Category: Finished Projects

I struggled with this project from the beginning because the prompt allowed to make “anything.” Too many possibilities? I decided I wanted to make a lamp because the lights in my bedroom can only be controlled from the living room…oh, how I longed to have a light that I could switch on and off while lying in bed.

Inspiration, then success, then failure…

I wanted to create a lamp that responded to motion. The design of my lamp would allow the lights to fade in and out if it sensed motion. I used a tilt switch for motion sensing, a 4-pin switch for on/off capability and Tip 120 for using the Voltage In. After much “circuiting”, I got the lights to work exactly like I wanted, yay!

I was going to use a Leonardo Ardunio that would attach to my lamp and I soldered the many wires together. The tilt switch was to be connected to the one of the brass rods that would hang from the lamp. So, I proceed to create the mess you see below:

…but then a lamp!

I realized later that I created a short circuit and managed to kill my Arduino, but I decided to make my lamp anyway, and it does work like other lamps, so it won’t fade, but it will give you light when you want. Here it is:

It’s inspired by fall and each of the big maple leaves are personalized with elements of my life. I used the CNC to cut out the shelf piece which plays the “tree branch” and I used the laser cutter to make the leaves.

Here it is, in action:

In developing this project, I wanted to combine RFID tag technology and RGB LEDs into a fun and delightful experience. When I decided on creating a messenger bag with a reactive front panel, I knew that it would have a very functional aspect too.

Some of my inspiration came from ET (Everything is a Toy) and the Reading Glove. Both show unique ways of using RFID tags in electronics, one for fun and one for education.

I worked with two strips of RGB LEDs to create a 7 by 7 LED matrix. After getting them up and running, I added in the RFID reader. Although I did not find a specific precedence combining these two elements, I did use this tutorial for the RGB LED set-up and this tutorial for the RFID code.

After the code was up and running, I soldered together a Boarduino for the brains of my final bag, and attached my RFID reader to it. 

I designed a messenger bag with extra space in the front flap and back panel to accommodate one inch-thick foam to diffuse the light and protect the electronics, respectively. I put a zipper on the back panel to allow access to the electronics and to the battery pack.

I also created useful pockets, an adjustable strap, and magnetic snaps to hold the LED panel in place.

I laser cut a front panel out of wood to hold the LEDs in place. Above is the final set up for the front flap and back panel. And below is my final bag!

These pictures show the final, fully functional bag. This video shows my process and end result!

See my Arduino code below the jump!

Continue reading “The Chameleon Bag”

These are the RestPhones. They are essentially two pillows that sit on your head like headphones and allow you to comfortably listen to earbuds while resting your head. They’re great for watching movies in bed when you want to use earbuds, or for falling asleep to music on the bus.

The construction is simple. Some (imitation) leather and velvet for the body, foam for the cushion, and some bent aluminium for the band. I initially had some difficulty getting them to sit right, but by the third construction I was happy with the look and feel.