$$ \colorbox{gold}{Don’t hesitate to send LOVEs to your Be Loved!!!!} $$

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$$ \Large\color{black}\textsf{Our Design Process} $$

<aside> πŸ’‘ $\mathsf{Problem \ Statement}$ β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€” Even with today's advanced digital communication, families living in different countries, especially those with children studying overseas, face difficulties in keeping a strong emotional bond. Usual ways of staying in touch, such as phone calls and text messages, don't quite capture the personal warmth of being physically together. This lack of emotional connection often leads to feelings of distance and a longing for more meaningful interactions. Simple but important expressions of love and care are hard to convey. Therefore, there's a pressing need for a creative way to overcome these communication limits and help families feel closer emotionally, no matter how far apart they are.

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<aside> πŸ’‘ $\mathsf{Ideation \ Process}$ β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”

Stage #1: Sketch / Ideation We come up with several ideas to solve this problems and drew some sketches to align our opinions.

ζˆͺεœ– 2023-12-09 δΈ‹εˆ7.09.57.png

Stage #2: Prototyping & Iteration We tried out some methods to fulfill this idea, including the LED light and enclosure materials choose. For example, we tried to used LED matrix and the cardboard to make the shape of candle, but we found out that the appearance is not aesthetic enough. Therefore, we tried to use white acrylic as the candle casing and enclose the LED matrix and breadboard in the candle base.

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Stage #3: Implementation Finally, we decided to use light belt to replace the LED matrix. For one reason, the light belt is softer and smaller to be more flexible be accommodated into thinner size of the candle. For the other reason, the light belt can present customized light color other than red, which could be more fit into the candle color.

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$$ \Large\color{black}\textsf{Final Prototype} $$

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https://player.vimeo.com/video/893114273?h=c2c7c14034

<aside> 🎨 $\mathsf{3D \ Model}$ β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€” We used Fusion 360 to build the 3D model. The model and the engineering drawings are as below.

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<aside> 🎨 $\mathsf{User \ Scenario}$ β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€” Here is the scenario that show how users will interact with the prototype.

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<aside> 1️⃣ Generate love message, displayed on the screen.

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<aside> 2️⃣ Blow out candle, the information on the screen will disappear

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<aside> 3️⃣ The remote candle will lights up and shows the love message on the screen

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$$ \Large\color{black}\textsf{Reflection} $$

<aside> 🧩 $\mathsf{Challenges}$ β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€” We met some challenges during the project. Here we provided three most challenging things we met when doing the prototype.

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1. Circuit Connection

Because this device will involve remote communication, it took us a lot of time to build the WiFi network between two microcontrollers without using the wires.

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2. Material Choose

The device should let the light penetrate the candle wall, so we tried out different materials to test which is better to let the light go through. Finally, we decided to use white PLA as our main material and print in a thinner wall to let the light go through.

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3. Wire Sorting and Hind

There are multiple wires needed to build this device, so we spent some time to determine the size of the candle model and tidy up these wires to hind them in the outer casing.

<aside> πŸ“ Takeaways β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€” We met some challenges during the project. Here we provided three most challenging things we met when doing the prototype.

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1. Rapid Iteration for Success

Iteration means a lot in this project to test whether the idea and function can succeed or not so we can modify the design immediately.

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2. Embedded System Package

It is valuable for us to learn how to design a enclosure that conceal breadboard, MCU, and wires.

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3. Model Tolerance Importance

Setting accurate tolerances is key for smooth component assembly and effective design.

<aside> πŸ“Œ Our Member:

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$$ \Large\color{black}\textsf{ Thank You for Reading!} $$