Engineering

Labeled Kit Xander Greene

This kit includes every component included in our projects for engineering this year, and it is important that I keep track of the smaller parts and keep them organized.

Electronics Entry Event

I created a circuit using multiple parts from the engineering kit, such as the LED's, screws/bolts, laser-cut wood, etc. I used copper tape to transfer the energy from the battery to the LED light.

Project Brief for the first project

Guidelines that need to be met for the project

Research guidelines for the project

led flashing

Ardunio Nano Circuit Diagram

In this circuit diagram, I used the Arduino, wire, and LED components to create a simple circuit. I used D2 as my port for the LED because that is what I listed in the code. Also, I used a "timer" so to speak in the code so the light flickered about every second. That would be what you see if you were to activate the circuit in real life.

This video shows the process of my code running trough the Arduino and thus making the LED flash. The Arduino is connected to my breadboard, which makes quick and concise electronical connections.

CODE FOR 6 LED CIRCUIT

int led2 = 2;

int led3 = 3;

int led4 = 4;

int led10 = 10;

int led11 = 11;

int led12 = 12;

void setup() {

pinMode(led2, OUTPUT) ;

pinMode(led3, OUTPUT) ;

pinMode(led4, OUTPUT) ;

pinMode(led10, OUTPUT) ;

pinMode(led11, OUTPUT) ;

pinMode(led12, OUTPUT) ;

}

void loop() {

digitalWrite(led2, HIGH);

delay(1000);

digitalWrite(led2, LOW) ;

delay(1000);

digitalWrite(led3, HIGH);

delay(1000);

digitalWrite(led3, LOW) ;

delay(1000);

digitalWrite(led4, HIGH);

delay(1000);

digitalWrite(led4, LOW) ;

delay(1000);

digitalWrite(led10, HIGH);

delay(1000);

digitalWrite(led10, LOW) ;

delay(1000);

digitalWrite(led11, HIGH);

delay(1000);

digitalWrite(led11, LOW) ;

delay(1000);

digitalWrite(led12, HIGH);

delay(1000);

digitalWrite(led12, LOW) ;

delay(1000);

}

Image is of the LEDs running through their sequence

The image shows the components of the circuit connected from a side angle.

ARDIUNO NANO 6 LED CIRCUIT

This time, I created a circuit diagram using more components. This circuit has 6 LED's, and a lot more wires. I also use a ground wire to transport energy from the other side of the bread board for the other LED's. The components I used for this circuit were a bread board, the arduino, 6 LED's, and a ground wire.

NEOPIXEL STRIP CODE

// A basic everyday NeoPixel strip test program.

// NEOPIXEL BEST PRACTICES for most reliable operation:

// - Add 1000 uF CAPACITOR between NeoPixel strip's + and - connections.

// - MINIMIZE WIRING LENGTH between microcontroller board and first pixel.

// - NeoPixel strip's DATA-IN should pass through a 300-500 OHM RESISTOR.

// - AVOID connecting NeoPixels on a LIVE CIRCUIT. If you must, ALWAYS

// connect GROUND (-) first, then +, then data.

// - When using a 3.3V microcontroller with a 5V-powered NeoPixel strip,

// a LOGIC-LEVEL CONVERTER on the data line is STRONGLY RECOMMENDED.

// (Skipping these may work OK on your workbench but can fail in the field)

#include <Adafruit_NeoPixel.h>

#ifdef __AVR__

#include <avr/power.h> // Required for 16 MHz Adafruit Trinket

#endif

// Which pin on the Arduino is connected to the NeoPixels?

// On a Trinket or Gemma we suggest changing this to 1:

#define LED_PIN 6

// How many NeoPixels are attached to the Arduino?

#define LED_COUNT 17

// Declare our NeoPixel strip object:

Adafruit_NeoPixel strip(LED_COUNT, LED_PIN, NEO_GRB + NEO_KHZ800);

// Argument 1 = Number of pixels in NeoPixel strip

// Argument 2 = Arduino pin number (most are valid)

// Argument 3 = Pixel type flags, add together as needed:

// NEO_KHZ800 800 KHz bitstream (most NeoPixel products w/WS2812 LEDs)

// NEO_KHZ400 400 KHz (classic 'v1' (not v2) FLORA pixels, WS2811 drivers)

// NEO_GRB Pixels are wired for GRB bitstream (most NeoPixel products)

// NEO_RGB Pixels are wired for RGB bitstream (v1 FLORA pixels, not v2)

// NEO_RGBW Pixels are wired for RGBW bitstream (NeoPixel RGBW products)

// setup() function -- runs once at startup --------------------------------

void setup() {

// These lines are specifically to support the Adafruit Trinket 5V 16 MHz.

// Any other board, you can remove this part (but no harm leaving it):

#if defined(__AVR_ATtiny85__) && (F_CPU == 16000000)

clock_prescale_set(clock_div_1);

#endif

// END of Trinket-specific code.

strip.begin(); // INITIALIZE NeoPixel strip object (REQUIRED)

strip.show(); // Turn OFF all pixels ASAP

strip.setBrightness(255); // Set BRIGHTNESS to about 1/5 (max = 255)

}

// loop() function -- runs repeatedly as long as board is on ---------------

void loop() {

// Fill along the length of the strip in various colors...

colorWipe(strip.Color(255, 0, 221), 200); // Pink

colorWipe(strip.Color(255, 0, 120), 200); // Pink

colorWipe(strip.Color(255, 0, 221), 200); // Pink

colorWipe(strip.Color(0, 0, 255), 200); // Blue

colorWipe(strip.Color(0, 120, 255), 200); // Blue Green

colorWipe(strip.Color(0, 255, 255), 200); // Teal

colorWipe(strip.Color(255, 0, 221), 200); // pink

colorWipe(strip.Color(255, 255, 255), 500); // Orange

// Do a theater marquee effect in various colors...

// theaterChase(strip.Color(127, 127, 127), 50); // White, half brightness

// theaterChase(strip.Color(127, 0, 0), 50); // Red, half brightness

// theaterChase(strip.Color( 0, 0, 127), 50); // Blue, half brightness

rainbow(20); // Flowing rainbow cycle along the whole strip

//theaterChaseRainbow(50); // Rainbow-enhanced theaterChase variant

}

// Some functions of our own for creating animated effects -----------------

// Fill strip pixels one after another with a color. Strip is NOT cleared

// first; anything there will be covered pixel by pixel. Pass in color

// (as a single 'packed' 32-bit value, which you can get by calling

// strip.Color(red, green, blue) as shown in the loop() function above),

// and a delay time (in milliseconds) between pixels.

void colorWipe(uint32_t color, int wait) {

for(int i=0; i<strip.numPixels(); i++) { // For each pixel in strip...

strip.setPixelColor(i, color); // Set pixel's color (in RAM)

strip.show(); // Update strip to match

delay(wait); // Pause for a moment

}

// Theater-marquee-style chasing lights. Pass in a color (32-bit value,

// a la strip.Color(r,g,b) as mentioned above), and a delay time (in ms)

// between frames.

void theaterChase(uint32_t color, int wait) {

for(int a=0; a<10; a++) { // Repeat 10 times...

for(int b=0; b<3; b++) { // 'b' counts from 0 to 2...

strip.clear(); // Set all pixels in RAM to 0 (off)

// 'c' counts up from 'b' to end of strip in steps of 3...

for(int c=b; c<strip.numPixels(); c += 3) {

strip.setPixelColor(c, color); // Set pixel 'c' to value 'color'

}

strip.show(); // Update strip with new contents

delay(wait); // Pause for a moment

}

// Rainbow cycle along whole strip. Pass delay time (in ms) between frames.

void rainbow(int wait) {

// Hue of first pixel runs 5 complete loops through the color wheel.

// Color wheel has a range of 65536 but it's OK if we roll over, so

// just count from 0 to 5*65536. Adding 256 to firstPixelHue each time

// means we'll make 5*65536/256 = 1280 passes through this outer loop:

for(long firstPixelHue = 0; firstPixelHue < 5*65536; firstPixelHue += 256) {

for(int i=0; i<strip.numPixels(); i++) { // For each pixel in strip...

// Offset pixel hue by an amount to make one full revolution of the

// color wheel (range of 65536) along the length of the strip

// (strip.numPixels() steps):

int pixelHue = firstPixelHue + (i * 65536L / strip.numPixels());

// strip.ColorHSV() can take 1 or 3 arguments: a hue (0 to 65535) or

// optionally add saturation and value (brightness) (each 0 to 255).

// Here we're using just the single-argument hue variant. The result

// is passed through strip.gamma32() to provide 'truer' colors

// before assigning to each pixel:

strip.setPixelColor(i, strip.gamma32(strip.ColorHSV(pixelHue)));

}

strip.show(); // Update strip with new contents

delay(wait); // Pause for a moment

}

// Rainbow-enhanced theater marquee. Pass delay time (in ms) between frames.

void theaterChaseRainbow(int wait) {

int firstPixelHue = 0; // First pixel starts at red (hue 0)

for(int a=0; a<30; a++) { // Repeat 30 times...

for(int b=0; b<3; b++) { // 'b' counts from 0 to 2...

strip.clear(); // Set all pixels in RAM to 0 (off)

// 'c' counts up from 'b' to end of strip in increments of 3...

for(int c=b; c<strip.numPixels(); c += 3) {

// hue of pixel 'c' is offset by an amount to make one full

// revolution of the color wheel (range 65536) along the length

// of the strip (strip.numPixels() steps):

int hue = firstPixelHue + c * 65536L / strip.numPixels();

uint32_t color = strip.gamma32(strip.ColorHSV(hue)); // hue -> RGB

strip.setPixelColor(c, color); // Set pixel 'c' to value 'color'

}

strip.show(); // Update strip with new contents

delay(wait); // Pause for a moment

firstPixelHue += 65536 / 90; // One cycle of color wheel over 90 frames

}

NEOPIXEL STRIP:

It was quite the difficult journey to make the complete neo-pixel, simply because there were so many components. Firstly, it started off by creating a wooden box to encase the LEDs. I then put together a circuit, consisting of an old phone charger, female wires, an Arduino, and an LED strip. I stripped each wire in order to connect them to each other, and uploaded the base code to my Arduino. I then plugged in the female wires to the Arduino, ran the sequence, and this was my result.

Empowerment/Change Window Light

This window light has multiple parts to it. First off, I created a box structure out of laser-cut wood to hold the window light. Secondly, I put together a circuit made of wires, an Arduino, an LED strip, and an old iPhone charger. Lastly, I inserted a laser-cut plastic file into the box to illuminate the light from the LED's.

This video shows footage of my Window Light in the process of running code. In the input code, I wrote out multiple colors for the LED strip to switch back and forth from.

JOHN LEWIS: A HERO

This poster briefly encapsulates the life of Civil rights Activist, John Lewis. this research explains his early life, the development phase, his major contributions to society, and what he personally means to me. For John Lewis' hashtag quote, I chose "Get Into Good trouble". I chose this phrase because Senator Lewis always advocated for getting into good trouble, such as having a peaceful protest, or marching for rights. I also thought that the hashtag would look great on my window sign and really spread it's message. I particularly loved working on this project, because I got to meet him as a kid in elementary school. I always looked up to him, and now that I know more about him, I look up to him as a role model even more so.

#GetIntoGoodTrouble

THE DESIGN PROCESS

Brief: In this world, Social Injustice is a massive problem. People are discriminated because of race, class, and ethnicity, and it is extremely unfair. For this project, I have decided to create a window sign, that presents a message to uplift people and to strive for justice.
Research: For my Social Justice figure, I chose John Lewis. I conducted some research about his early life, development phase, and what he accomplished for Society. I then made a poster documenting all of those particular aspects of his life.
Idea and Brainstorming: I thought up a hashtag for John Lewis, which is "Get Into Good Trouble" for my window sign. I then made a vector image of my "Get Into Good Trouble" poster. I felt that spreading this message to random people across the street would motivate them to make change in the world.
Prototype: the prototype phase includes building my entire window light. This window light has multiple parts to it. First off, I created a box structure out of laser-cut wood to hold the window light. Secondly, I put together a circuit made of wires, an Arduino, an LED strip, and an old iPhone charger. Lastly, I inserted a laser-cut plastic file into the box to illuminate the light from the LED's. Now, the complete product is shown in the "Empowerment/Change Window Light" section above.
Testing: I actually had multiple issues before I actually got the window light to function correctly, such as re-soldering wires to the LED strip, uploading code to my Arduino 4 times, and having to strip wires from the iPhone charger. However, in the end, I did find a way to fix those issues and finish my window light, and I'm pretty proud of the results.
Evaluation: If I wanted to do this again, I would definitely have a better idea of what do and how to wire the circuits. Mostly I ran into my obstacles because we are in online school and not face-to-face education, so I didn't have the ideal guidance of a teacher. I did love making this project, even if I went through some difficulty, because that's how you learn. I also, I loved the research phase, because it taught me more about John Lewis and what he did for civilization.

This semester's reflection...

The most challenging thing this semester was not being able to see my friends, not being able to get direct leadership from Mr. Wilson, and the difficulties of making this window sign on my own.

This semester, I am most proud of overcoming the difficulties of the making the window sign, and the way the final product turned out.

Overall, I did enjoy this semester, and I look forward to the next one.

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Engineering

Electronics Entry Event

CODE FOR 6 LED CIRCUIT

NEOPIXEL STRIP CODE

Empowerment/Change Window Light

This video shows footage of my Window Light in the process of running code. In the input code, I wrote out multiple colors for the LED strip to switch back and forth from.

JOHN LEWIS: A HERO

#GetIntoGoodTrouble

THE DESIGN PROCESS

Brief: In this world, Social Injustice is a massive problem. People are discriminated because of race, class, and ethnicity, and it is extremely unfair. For this project, I have decided to create a window sign, that presents a message to uplift people and to strive for justice.

Research: For my Social Justice figure, I chose John Lewis. I conducted some research about his early life, development phase, and what he accomplished for Society. I then made a poster documenting all of those particular aspects of his life.

Idea and Brainstorming: I thought up a hashtag for John Lewis, which is "Get Into Good Trouble" for my window sign. I then made a vector image of my "Get Into Good Trouble" poster. I felt that spreading this message to random people across the street would motivate them to make change in the world.

This semester's reflection...

The most challenging thing this semester was not being able to see my friends, not being able to get direct leadership from Mr. Wilson, and the difficulties of making this window sign on my own.

This semester, I am most proud of overcoming the difficulties of the making the window sign, and the way the final product turned out.

Overall, I did enjoy this semester, and I look forward to the next one.