Questions to Answer.

What is the deadline? How much time do I have left?

The deadline is June 20th. One week left.

What tasks have been completed, and what remains

The system is tested. One cube is assembled. Needs to be programmed and test the matrix behaviour. A bonus would be making another cube.

How will I complete the remaining tasks in time

The plan is to work 12 hours a day and be focused. Ask for help from mentor and focus on the important.

What has worked?

The goal of making a compact system that can communicate with other similar systems in the nearby proximity has been accomplished. The infrared allows to trigger the infrared transistors thought the casing. The system operates solely on the Attiny84 microcontroller and can control directly a 6x6 matrix. The overall built of the system is good looking and presents an easy self-made packaging, with a good looking finish.

What hasn't?

The system still has difficulties in being self-dependent on the battery only. Some debugging might fix the problem. The proper code that allows data/bytes transmission still needs to be implemented, however the results are promising. So far only one block has been produced, to allow a better testing of the system as well as visualization, more cubes need to be produced. The magnetical attachment would be a great feature, whenever one cube is brought nearby, they simply stick to each other by means magnets.

What questions still need to be resolved?

There are design as well as technical questions that need to be resolved. From the design point of view, the question is the implementation of the system, where would it be possible to have a direct use and impact. From the technical point of view, the question is how to reduce the amount of PCB layers, since the current system even though is sturdy, the attachment between the bottom and top layer is difficult to be achieved.

What have you learned?

The biggest lessons so far from Fab Academy I draw from personal time management, management of personal expectations regarding the project and planning. These things are challenging me and require better future attention. I definitely opened up a huge world of digital fabrication and understand the power of using these tools for future projects. I am grateful to be part of it!