Project Applications & Implications
What will it do?
It will help children, along with parental guidance, set a savings goal and work toward it intentionally.
- detects when a coin is inserted
- pauses and prompts the child to identify its value
- requires a button input
- and only then accepts the coin
It tracks progress toward a goal, visualizes it through NeoPixel lights, provides audio feedback, and celebrates milestones.
Alongside this, a simple parent interface (app/dashboard) allows parents to:
- set or adjust savings goals
- track progress over time
- guide the child’s saving behavior externally
The project is not just about saving money, but about learning how to save consciously.
Who’s done what beforehand?
At Fabacademy, I found a similar Smart Piggy project by Cindy Crispin. Her project is an educational tool that uses sensory feedback (vibration and lights) to remind and encourage the habit of saving in children.
There are many versions of piggy banks available, but they tend to fall into isolated categories:
- lock-based systems (password / fingerprint)
- automatic coin acceptors
- mechanical coin sorters (like vending machines)
These systems either focus on storage or automation.
I could not find a system that focuses on teaching saving as a behavior, where the child actively participates in identifying and deciding before saving.
I am proposing a goal-based smart piggy bank designed to transform passive coin storage into active saving behavior through participation, decision-making, and progress awareness.
What sources will you use?
The primary inspiration comes from the JumpStart kids vending machine game, which uses:
- visual coin identification
- insertion
- feedback loops
This project translates that interaction into a physical, tangible system.
Additional references include coin-counting containers (mostly US-based), which focus on recognition but not on learning or intentional interaction.
Behavioral ideas such as:
- habit formation
- reinforcement
- visible progress
also inform the design.
What will you design?
I am designing a Smart Piggy Bank system that:
- encourages intentional saving
- makes progress visible and engaging
- reinforces actions through light and sound
- celebrates milestones
The design includes:
- outer form (pig enclosure)
- internal mechanism (coin path + servo-controlled flap)
- interaction system (buttons, LEDs, audio)
- embedded logic (state-based system)
- a simple parent interface for monitoring and goal setting
What materials and components will be used?
- MG90S / SG90 servos (flap mechanism)
- JQ6500 MP3 module + speaker (audio feedback)
- IR break beam sensor (coin detection)
- NeoPixel LEDs (progress visualization)
- Push buttons (denomination input)
- XIAO ESP32-C6 (microcontroller)
- Li-ion battery + boost converter (power system)
- 3D printed enclosure
- Custom PCB / perfboard for circuit assembly
Where will they come from?
- Fab Lab inventory (materials and machines)
- Online/local suppliers (Robu, DigiKey, electronics markets)
How much will they cost?
Estimated cost:
- Electronics and modules: ₹1500-₹2500
- Power system and additional components: ₹500-₹1000
Total: approximately ₹2500-₹4000
What parts and systems will be made?
- Pig enclosure (outer body)
- Coin slot and internal path
- Servo-based flap mechanism
- Electronics assembly (PCB / perfboard)
- Interaction system (buttons, LEDs, audio)
- Parent interface (basic app/dashboard)
What processes will be used?
- 2D design (layouts, diagrams)
- 3D design (enclosure and internal structure)
- Additive fabrication (3D printing)
- Subtractive fabrication (CNC milling, laser cutting)
- Electronics production (soldering, PCB/perfboard assembly)
- Embedded programming (ESP32 firmware, state machine)
- System integration (mechanical + electronic + interaction layers)
What questions need to be answered?
- Can the system enforce one coin → one decision → one action?
- Is the interaction intuitive for a child?
- Is the decision moment clearly experienced?
- Does feedback reinforce behavior?
- Is the mechanism reliable?
- Is power stable under load?
- Does the parent interface support learning?
How will it be evaluated?
- Functional reliability
- Interaction clarity
- Engagement
- Concept alignment
- System integration
Project Requirements Coverage
- 2D and 3D design
- Additive and subtractive fabrication
- Electronics design and production
- Embedded microcontroller programming
- Interfacing (sensors, actuators, audio, LEDs)
- System integration and packaging
Make vs Buy
Most structural and system elements will be designed and fabricated, including enclosure, internal mechanisms, and circuit assembly. Standard electronic components will be purchased.
Project Independence
- Self-contained
- Battery-powered
- Independently operable
It demonstrates capability across design, fabrication, electronics, embedded programming, and a simple parent-facing interface.