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13. Applications and implications

Assignment

Propose a final project masterpiece that integrates the range of units covered, answering the questions below.See the Final Project Requirements page for a complete list of requirements you must fulfil.

I have to answer these questions in this document.
- what will it do?
- who has done what beforehand?
- what materials and components will be required?
- where will they come from?
- how much will it cost?
- what parts and systems will be made?
- what processes will be used?
- what tasks need to be completed?
- what other questions need to be answered?
- what is the schedule?
- how will it be evaluated?


What will it do?

This is an interactive fireplace system made of mist. You will be healed by touching the flame or putting fire wood in it. It also optimizes the humidity of the room as a substantial task.

I created a kind of prototype in 2015 and demonstrated at the Maker Faire Tokyo.

The purpose of the final project is to improve the above prototype in the following points:

  • intuitive interaction
  • Improve the design of enclosure
  • Characterize the system

The meaning of “characterizing the system” is:
I was in charge of developing video recorder products before. This kind of home appliance has a mission and it needs to work exactly at any time. For example, the mission of irobot roomba is to clean room.

But he (Roomba) looks happy when he is taking care of the cat.  


So I characterize the fire place as strict hard worker but sometimes let himself go, humanly.



Who has done what beforehand?

I researched precedent cases and projects as reference for the final project.

Electric flame

The flame is created by LED lights and a mirror element that rolls and reflects the light. Though the flame looks very realistic, there is no interactive function.

Mist generator

I found some projects in the archive of FabAcademy.

  • Grow It Yourself
    The FabAcademy FY17 final project has a function of ultrasonic Atomizer (fog maker) as a new method to irrigate plants. The mist generator itself is purchased and MOS FET on the original board controls the output.

  • Cogus
    This is the Mushroom cultivation system of FabAcademy FY17. Ultrasonic mist generator is used for watering.

  • Make Your Own Super Simple Ultrasonic Mist Maker Information how to make ultrasonic mist maker board.


What materials and components will be required? / Where will they come from? ? How much will it cost?

The materials and components will be required for the final project.

block parts description number cost dealer
Light sensing micro controller ATTiny 44 1 ¥82.9 Fablab inventory
Light sensor PT15-21C/TR8 1 ¥35.2 Fablab inventory
capacitor 1uF 1 ¥20.3 Fablab inventory
resistor 10KΩ 2 ¥1.6 Fablab inventory
resistor 0KΩ 2 ¥1.6 Fablab inventory
header 6pin for FTDI 1 Fablab inventory
header 6pin for ISP 1 ¥86.8 Fablab inventory
header 4pin for serial 1 ¥82.1 Fablab inventory
Humidity sensing DHT22 1 $9.95 Adafruit
resistor 10KΩ 1 ¥1.6 Fablab inventory
RGB Camera 1
Mist generator ultrasonic mist generator board 1 ¥660 Amazon
DC Fan 1 ¥100 Akizuki denshi
Actuator Biometal BMX150 1 ¥2000 Toki Corp.
Nch MOSFET 2SK2232 1 ¥100 Akizuki denshi
Control Raspberry pi RaspberryPi3 Model B+ 1 ¥5,600 Akizuki denshi
Projector FullHD 1
HDMI 1
Cast MOLD STAR 16 FAST SMOOTH-ON 1
Enclosure lumber core plywood 1 1220 x 1210 x 5 Hokurei Wood

Else: Cable, Power supply


What parts and systems will be made?

Block diagram:

  • Humidity sensor board
  • Light sensor board
  • Mist control system
  • Actuator system of mist tube
  • Mist generator system (option)

What processes will be used?

  • 2D design for enclosure
  • 3D design tor enclosure, mist tube parts
  • Additive fabrication processes for mold and enclosure
  • Subtractive fabrication processes for enclosure
  • Mold and casting for mist tube parts
  • Electronics design and production for Humidity board, Light sensor board and Mist control board
  • Interface and application programming

What tasks need to be completed?

  • Light sensing: Create some boards at week#14 and will be networked.
  • Humidity sensing : Design simple DHT22 board
  • Create flame animation
  • Create mist generator board
  • Create end parts of mist tube
  • Enclosure for Projector, Mist generator, and Fire wood parts
  • Integrate

Option:
- Original mist generator board
- Actuate end parts of mist tube
- Human detection with RGB Camera


What other questions need to be answered?

  • How to integrate projector and mist generator system in the enclosure?
  • Priority of the tasks
  • Do you have a plan to collaborate with other students?

What is the schedule?


How will it be evaluated?

  • Mist output is controlled properly according to the level of humidity sensor.
  • Mist output and flame animation are controlled by user interaction.

Progress of each module

Light sensing

Process: Input device, Electronics design, Embedded programming, Networking
Complete level: One board was created at week11.

The light sensor will be used to detect user interaction. For example, a user put a fire wood branch into a hole of the table I created at week8, then the output of the mist changes accordingly. I will create some boards at week14 and will be networked.

Humidity sensing

Process: Input device, Electronics design, Embedded programming
Complete level: Tested the function with Arduino

The DHT22 will be used to sense the humidity level of the room regularly. Then the output of mist will be changed using feedback control method.

I tested the basic function of DHT22 using Arduino IDE. Following libraries were installed and data line was pull upped with 10kΩ resistor.
- DHT sensor library by Adafruit
- Adafruit Unified Sensor library by Adafruit

Humidity and temperature were displayed in the serial monitor of Arduino IDE. I tested the change of the humidity with my breath.

RGB camera

Process: Input device, Embedded programming
Complete level: -

Though it is optional function ( if I have time), RGB camera and OpenCV will be used to recognize people.

Audio Video output via Projector

Process: Input device, Embedded programming
Complete level: tried using Unity

I added particle asset to the scene I created at week#3, and got a feeling of flame visualization. For the final system, I will use Raspberry pi, so it will be difficult to run the Unity application properly. So I will develop simple flame animation using Processing or Python.

Mist generation

Process: Input device, Embedded programming
Complete level: tried using Unity

I tried the mist generation using the board and the mist was output successfully.
If possible I would like to design a original board, such as the instruction I researched.
- Make Your Own Super Simple Ultrasonic Mist Maker

System image:

End parts of mist tube

Process: 3D design, subtractive(wax mold), additive(3d print mold), casting,
Output device, Embedded programming
Complete level: One end part@Week#10

I designed a small parts for my final project using Fusion360. It will be placed at the top of mist tube.

The sillicone mold I used at week10 was so sticky that it seems hard to reproduce the parts repeatedly.

So I am planning to try the following 3d printed molds for the end parts.

Enclosure

Process: 2D design, subtractive,
Complete level: Fire place table @ week#8