Invention, Intellectual Property and Income

1. Checklist

• ✅ Created a dissemination plan for my final project
• ✅ Outlined future possibilities and described how to make them probable
• ✅ Identified what tasks have been completed and what tasks remain
• ✅ Explained what is working and what is not working yet
• ✅ Defined the main questions that still need to be resolved
• ✅ Planned what will happen and when during the final development stage
• ✅ Reflected on what I learned during the development of the project
• ✅ Connected the final project with the Fab Academy assignments used during the process
• ✅ Defined the intellectual property approach for the project
• ✅ Explained the difference between GitLab as a repository and the license as a usage agreement
• ✅ Described possible income and sustainability opportunities
• ✅ Included the prompt used to generate the AI concept image
• ✅ Identified the source of the AI-generated image

2. Final Project Overview

My final project is called Fab Train. It is a modular interactive train system for STEM learning. The project was born from the idea of creating a physical train circuit with wooden rails, a 3D printed train, embedded electronics, sensors, actuators, wireless communication, and a dashboard to visualize the system status.

The main goal is to build a demonstrative educational kit where a train moves through a rail circuit, interacts with a station, and sends information to a dashboard. The project combines digital fabrication, electronics, programming, communication, and interface design.

The system is designed as an open educational and interactive platform for children, makers, Fab Labs, and STEM learning environments. Although the current version is demonstrative, the project can be improved in the future as a learning kit or as a base for other IoT applications.

Image source: The image w19_1.png was generated with an AI image generation tool to communicate the general concept of the final project before the complete physical integration is finished.

3. AI Image Generation Prompt

The image w19_1.png was generated using the following prompt: Create a clean, professional concept infographic image for a Fab Academy final project called “Fab Train”. The image should visually explain the complete concept of the project in a polished horizontal composition suitable for a website hero image or project documentation page. Use a modern isometric or semi-isometric illustration style on a light, clean background. The overall look should be professional, educational, high-impact, and easy to understand. Place a modular wooden train rail circuit in the center of the image. The rails should look like CNC-machined MDF pieces, with straight and curved modular sections connected together. On the rails, show one small 3D-printed locomotive and one wagon. The train should look like a prototype made for digital fabrication, with a compact body, visible wheels, and a small internal electronics area. Next to the track, include a small train station structure made from digitally fabricated parts. The station should include a proximity sensor facing the train and a few LED indicators. Represent a station PCB inside or beside the station. Add simple Wi-Fi icons and subtle dashed arrows between the train, the station, and a computer dashboard. The communication should look clear but not cluttered. The image should communicate that the train and station interact wirelessly. On the right side, include a desktop computer or monitor showing a dashboard interface. The dashboard should display the following labeled data clearly: Motor: Active / Inactive, LED State, Battery, Distance, and Station LEDs. Add elegant callout labels around the system with thin connector lines. Include exactly these labels: Wooden Rails, 3D Printed Train, Train PCB, Station PCB, WiFi Communication, and PC Dashboard. At the top, include the title “Fab Train”. Under the title, include the subtitle “Modular interactive train system for STEM learning”. Use a clean blue, white, gray, and natural wood color palette. The visual style should feel like an engineering, STEM, and Fab Lab project overview. Avoid clutter, avoid excessive decoration, and keep all text readable. The final image should look like a refined project concept graphic, not a casual collage. Use a horizontal 16:9 format. The central focus should be the physical system: wooden rails, train, and station. The dashboard should be visible on the right. The callouts should support the explanation without covering important elements. Do not include people. Do not include unrelated logos. Do not include extra text beyond the title, subtitle, dashboard labels, and callout labels.

The rest of the images used in this assignment are intended to be screenshots or photographs from my own design, fabrication, electronics, testing, and documentation process.

4. How the Idea Evolved

The first idea of the project was to create a train that could move on a circuit made with digitally fabricated rails. From the beginning, I wanted the project to include a mechanical structure, electronics inside the train, and a way to monitor what was happening in the system.

During Fab Academy, the idea became more complete. The rail system was designed in 2D, the train was developed in 3D, the control PCB was designed and fabricated, and the electronic behavior was tested with motors, LEDs, and analog readings. Later, the project expanded to include a train station with a distance sensor, communication between two XIAO ESP32-C6 boards, and a dashboard running on a PC.

The final direction of the project is not only to create a moving train, but to create a small interactive system that can demonstrate how digital fabrication and IoT can be used for STEM education.

5. Connection with Fab Academy Assignments

Fab Train integrates many of the skills developed during the Fab Academy assignments. Each assignment contributed to a different part of the final project, from the original idea to the physical fabrication and the future integrated system.

6. Rail Design

The first technical step was to design the train rails in 2D using AutoCAD. This process was connected with the computer-aided design assignment because I used vector design concepts, drawing precision, measurements, and digital modeling criteria.

I created different rail modules to make the system modular. The rail set includes short, medium, and long straight sections; curves of 30°, 45°, 60°, and 90°; curves for both left and right directions; and bifurcations where the train can continue straight or take a curved path.

During the design process, I considered the dimensions of the train wheels, the rail spacing, the machining strategy, and the amount of material needed. The objective was to make the rails functional while also optimizing the CNC fabrication process.

7. CNC Fabrication of the Rails

For the fabrication of the rails, I used a 12 mm MDF board. The machining setup was prepared in Aspire Vectric, where I configured the toolpaths, cutting depths, and machining order.

The channel where the train wheels pass was machined with a 6 mm end mill using a profile strategy with a depth of approximately 6 mm over the rail line. Then, I used a 3 mm two-flute upcut end mill to make rail details. Finally, the same 3 mm tool was used to cut the external profile of each rail piece through the complete thickness of the MDF.

Because of the number of rail pieces and the detail level required, the complete CNC machining process took approximately 5 hours. After machining, I removed the parts from the board and sanded the surface and edges to improve the finish and remove small imperfections.

8. Train Design and 3D Printing

The train was designed in 3D using Autodesk Inventor. The design includes one locomotive and one wagon. I also designed the wheels and tested their relationship with the rail geometry.

I printed several prototypes using a Bambu Lab X1E. These tests helped me review dimensions, wheel behavior, mechanical fit, available space for electronic components, and compatibility between the train body, the rails, and the PCB.

The current train is still being refined. I already have functional prototypes, and I am correcting dimensions to reach the final version of the locomotive and wagon.

9. Train PCB and Electronics

The internal control PCB for the train was designed in EasyEDA. First, I created the schematic, and then I designed the PCB layout. The board was designed as a compact one-sided PCB, but it includes both SMD and through-hole components to optimize space and assembly.

The main controller is a XIAO ESP32-C6. The train is powered by an 8.4 V battery. Because the XIAO ESP32-C6 works with 3.3 V logic, I included a voltage regulator with input and output capacitors. I also added a voltage divider to read the battery voltage safely through an analog input.

The PCB also includes an L9110S H-bridge module for motor control, LEDs, resistors, and the necessary connections for the train outputs. The voltage divider is important because the battery voltage is higher than the safe voltage level of the microcontroller input.

10. PCB Fabrication and Output Tests

The PCB fabrication process was connected with the electronics production assignment. I tested two fabrication alternatives: CNC machining and fiber laser fabrication. This allowed me to compare different processes and have more than one option for producing the board.

After fabrication, I soldered the components and tested the main outputs. The DC motor and LEDs were tested using the embedded programming and output devices knowledge developed in previous assignments.

The train PCB currently allows me to test the motor, LEDs, and battery voltage reading. This confirms that the basic electronic behavior of the train is working before integrating it with the station and the dashboard.

11. Final Integrated System

The final system will include the rail circuit, the 3D printed train, the train PCB, the station, the station PCB, WiFi communication, and a PC dashboard. The train will move through the rail circuit and interact with the station when it arrives.

The station will include another XIAO ESP32-C6, a Sharp 2Y0A21 F 3Z distance sensor, and LEDs. When the station detects the train, it will send a command through WiFi so the train stops for a defined time. During this interaction, the LED states will change, and then the train will continue moving.

The distance sensor has already been tested in a previous input devices assignment, and it worked in an approximate range from 10 cm to 80 cm. This is important because the physical design of the station must position the sensor at a distance where the train can be detected reliably.

The dashboard will run on a PC and will show the state of the train and the station. For the train, it will show whether the motor is active or inactive, the LED state, and the battery value. For the station, it will show the detected distance and the LED state.

12. Intellectual Property

Fab Train is planned as an open source educational project. The documentation, design files, fabrication files, and source code will be shared openly through my Fab Academy website and my GitLab repository.

In my case, GitLab is the platform where the project files are hosted and shared. However, GitLab is not the license itself. GitLab is the place where the files are stored, while the license defines how other people are allowed to use, copy, modify, share, or adapt the project.

The project follows the same open documentation approach used in my Fab Academy page: Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial. This means that the work can be shared and adapted with proper attribution, but commercial use would require permission.

I chose this approach because Fab Train has an educational purpose. I want the project to be useful for other people, but I also want to keep authorship recognition and avoid direct commercial use of the material without my permission.

13. License and File Sharing Strategy

The following table explains how each type of project material will be shared and what type of use is expected.

14. Dissemination Plan

The dissemination plan explains how I will share the project after finishing the final prototype. The main objective is to make Fab Train understandable, replicable, and useful for people interested in digital fabrication, electronics, programming, and STEM education.

I am not planning to create specific social media accounts for the project at this stage. The priority is to complete a strong Fab Academy documentation page, share the files through GitLab, and present the project in the final Fab Academy presentation.

15. Dissemination Timeline

The dissemination strategy is organized in stages so the project can be shared progressively during and after the final development process.

16. Income and Sustainability

Fab Train is not planned as a closed commercial product in its first version. It is a demonstrative open source project that can be used as a base for future educational and interactive applications.

However, the project has potential to become scalable because it combines digital fabrication, electronics, IoT, and education. This creates several possible paths for sustainability and future income.

17. Income Strategy and Validation

Fab Train is planned as an open educational project, but open source projects can still create value through workshops, educational experiences, demonstrations, fabrication services, and modular improvements.

Instead of focusing on closing the project, the strategy is to use the documentation, design, and fabrication knowledge as a base for educational and interactive applications.

18. What Is Working

• The modular rail system has been designed in 2D using AutoCAD.
• The rail pieces have been fabricated in 12 mm MDF using CNC machining.
• The rails were sanded and finished after machining.
• The locomotive, wheels, and wagon have been designed in 3D using Autodesk Inventor.
• Several train prototypes have been printed using the Bambu Lab X1E.
• The train PCB has been designed in EasyEDA.
• The train PCB has been fabricated using different production tests.
• The components of the train PCB have been soldered.
• The DC motor has been tested as an output device.
• The LEDs have been tested as visual output indicators.
• The battery voltage reading has been considered with a voltage divider.
• The Sharp distance sensor was previously tested and worked in an approximate range from 10 cm to 80 cm.

19. What Is Not Working Yet

The complete integrated system is not finished yet. Some parts are still pending because they depend on the final station design, the station PCB, the wireless communication, and the dashboard integration.

• The final station structure still needs to be designed and fabricated.
• The station PCB still needs to be designed, fabricated, soldered, and programmed.
• The Sharp sensor has not yet been integrated into the final station PCB.
• The WiFi communication between the train and the station still needs to be implemented and tested.
• The dashboard still needs to be completed on the PC.
• The system still needs full integration between rails, train, station, electronics, communication, and dashboard.
• The packaging still needs to be designed, laser cut, assembled, and finished with adhesive vinyl.
• The final video and hero image still need to be produced after the integrated system is working.

20. Remaining Tasks

21. Questions to Resolve

• What is the best physical position for the Sharp sensor inside the station?
• What distance threshold should be used to detect the train reliably?
• How stable will the WiFi communication be between the two XIAO ESP32-C6 boards?
• How long should the train stop at the station before continuing?
• How should the LEDs communicate the state of the train and the station to the user?
• How fast should the dashboard update without affecting the performance of the system?
• How much autonomy will the 8.4 V battery provide during a complete demonstration?
• Will the train move smoothly after several laps on the rail circuit?
• What mechanical adjustments are still needed in the wheels, locomotive body, or rail joints?
• How can the system be simplified in the future to make it easier for children or beginners to assemble?

22. Final Development Schedule

To complete the final project, I organized the remaining work into an 8-day plan. The plan focuses first on the missing technical elements, then on integration, packaging, documentation, video, and final presentation materials.

23. Project Essence

Fab Train is a project that connects the physical and digital worlds through an educational train system. The physical part includes the MDF rail circuit, the 3D printed train, the station, and the packaging. The digital and electronic part includes the PCBs, motor control, LEDs, analog sensing, WiFi communication, and dashboard visualization.

The essence of the project is to demonstrate how a simple and familiar object, such as a train, can become an educational platform for learning digital fabrication, electronics, programming, sensors, actuators, and IoT.

The first version is not intended to be a final commercial product. It is a demonstrator and a prototype that can evolve into a STEM kit, a workshop activity, or an interactive installation.

24. Assignment Summary

This assignment helped me organize the final stage of Fab Train from three perspectives: how the project will be shared, how the intellectual property will be handled, and how the project could continue after Fab Academy.

The dissemination plan is based on open documentation through my Fab Academy page and GitLab repository. The project files, code, images, design decisions and process documentation will be shared so that other students, makers and educators can study and replicate the work.

The future development path is focused on education. Fab Train can become a STEM kit, a workshop activity, a local fabrication kit, an interactive installation or a reusable IoT learning platform. To make these opportunities realistic, the next steps are to improve reliability, simplify assembly, document the system clearly, create learning activities and test the project with real users.

At this stage, several tasks are already completed: the rail system was designed and machined, the train was designed and prototyped, the train PCB was designed and fabricated, and the main outputs were tested. The remaining work is focused on the station, station PCB, WiFi communication, dashboard, packaging, final integration, video and hero image.

The current working parts are the individual subsystems: rails, train prototypes, PCB fabrication, motor tests, LED tests and battery voltage reading strategy. The complete system is not fully integrated yet because the station, communication, dashboard and packaging still need to be finished.

The main unresolved questions are related to the sensor position, distance threshold, WiFi communication stability, train stop time, LED state logic, dashboard update rate, battery autonomy and mechanical reliability after several laps on the track.

The final development was organized into an 8-day schedule that prioritizes the station, PCB fabrication, programming, dashboard development, full system integration, packaging, final documentation, video and final project review.

Through this assignment, I learned that completing a final project is not only about building the prototype. It also requires planning how it will be shared, deciding how people can use the files, documenting AI-generated content transparently, identifying future opportunities and defining a clear path to finish the remaining work.

25. Reflection

• This project helped me understand how a final project can grow from a simple idea into an integrated system with mechanical, electronic, and digital components.
• I learned that documenting the evolution of the idea is important because the final result is built from many small decisions made during the course.
• Designing the rail system taught me to think about geometry, modularity, tolerances, and the relationship between design and fabrication.
• CNC machining the rails showed me that toolpath planning, tool selection, cutting depth, and machining time directly affect the final quality of the parts.
• The 3D printed train prototypes helped me understand that a digital model usually needs several physical tests before reaching a reliable version.
• Designing the PCB for the train helped me connect electronics design with the physical limits of the object where the board must be installed.
• I learned that voltage levels are critical in embedded systems. The XIAO ESP32-C6 works with 3.3 V logic, so the 8.4 V battery and analog readings required careful protection and voltage division.
• Testing the motor and LEDs separately made the integration easier because I could verify each output before combining it with the complete system.
• The Sharp distance sensor test was useful even before building the station, because it gave me a reference range that affects the physical design.
• I understood that IoT is not only about sending data to a dashboard. It also requires reliable sensing, correct communication, clear states, and useful feedback for the user.
• The dashboard will help make the system easier to understand because the user can see the motor state, LED state, battery level, distance, and station status in one place.
• Planning the dissemination strategy helped me see the project not only as a prototype, but also as a resource that other people can study, replicate, and improve.
• Thinking about intellectual property helped me understand the difference between sharing files on GitLab and defining how other people are allowed to use those files.
• Documenting the AI image prompt helped me understand that AI-generated media must also be transparent and traceable in the project documentation.
• The project has educational potential because it can be used to explain fabrication, circuits, programming, communication, and interfaces through a tangible object.
• I learned that future income does not necessarily mean closing the project. An open project can still create value through workshops, kits, training, demonstrations, and custom adaptations.
• The remaining integration stage is one of the most important parts because every subsystem must work together: rails, train, PCB, station, sensor, communication, dashboard, and packaging.
• This assignment helped me organize the final stretch of the project by separating what is already working, what is missing, and what questions still need to be answered.
• Overall, Fab Train helped me connect many Fab Academy assignments into one coherent project with a clear educational purpose.