Galaxy Projector Journal

Project Ideation

1- Tell us about the idea of your project. Why do you care about this? What were you inspired by? Include images and videos of similar projects

My idea of the final project is basically a projector that serves as a lantern and is interactive to the audience moving around it, reacting with different colors. I have always wanted to create an artistic projector that can be used in projection mapping projects, projecting the projector on 3d works. Although it is more like a lantern, I was happy to experiment and try to create a project that is similar to it. I was inspired by similar projects that I saw online, that act like a mini DIY projector.

Project Construction

2- Explain the CAD process of your project. How did you use the software to design your project? (List the softwares/tools/materials...etc that you used)

Fusion 360 :

I started deconstructing the piece on a paper and breaking it into 2d faces using the cardboard prototype I created.

Pentagon Face & Connector Joint:

I started drawing the pentagon face as a sketch with tabs to be linked to a connector to bring them together as a joint.
I then started drawing the connector piece, the most important point about the piece was the angle. Amany and Ibrahim advised me to experiment with different ones and try to see if it'll work

LED Strip Stand:

I then moved on to the stand that has the led strip pasted on it. It was very simple to break it down to 4 pieces.
The front and the back were similar faces, and the right and left were a couple of replicas as well. The 2 groups basically had opposite tab openings to make them stick together.

Component Box:

I first started with the bottom part, planned the tabs and open screw parts, and did the same with the top part, opening a part for the LED Strip to be inserted out of it.
Then I did the front part which has the LCD, Ultrasonic, ldr, potentiometer, and on/off switch.
I did the left side, which has the arduino 9 v voltage space.
I then did the right side, which has the 12 v voltage jack.
Lastly, I did the empty back side.

Then I did the assembly of the components box to make sure everything fits and inserted the components.

3- Explain the fabrication process of your project. How did you use the machine to fabricate your project? (List the softwares/tools/materials...etc that you used)

I downloaded the dxf files from fusion360.
I started importing them on the laserworks and nested them together.
I edited the parameters on the PC ( speed on 10 and power on 75 )
I then exported the sheets as rld files.
On the MT3050D CO2 I pressed download and choose the file and clicked run after checking the origin, and the track frame.

Project Electronics & Power Management

4- Describe your electronic circuit. What are the input and action components? What is the function of each? How do the components integrate together to form your smart system? (List the softwares/tools/components...etc that you used)

My electronic circuit is simply: when the projector is surrounded by light, it has white-colored light, basically " Starry Mode" and this is written on the lcd. Also, the light intensity can be adjusted by the potentiometer. However, when there is no surrounding light, it turns on "Aurora Mode" and this is also displayed on the lcd, and the shades of the multi-colors are controlled by the proximity of the user to the projector.

Input Components:

LDR : to sens the intensity of the light
Potentiometer: to control the brightness of the LED Strip
Ultrasonic : to sens the proximity of the user to the projector
On/Off Switch : to cut the circuit.

Action Components:

LED strip : the main lighting unit.
LCD : for the mode to be written on.

Others:

Arduino : the main brain
L298 Module (H-bridge) : to be used as a secondary voltage regulator.
Regulator: to be used as a primary voltage regulator.
Breadboard : the ground where the jumpers are connected on.
Jumpers : to connect the circuit.

5- What is your power source? How did you select the suitable power source for your project? (List the softwares/tools/components...etc that you used)

First, I knew that I was going to use a 12V adapter for the LED Strip.
a 5V voltage for the lcd, ultrasonic, rld.
So, I used a 12V and a regulator to convert the 12v to 5v to be used for the rest of the components.
Then, using Amany's help, she told me to power the arduino with a 9v volt.

Project Programming

6- Describe the code of your project. How did you program each function of the project?

First, I included the LCD I2C library.
I defined the RGB pins of the LED Strip and their fade speed.
I defined the Ultrasonic's 2 pins.
I defined the potentiometer, and the brightness value of the strip to be linked to the potentiometer's
In the setup, I stated the output and the input values.
I analog wrote the led strip for the brightness.
I started the serial for the ultrasonic and the lcd.
In the loop, I added the code for turning on the ultrasonic which is a ready-made one.
Then, I gave the order to read the LDR value and store it.
In the if condition, If the ldr value is less than 300, which means that the light is on, I turned on all of the pins, which makes up a white color, wrote starry night mode on the lcd, and turned on the potentiometer for the brightness.
If the ldr value is more than 300, which means that the light is off, aurora mode is displayed on the lcd, and I included a ready made color code for the LED Strip and it is controlled by the proximity of the user / values of the ultrasonic.

Project Integration & Testing

7- Demonstrate with text and visuals how did you integrate the project’s modules together? What are the testing results? (Include a Demo video separately, showing a proof of functionality)

I assembled the pentagon part.
Then, I assembled the connections.
I started implementing the components on the bottom part of the box.
I asssembled the box with the components.
I assembled the led strip stand and pasted the led strip on it.
I tested the product one last time before closing everything together.

20220922-170401_fIGdKXeq.mp4

Sharing & Collaboration

8- Did you ask for feedback? What are the ideas that others have contributed or suggested? What was someone else’s idea that you built upon? How did you help your peers? How did your peers help you?

Amany and Ibrahim helped me so much in the led strip setup.
Amany helped me so much in the final assembly and the fabrication as i had problems with fitting everything together.
At first, I didn't understand the regulator, so Amany helped me in explaing how to set it up.
After the full assembly, the lcd didn't work as it was powered from the 5v from the regulator output, Amany advised me to put it directly in the arduino 5V.
Then the regulator didn't work properly, so Amany helped me by putting 2 regulators and it worked properly.

Overcoming Challenges

9- When you got stuck, what/who did you turn to? At what point did you have to pause to research or learn more before moving on? What are some mistakes, pitfalls, or challenges that others can avoid if they were doing this project?

I'd always ask Amany and Ibrahim and they were so helpful. A big thank youu !!! Especially Amany helped me in my final day soooo much !!!

Future Work

10- If you had more time, what is one thing you would change/ Do next in your project?

I would pay more details to the overall look and add more functions to the lamp, maybe to make it work wirelessly.

Final Project Design Files

Projector Fusion

Projector DXF

Projector Arduino Code

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