Passion Project Reflections

Check in #1

For my first official reflection, all I did was gather all my necessary materials for my project and plan out my budget. My project that I went through with was an “Automatic Pill Dispenser” which was a project that I did back in CLE (Career Life Education). Since i already had a descent prototype the materials didn’t change much so all I needed was cardboard, an Arduino, a computer with Arduino IDE and other Arduino components. I estimated my budget to be around $15 (however I ended up not needing to spend any money :)) During this stage I did not have a full plan on how I was going to build the entire project although I did have a basic idea.

THE GAME PLAN

Step 1 – Make a couple of prototype sketches of my revamped pill dispenser and dispenser mechanisms.

Step 2 – Model each of those prototype sketches onto Fusion 360

Step 3 – Transport the designs onto Laser box and Laser cut the designs using cardboard

Step 4 – Pick a design that I like the most and use that one

Step 5 – Work on the code and wiring

Step 6 – When finished the wiring the circuit, put the circuit into my design

Step 7 – 3d Print a dispenser model

Step 8 – connect the dispenser model to the whole project

Step 9 – pray to god and hope everything works out

Step 10 – yeah then make the poster board and go outside or smth

Unfortunately this game plan did not end of working after a while but i will mention that later why.

Check in #2

For my second check in I got quite a bit of work done for my project. I first began with a couple of prototype sketches about how the dispenser mechanisms could possibly work, and made 4 different models about how it was going to look like. It took me a while to figure out the dimensions but I later stuck with one that seemed right. I later modeled two of those sketches onto fusion 360 because I ended up not liking my third and forth prototypes functionality. After I finished modeling those two designs onto fusion, I laser cut 1 of them out of cardboard but due to time i was not able to finish cutting my other one. (However it was ready to print).

Sketches

Prototype 2 sketch (didn’t end up using this design however)

Prototype 1

Check in #2 reflection questions
(After Check in #2)

What is going right?

I laser cut both of my prototypes out of cardboard and built them.

What is going wrong?

I have not started my code and am still deciding how the pill dispenser mechanism will work. (I was thinking of using a wheel or push mechanism at the time)

What adjustments (If any) did you make to your original plan?

none

Describe some ways that your teacher advisor can help support you in the coming weeks.

Tell me to lock in

Check in #3

For my 3rd check in, I “finished” my code and wired the circuit for one of the pill dispensers. The code managed to run well but I was not able to put the circuit into my model due to the model not being large enough. I had to work on a completely new design to make the model big enough for 2 of the circuits to fit inside. I additionally had to work on the dispenser mechanism which was a wheel design. During this time I have not yet started my poster board so I had to eventually plan when I was going to start that.

Video of Pill Dispenser Mechanism Working

Fusion 360 Models

New Design of the Pill Dispenser (looks more like a house lol)

Dispenser Mechanism (Wheel) This connects to the Stepper Motor

Check in #4

For my 4th check in, I managed to get a lot of work done on my project. I completed my new model design on Fusion 360 and printed it out of cardboard, I got my code almost finished and I 3d printed a wheel for my dispenser mechanism. I have only completed one side of the pill dispenser because I still had to figure out how I was going to make 2 different dispensers run independently. I was either going to have to make a new and extended code which was going to be complicated or I was going to use 2 Arduino Uno’s (which is what I did). Luckily when I tried to put the circuit inside the model it fit perfectly which made my life a lot easier. As for my dispenser mechanism, it worked flawlessly. I just had to print another one for the other side then I am basically finished with my project. I also planned to have an on and off button but i didn’t know how to do it. During this time I have still not yet started my Poster board but I did have an idea what I was going to put on there.

Pill Dispenser Model

Front View of New Pill Dispenser Design (it was like 3 am mb for the angle)

Side or Back view of Pill Dispenser (idk)

Video of Pill Dispenser in Action

Check in #5 (FINAL CHECK IN)

Before my Final check I managed to complete everything. In order for the 2 sides to be working I got 2 different Arduinos and did some wiring so they would operate properly. For example I had to wire both of them to work on the same buzzer and make it compact enough so it fits inside my model Pill dispenser. I 3d printed 2 of my wheels and connected them to my circuit to finish it. The only thing that I still struggles with was the On and Off button because for some reason when i clicked the button it either did not do anything or the circuit wouldn’t even turn off. Instead I decided to scrap the idea and leave it as it is. For my roof and back roof of my pill dispenser, I used acrylic instead of cardboard because then the viewers can see the mechanism work and see the wiring in the back if they wanted to. As for my poster board situation I worked on it at home and managed to complete it for my check in. All I needed to do was to ask Ms. Myles to get my pictures in color. Overall, I somehow completed my project before the initial deadline instead of doing it last minute before the fair.