successfully to Wi-Fi.
  • RFID tags are detected correctly.
  • NeoPixel LEDs respond to system states.
  • Figurines can be associated with different ambience modes.
  • The Pomodoro workflow is implemented and functional.
  • The web server can communicate with the device.

What’s Not Working Perfectly?
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  • The web interface requires further visual refinement.
  • The enclosure assembly has not yet been fully validated.
  • System responsiveness and stability need longer-term testing.
  • Some software features still require optimization and cleanup.

What Questions Need to Be Resolved?
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  • What is the optimal placement of the RFID reader inside the enclosure?
  • How can LEDs provide the best refraction?

What Will Happen When?
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Until June 9th:

  • Finalize software integration.
  • Conduct system testing and debugging.
  • Record demonstration video.
  • Complete documentation.
  • Publish all project files and source code.

What Have You Learned?
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Through this project I learned how to integrate multiple digital fabrication processes into a single product, including electronics design, embedded programming, 3D modeling, laser cutting, and system integration. I gained experience designing custom PCBs, working with RFID communication, creating web-based interfaces on an ESP32, and developing a product-centered design workflow. Most importantly, I learned how to transform an initial idea into a functional prototype through iterative design and testing.

Future Development
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Future versions of Zenbience could include:

  • Additional ambience figurines and soundscapes.
  • Audio layering.
  • Mobile application support.
  • Battery-powered operation.
  • Customizable Pomodoro schedules.
  • Data tracking and productivity analytics.
  • Improved enclosure materials and manufacturing methods.
  • Expandable plugin system for user-created ambience modes.
Senanur Düzenli
Author
Senanur Düzenli
Maker of Many Hats | Engineer, Mentor, Educator