Soul sync
Inspired from this design
The product is synced to the time zone of a friend or loved one living in another part of the world. Within the frame, a band of light moves gradually to reflect their current time of day, rising and falling in response to the sun cycle of that location.
This slow and continuous movement acts as a subtle indicator of presence, allowing the user to remain quietly aware of the other person’s time and routine. Rather than functioning as a conventional clock, the product creates an ambient sense of being with them or thinking of them occasionally throughout the day.
WEEK 2
Week 2 we learnt about design software. We explored different CAD tools such as vector and raster software, Photopea, Affinity, Inkscape, Fusion, and Blender.I designed a simple version of my final project in Fusion. In Blender, I imported the Fusion file and animated it, adding materials and lighting. This gave me an idea of how the product will look. I am following the design I am inspired by, while keeping exploration of the design to a limit so that I can use the software effectively and have better control over what my final output will look like.
Input and Output Components
Somewhere during the input and output weeks, I understood about what components I would need. There was a discussion on how the sun should move, vertically or horizontally. After discussion, a curved sun path was concluded because I felt that showed similarity to how the sun moves across the sky. So, a curved path.
Input Devices
During the input device week, I included an RTC, touch pad, and LED in my design. This gave me an idea of how these could be used.
RTC
I tried the RTC DS1307 in the input week, but for my final project I used the RTC DS3231, which has higher accuracy than the other.
Touch
I added a touch pad on the PCB itself. Though I did this during the input and output weeks, I had not realised how I could make this work in the final project, and there were changes in the final model at the last minute. But those changes were manageable. I used a TTP223 touch module.
LED
I used an LED here just on the board to know the power status and to understand if the colours were changeable. But those were mostly changeable on the NeoPixel on the Xiao and not on the LEDs I was using, which I understood only later. LED colour could be changed only on the NeoPixel LEDs.
Output Devices
Sibin, my local instructor, suggested that a rack and pinion method could be used, and a motor could be used to move it. Then the thought process was on which motor to use: a servo motor or a stepper motor.
During the output week, I used a servo motor and a stepper motor. I learnt about stepper motors and servos, but I did not understand how they would be used.
Later, in the following weeks and through discussions about how the project could be done, along with discussions with Sibin and Jogin Francis, I understood what they were talking about and how to run the motor and make the sun move. The idea was to use a curved gantry.
Don't worry, I will add the picture because I too did not know what it was until I watched this YouTube video and interacted with Sreyas.
NEOPIXEL RING
The sun, the main element, was a ring of NeoPixels. For this, I got the help of Namita Aravind and Akhil G Babu. They told me how the NeoPixel rings could cast shadows without diffusion and how to diffuse the light well. That is how I came across the material for the illumination. The synthetic paper, which Kalyani R K had used in her final project, could give the diffusion I needed and was also stronger than paper.
Weekly Roadmap
I used the weeks to try out the areas I needed.
Week 9 – Input Devices
Touch pad, phototransistor, and RTC.
Week 10 – Output Devices
Servo motor (MG90S) and stepper motor (28BYJ48 12V stepper motor).
Week 11 – Embedded Networking and Communications
I communicated between the input and output boards. This gave me an understanding of how the boards worked. When I was doing this, I did not think I would need breakout boards to connect my motors. The wire connections were not thought of because of my lack of practical knowledge of making devices or machines like these. The machine week gave me more insight into this.
Week 12 – Machine Week
This gave much more insight into the placement of the board, how the power supply could happen, what type of connectors would be needed to supply power, the 3D model of the PCB, why it is important, the PCB components, and how they affect the board design.
Week 14 – Moulding and Casting
I did not try the assignment related to my project. But I had a clear idea of the components I would be using and the materials to be used. I had purchased the synthetic paper. The idea of how to assemble the mould was going on. The gear material as 6 mm acrylic sheet was fixed.
Week 15 – Interface and Application Programming
This week I tried to compile the software part of it. All the AI tools were in use to help. I was able to change the time based on the 24 time zones. This was when I was finding it difficult to add all the places. I was wondering how many locations to add since there were so many locations, cities, and countries. This week I had started to choose the microcontroller I would need. Sibin had asked me to work that part out.
Week 16 – System Integration
The initial choice of microcontroller was the ESP32. Then, on rechecking, I understood that the Xiao ESP32 C6 itself would be enough to handle the required pins. I also made sure to have an extra pin for the backlight. These were discussed around this time, and it was good that it was done. I did use the backlight, that is, the NeoPixel strip, to illuminate the image.
Week 17 – Wildcard Week
This week I focused on cutting the synthetic paper. I tested whether the Trotec laser cutter could do the job, what power settings would be needed, and how it affected the paper. It took eight iterations to find the correct power. I cut the paper on the Trotec Speedy 100. After finding the settings, I cut a different colour and the paper warped, so I had to adjust the power.
Week 18 – Applications and Implications, Project Development
This week I thought more about how the project was going to be, and the size was fixed.
Week 19 – Invention, Intellectual Property and Income
This week gave insight into the production of the project. I had cut the gear and was iterating the 3D printed models to fit the mechanical components. I routed the wooden frame. This was a crucial time. What I learnt from machine week was to design the module so that I could reach the PCB module and the wires without having to take the project apart each and every time something went wrong.
Week 20 – Final Project Development
By this time, the project was assembled, though it was not screwed or shut completely. While still in pieces, the project could work.
Milestones
During machine week, I was wondering how I was going to manage the work that five of us did over two weeks within the remaining time. I started scheduling after Week 16, I think. I was not able to stick to any of those schedules, but towards the end I did manage to catch up.
Well, here I am writing this paragraph, so yeah, I made it through :)
Electronics Refrences
RGB LED RGB LED connection Kicad plugins