Concept & Motivation
Sleep has always been something I struggle with. Falling asleep rarely happens naturally for me, and most nights I find myself lying awake while my mind keeps racing. I noticed that the environment around me — especially harsh lighting and the habit of using my phone late at night — often makes it even harder for my body to slow down and prepare for rest.
Because of this personal struggle, I wanted my final project to focus on creating something that could gently support a healthier nighttime routine. The idea is to design a smart nightstand lamp that helps the body gradually transition between wakefulness and sleep, instead of relying on sudden darkness at night or abrupt alarms in the morning.
How It Works
Night Mode — Wind Down
- Lamp slowly begins to dim as bedtime approaches
- Light shifts from neutral white to warm amber tones
- Blue light is reduced to signal the body it's time to rest
- Relaxing ambient sounds play through a built-in speaker
- Light fades completely, encouraging natural sleep onset
Morning Mode — Wake Up
- Simulates a gentle sunrise instead of a harsh alarm
- Light slowly increases in brightness over time
- Gradually shifts toward a cooler daylight tone
- Soft alarm sound begins as the room brightens
- Helps the user wake up naturally and calmly
Project Specifications
Category
Smart Wellness Device
Input
Mobile app (sleep/wake schedule)
Output
RGB LED lighting
Electronics
Microcontroller + RGB LEDs
Fabrication
3D Printing, Laser Cutting, PCB milling
Connectivity
Wireless (Wi-Fi / Bluetooth)
Development Timeline
Phase 1 — Concept & CAD Design
Sketching the lamp form, modeling in Fusion 360, and finalizing the enclosure design
Phase 2 — Electronics Design & PCB
Designing the custom PCB, selecting components (microcontroller, RGB LEDs, speaker), and milling the board
Phase 3 — Embedded Programming
Writing firmware for light dimming, color temperature shifting, sound playback, and app communication
Phase 4 — Fabrication & Assembly
3D printing the lamp body, laser cutting panels, assembling all components together
Phase 5 — Testing & Iteration
Testing the full sleep/wake cycle, refining transitions, and improving usability
June 2026 — Final Presentation
Presenting the completed Smart Circadian Nightstand Lamp at Fab Academy
Files & Documentation
This section documents the design files, fabrication progress, and core hardware that make up the Smart Circadian Nightstand Lamp. Each part of the build — from the PCB to the laser-cut enclosure — is captured below, with the full source files hosted on my GitLab repository.
Electronics Design PCB
The custom board was developed in two stages: a schematic capture defining the connections between the XIAO ESP32-C3 microcontroller, LED driver, and supporting components, followed by a PCB layout optimized for milling at the lab.
Enclosure Design CAD
The lamp body — referred to as the Light Box — was designed as a press-fit acrylic enclosure with an internal frame. The 2D drawings were prepared for laser cutting, while the 3D model was used to verify proportions, assembly, and the placement of internal electronics.
Fabrication Process Build
Fabrication brought the digital design into physical form: laser cutting the acrylic panels, 3D printing structural parts, and assembling the electronics inside the enclosure. The photos below capture key moments from the build.
Application Development In Progress
The companion mobile application — used to set the sleep and wake schedule and to communicate with the lamp wirelessly — is currently in development.
Bill of Materials
- 1× 2 mm Acrylic sheet
- 32× 6 mm nuts
- 6 m 6 mm rods
- 1× ABS filament
- 1× Toggle Switch
- 1× Type-C Cable
- 2× Screw Terminal
- 1× XIAO ESP32-C3 microcontroller
- 1× LED Strip
- 1× Resistor
Full project files
Source code, CAD models, PCB files, and documentation updates