Prototyping fiction
A short history of my prototyping journey for MSURE
The idea is simple and the implementation is simple too. Let me chart my journey.
Step I: Diegetic Prototype using a push button switch
A quick and dirty button operated prototype to show what the concept of the end product. This was part of assignment 2 submission.
Step II: Making a ‘tap’ switch
To make the circuit little more interesting, I made a ‘tap’ switch.
On closer look, we can see the embarrassing simplicity of this circuit.
This could also be achieved by using a small copper tape stuck to finger as shown below. Found this more interesting and also reliable than the above version.
Step III: Making a ‘sensor’ switch
I used an FSR (pressure) sensor to do this job. The idea is to detect the weight of the object filled into the shot-glass using a pressure sensor and trip the led green when it is at the ‘desired weight’. I would have liked to create my own pressure sensor as shown in ‘handcrafting sensors’, I just didn't have the time/ materials to do the job.
The code is very simple.
The problem is with calibrating the FSR. It is pretty noisy.
Future work
- Calibration routine for FSR.
- Touch/motion activated switch to initiate circuit (tilt ball wouldn't be ideal, tried it!); using FSR readings only for LED trigger.
- Make it wireless.
It should look something like this:
