Your final project can be anything you’d like to work on. 

Your project should include things we’ve worked on in the class thus far AND can (should) include other elements that you pursue on your own (with our help, of course). 

You’ll use Arduino and/or P5.js and the sensors and actuators we’ve introduced in lectures thus far.

If you want to use another tech ‘stack’ please discuss with us first. 

We have some of the class budget reserved for each of you to spend on parts for your project ($20-30/each - add items you'd like us to purchase to this sheet)

Plan for a 2 week project, leaving extra time for debugging and polish!
Your project should be awesome to you! It should involve something that you are passionate about and want to pursue. (And if you achieve this, it will end up being awesome to the rest of us, too, I promise.) 

It could be...

• A unique music interface

• An interactive art installation

• An innovative approach to an engineering tool

• A cool device to improve quality of life

• An automated art making device or process

EXPECTATIONS

• Tell us a story, give us a narrative, make us laugh or get angry or start a discussion or learn, experience, or feel something new.

• Elements that are not the focus of your project (eg. electronics) should be enclosed in some way, or otherwise designed for the protection and robustness of the electronics and for clean visual aesthetics. 

• Your project should work reliably! No code bugs, no loose wiring, no failing glue joints or tape connections, etc. You should be able to transport your piece and operate it at the showcase with success. 

• Think about how to present your project in our classroom space. What would be the ideal setup to achieve maximal audience engagement?

RESOURCES

So far we’ve worked with these components… 

Sensors:

LDR (light dependent resistor)

switch (button)

potentiometer

ultrasonic sensor

PIR sensor (passive infrared)

Computer/Laptop inputs with p5.js (ex: microphone, mouse, keyboard)

Actuators (output devices):

LED

RGB LED

Neopixels (we haven’t dealt with these specifically in class, but you should get the principle (aka RGB LED))

Servo motor

DC Motor (and L298 driver)

Solenoid (and MOS Module)

Computer/Laptop outputs (screen, speakers)

more sensors here: https://www.adafruit.com/category/35

Neopixels here: https://www.adafruit.com/category/168

Robotics (aka make stuff move) here: https://www.adafruit.com/category/227

INSPIRATIONAL LINKS

Inspirational links here: https://github.com/loopstick/ResourcesForClasses/blob/master/InspirationalLinks.md

We’ll have individual meeting with each of you on April 2 (the week after Spring Break) to discuss your project ideas. Use this sheet to sign up for a check-in slot. 

You should come prepared with a Project Proposal that covers the following:

• What do you want to make, and why?

  • Expected Materials List

    • Add items you'd like us to purchase to this sheet

  • Projected Timeline

    • Does not need to be super detailed - simply address what "phases" or "steps" you expect to go through to complete the project, and estimate how long you expect each step to take.

• Are you working in a team? (max 4 students/team, our expectations will scale with team size)

  • If so, list the names of all teammates and your plans for a successful collaboration - how you plan to meet, communicate, and divide labor.

• Goal / Vision for your final piece and presentation

  • Do you expect visitors to the Jacobs Design Showcase to interact with the final piece in a certain way?  What might viewers / participants takeaway from the experience? OR, what do YOU hope to takeaway from the experience?