Final Project Proposal
Project Ideation
1- Tell us about the purpose of your project. Which problem does it solve? Why do you care about this? What were you inspired by? Include images and videos of similar projects
What inspired me also and encouraged me to proceed with my idea is finding Michael Henry's (Meet & Treat) and Nihal Emad's (Vendorama) final projects. Their projects were similar to the idea I had in my mind, except for the gamification feature that I wanted to add. Â
My project idea is to make a Smart Candy Box using Arduino that dispenses candy, just like a vending machine, by playing a simple game and then winning a treat. Â
What inspired me to make this box is the need for creative ideas to grab visitors' attention during events and exhibitions. My current job requires my team and me to participate in many events, and we always need to come up with fun and innovative ideas to attract visitors to our booth.
The Smart Candy Box is a great way to attract booth visitors; it can be a fun and engaging activation game to get people involved and excited about visiting our booth.Â
2- Describe the project idea and general features. How would it work?
The Smart Candy Box features an Ultrasonic sensor that detects when someone is approaching, activates the LCD screen, and displays: "Hello & Welcome" and then "When you hear the beep, press to win a treat!".Â
When the user presses the pushbutton on the box after the buzzer beeps, they can play a simple game to win a treat or directly dispense a candy treat just like a vending machine with the following concept:
If directly dispensing candy without playing a game, the buzzer will make a second sound, the DC motor will rotate, the attached spring coil will push the candy bar out (videos below), and the NeoPixel sticks will turn on and change colors.Â
If dispensing candy by playing and winning a game first, the game is "HitTheNumber!" from week 0 of the Maker Diploma (video below). The game begins by providing the player with a random number from 1 to 100 on the LCD screen, which they should keep in memory. Then, a counter starts to count from 1 to 100, and the player should press the pushbutton on time when the correct number comes up on the screen. When the pushbutton is pressed on time, the player wins and the device dispenses a candy treat. If not, the player loses and gets to play again.Â
Moreover, some nice-to-have features would be a weight sensor system that detects when the candy supply is running low and automatically notifies me (via Bluetooth) to refill the box. Also, a servo motor that opens the device's door to get the candy after it has been dispensed.
IMG_3457.MOV3- Sketch your project: You may use pen and paper or a simple sketching tool like Microsoft Paint or Photoshop
Smart Candy Box Sketch
Project Planning
4- Describe the Technical Modules that your project consists of
Construction Parts
The enclosure of the Smart Candy Box will be designed as 2.5D parts using Fusion 360 and fabricated on a 3mm plywood using a laser cutter.
InputÂ
(Sensing, Tactile Input, and/or Graphical Input)
1- Sensing: Ultrasonic sensor to measure the distance between the user and the sensor, then activate the LCD screen
2- Tactile Input: Pushbutton for the user to push it to rotate the DC motor, make a sound, and turn on the NeoPixels
3- Tactile Input: Power Switch to control the power (off/on) of the smart deviceÂ
Action
(Physical and/or Graphic)
1- Physical Action: The LCD screen will display this sentence when activated from the ultrasonic sensor: "When you hear the beep, press to win a treat!". The "HitTheNumber!" game will be displayed to the user on the LCD screen, and based on the user input, a WINNER or LOSER message will appear on the screen
2- Physical Action: The buzzer will make a beep sound, and when the user pushes the button, it'll make a second sound if they win
3- Physical Action: The DC motor will rotate with the spring coil attached to it, and it'll push the candy bar out
4- Physical Action: The NeoPixel sticks will turn on, emit light, and change colors
Brain
An Arduino UNO board will be used take inputs and generate actionsÂ
Power Management
The Smart Candy Box will be powered using a 2A 9V adaptor
5- Create a cardboard prototype of your project, demonstrating the project face as well as internal movements and mechanisms. Include a demo video and photos of the prototype.
The box will be 20*20 cm
Candy shape on both sides to hold the NeoPixel sticks
LCD screen, Ultrasonic sensor, pushbutton, and door to get the candy out
Arduino UNO board and 9V-2A power source adapter
The DC motor will rotate with the spring coil attached to it, and it'll push the candy bar out
Space for the breadboard and jumper wires
6- Categorize your project’s User Features into: Minimum, Complete, and Nice-to-have features. List the required action and input components per feature.
Minimum Features: are the least amount of features that would demonstrate the coverage of all the technical modules and their complete integration
Complete Features: are the set of features that will complete your original project objective and visionÂ
Nice-to-have Features: are the extra set of features that will make the project cooler, yet they need extra time, effort, and/or resources to finish
Minimum User Features
The Smart Candy Box is onÂ
Action: Arduino on
Sensing: None
User Input: pressing the on/off switch
The user presses the button to get candy
Action: DC motor rotates
Sensing: None
User Input: pressing the pushbuttonÂ
The user presses the button to get candy
Action: NeoPixel sticks turn on and change colors
Sensing: None
User Input: pressing the pushbuttonÂ
Complete User Features
The Smart Candy Box is onÂ
Action: LCD backlight on
Sensing: None
User Input: pressing the on/off switch
The Smart Candy Box detects when someone is approaching and activates the LCD screen, and displays: "Hello & Welcome" and then "When you hear the beep, press to win a treat!".Â
Action: LCD screenÂ
Sensing: Ultrasonic sensor
User Input: approaching the box by 30 cm
The Smart Candy Box makes a beep sound to alarm the user to press the pushbuttonÂ
Action: beep sound
Sensing: Ultrasonic sensor
User Input: None
The user presses the button to get candy after the beep
Action: buzzer makes another sound, DC motor rotates, NeoPixel sticks turn on and change colors
Sensing: None
User Input: pressing the pushbuttonÂ
Nice-to-have User Features
Play a game to win candy dispensed from the Smart Candy Box by providing the player with a random number from 1 to 100, the counter starts to count from 1 to 100, and the player should press the pushbutton on timeÂ
Action: LCD screen
Sensing: None
User Input: pressing the pushbutton on time
Lights when the user wins the game
Action: NeoPixel sticks turn on and change colors
Sensing: None
User Input: pressing the button on time
Detects when the candy supply is running lowÂ
Action: displaying a message through a graphical screen
Sensing: Weight sensor and Bluetooth
User Input: None
Open the box door to get the candy after it has been dispensed
Action: Servo motorÂ
Sensing: None
User Input: pushbutton when the user wins
7- What are the project tasks and its time-frame?
Task
Sub-Tasks
From:Â
To:Â
Get the components and start working on minimum user features
Test the new components and search how to wire them together and power requirementsÂ
March 11
March 13
Electronics and programming on a breadboard (minimum & complete Features)
Test ultrasonic sensor as an input to activate the LCD screen
Write the code and make sure everything is working
March 14
March 18
The Smart Candy Box design enclosure
Create the box design on Fusion 360
Design a spring coil holder to attach to the DC motor
Mount the components onto the box in Fusion 360
March 19
March 22
Fabrication and integration
Fabricate and assemble the enclosure using laser cutting and 3D printing
Mount all components
Test minimum features
Test complete features
March 23
March 26
Testing and documentation
Fill in my project journal and showcaseÂ
Add photos and videos
March 27
March 29
8- What are the required electronic components and materials for the project?
Component/Material
Amount
Link
NeoPixel Stick - 8 LED
2
9V-2A Power Source Adapter
1
DC Barrel Jack Adapter - Female
1