Project 3: Welcome Bot

Have you ever gotten bored while working?

By placing the wood robot near you and knocking on the table, the wood robot would love to entertain you with different colors of light corresponding to the volume level of your knocks.

My First Step

It was such a fun and insightful experience in the Fimbel lab that I learned some skills that helped me to create things made from wood. With inspiration from examples of robot boxes displayed in the Fimbel, I began planning out a similar version of a welcome box made from wood in a sketch. My wooden robot or welcome box has 5 parts: 1 body, 2 hands, and 2 legs. They are connected by 2 pieces of yarn. A Circuit Playground Express (CPE) is attached to the front of the wood robot. A code with a light sensor was assigned to the CPE. In other words, Neopixels lights on the CPR are on based on the degree level of surrounding sound volume. In my project, a knock is a sign of a sound. In addition, a battery is on the back of the wooden robot with its core connecting to the USB port of the CPE. So excited about heading to Fimbel lab 🏃 and starting to turn this sketch version into a real one! 🪚🪵🤖

My Second Step

In the Fimbel lab, cutting each component of my wooden robot went pretty well! I cut 5 pieces of wood: A large rectangle part is for the body, and 4 small rectangle parts are for the hands and the legs. I also shaved those components so as to make it look nicer and cleaner. Connecting each wooden part together, I drilled holes from the top to the bottom and/or from the left to the right (on positions that the yarn can go through). Afterward, I used a piece of yarn to connect the two hands through holes and another piece of yarn to connect the right leg to the body and then to the left leg, as demonstrated in the image. Knots were tied to stabilize the wooden robot.

Nevertheless, I initially found a hard time getting used to drilling the wood. One time, I broke a smal piece of wood due to the fast run of the discounterclock motion of the drill. Then, I had to start cutting another piece of wood. In addition, drilling holes in the body piece of wood took longer. I tended to be more careful in drilling. Sometimes, the drill stuck in my wood when I changed the small drill to the larger one in order to make the yarn go through the holes. "Is it for me?" I even questioned that. But, the adaption and belongingness theorem reminds me to continue and be more patient with what I am doing. Despite the issues I encountered while generating the wooden robot, I felt so delighted and proud of myself the moment I tied the last knot. My wooden robot is now ready to be a little buddy, sitting on the table and waiting to enlighten me while I am bored!

Welcome Bot Sketch Code [From IDesign Class Website]

The Face of WelcomeBot

The Circuit Playground Express (CPE) is attached to the Welcome Box. The sketch code above was assigned to the CPE so that when the wood robot hears the sound, Neopixels lights will be on. The number of Neopixels that would light on depends on how loud the sound is.

The Back of WelcomeBox

The wood robot is carrying a batter regarded as its "backpack". This "backpack" helps activate the CPE without connecting to laptops.

Up to now, the welcome bot or the wood robot is ready when the core from the "backpack" is connected to the black USB port.

My Final Version

Connecting the battery to the Circuit Playground Express (CPE), the wood robot can hear the sound. If you place them next to you when you are working, you would love to entertain a little bit as a break. Just ...

Knock, Knock, Knock! The wood robot is at your service. They are sensitive to sound. The louder the sound is, the more Neopixels colors are on. How many Neopixels could you make them on?

Welcome Bot.mov

Hope you enjoy the video 🤖

Reflection

💡Belongingness in a course 🫂

Reflecting on my academic journey, I can vividly recall the initial apprehension I felt during a Marketing course I took while studying abroad. The sense of belongingness was initially weak, primarily because most of my classmates possessed a solid background in economics and marketing. I found myself navigating through unfamiliar territories, grappling with concepts that seemed alien at first. The environment exuded an atmosphere of expertise and confidence that I initially perceived as a barrier rather than an opportunity for growth.

Looking back, I realize that the messages from the environment played a crucial role in shaping my initial perception. The constant exposure to discussions and interactions among my peers, who seemed to effortlessly grasp the intricate concepts, created a subtle pressure that intensified my feelings of inadequacy. However, as the course progressed, I started to recognize the value of my unique perspective and background. I began to contribute to discussions from my distinct angle, offering fresh insights that were appreciated by both peers and instructors.

If I were to revisit the decision to embrace or turn away from the Marketing course, I would advise my former self to be more patient and embrace the discomfort as a stepping stone to personal and academic growth. I would emphasize the importance of resilience in the face of initial challenges and encourage myself to seek support from peers and instructors. Belongingness is not solely determined by shared background knowledge but also by the willingness to learn and contribute to a diverse academic community. Trust your instincts and seek environments that foster growth and understanding. The journey of belongingness is dynamic, and it's fine to reassess and redirect efforts when necessary. I would also remind myself that every unique perspective adds value to the collective learning experience and that the initial discomfort is often a precursor to personal and academic development.

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