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Project Ideation
Project Ideation
My project is a rotating globe that I designed to be both fun and useful. The user can choose a country, and the globe will stop to show it, with a blinking light as an indicator. It also has a Night Mode, where it spins slowqly with lights underneath for decoration. I built it using 3D printing, a wooden base, and a motor to maqke it move.
Around me (PlanetView 360)
Around me (PlanetView 360)
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
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
Turning Globe (Around me)
A motorized globe system that simulates the Earth’s rotation to visually demonstrate day and night cycles, geography, and astronomy concepts.
Automate all this processes:
Rotation speed control – Adjustable through a menu on an LCD screen, allowing precise control of the globe’s movement.
Country selection mode – The user can select one of five pre-programmed countries; when selected, the globe automatically rotates to that location, and an LED for that country lights up.
Night mode – Activates a specific rotation speed, turns on all country LEDs, and switches on a set of white LEDs under the globe to illuminate it from below, simulating nighttime lighting.
This project will solve this problems:
Difficulty for students to visualize the Earth’s rotation and locate countries dynamically.
educational tools for geography and astronomy
Why this project?
Because it brings together several areas that fascinate me: electricity, mechanical design, automation, and education.
I already worked with electrical motors and mechanical assemblies during my studies, and this project allows me to apply and expand those skills.
2- Describe the project idea and general features. How would it work?
2- Describe the project idea and general features. How would it work?
How it work?
1-The user navigates through the LCD menu using control buttons to select a mode.
2-In speed control mode, the motor’s speed is adjusted via the menu.
3-In country selection mode, the globe automatically rotates to the chosen country and lights up its LED.
4-In night mode, the system activates pre-set lighting effects and specific rotation speed to simulate nighttime.
Result: an interactive and educational globe that dynamically demonstrates Earth’s rotation and geography through motion and light.
Similar to the Prusa interface, the user section of my project will feature an LCD screen and a control knob to navigate and select the desired menu.
Once the user selects one of the five proposed countries, the globe stops rotating and positions itself to display the chosen country, while an LED starts blinking.
Once the user selects one of the five proposed countries, the globe stops rotating and positions itself to display the chosen country, while an LED starts blinking.
3- Sketch your project: You may use pen and paper or a simple sketching tool like Microsoft Paint or Photoshop
3- Sketch your project: You may use pen and paper or a simple sketching tool like Microsoft Paint or Photoshop
In the following illustration, there are three parts of my final project:
The first image shows an overview of the project, including the screen and the bar used to select the different menus.
The second image presents the “spine” of the globe.
The third image shows half of the globe, which will first be 3D printed, then assembled, and finally mounted onto the spine.
Project Planning
Project Planning
4- Describe the Technical Modules that your project consists of
4- Describe the Technical Modules that your project consists of
Construction Parts
two hemispheres(3D-printed),
Rectangular base (wood),
Metal rod with 12V rotating motor
Input
(Sensing, Tactile Input, and/or Graphical Input)
Control knob ,
Reset button,
Country selection,
Night Mode activation,
Power supply,
Action
(Physical and/or Graphic)
Globe rotation,
LED lighting,
LCD display,
Motor movement,
Brain
Arduino Uno,
Power Management
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.
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.
6- Categorize your project’s User Features into: Minimum, Complete, and Nice-to-have features. List the required action and input components per feature.
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 vision
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
Select a country
Action: LEDs
Sensing: none
User Input: PushButtons Up, Down and Select
Complete User Features
Select a rotation speed
Action: Stepper motor
Sensing:none
User Input: turns the potentiometer
Activate Night Mode
Action: LEDs
Sensing:none
User Input: turns the potentiometer
Nice-to-have User Features
Automatic activation of night mode every night
Action: RTC (Real-Time Clock) DS3231
Sensing: none
User Input: activate this mode in the parameter
7- What are the required electronic components and materials for the project?
7- What are the required electronic components and materials for the project?
Component/Material
Amount
Link
Aruino
1
Plywood
2/3
Buzzer
1
Potentiometre
Step Motor
1
Driver A4988 / DRV8825
1
Power supply 12V
1
Pushbuttons
2
LCD Screen
1
608ZZ bearings
1
Breadboard
1
Resistance 220 ohm
5/8
Jumpers
20/25
Lamp
2
8- What are the project tasks and its time-frame?
8- What are the project tasks and its time-frame?
Task
Sub-Tasks
From:
To:
Design & CAD Modeling
(Fusion 360)
1-Create the base design in Fusion 360, to be made in 3 mm plywood, cut with the laser cutter.
2-Design the upper part (motor holder, axis support, globe mount) → to be 3D printed.
3-Double-check dimensions: motor space, slip ring placement, and globe attachment.
8/9/2025
10/9/2025
Circuit & Simulation (Tinkercad.com)
1-place all electronic components (Arduino, A4988 driver, stepper motor, limit switch, buttons, OLED screen, LEDs,....).
2-Run the simulation to verify: motor rotation, button response,...
11/9/2025
12/9/2025
Programming
1-Start coding in Tinkercad block mode (Scratch style) → basic logic for motor + LEDs.
2-Move to Arduino IDE and write the full code (motor homing, speed control, LEDs, OLED display).
3-Test the program with a simple prototype (motor + LEDs).
12/9/2025
13/9/2025
Fabrication
1-Laser cut the plywood base (3 mm).
2-3D print the upper parts (motor mount, bearing housing, globe connector).
3-Perform finishing touches: sanding, adjusting, fitting.
13/9/2025
14/9/2025
Assembly
Assembly
1-Mechanical assembly: mount the motor, bearings, axis, flexible coupler, slip ring, and globe.
2-Electronic assembly: install Arduino, driver, power supply, and wire everything through the slip ring.
3-Organize the wiring inside the base, fix the OLED display and control buttons on the front.
15/9/2025
18/9/2025
Testing & Finalization
Testing & Finalization
1-Perform full testing: homing, rotation, direction switch, speed control, LEDs response.
2-Add final touches: close the housing, label the buttons, paint/finish the base.
3-Prepare the final demo presentation with scenarios (e.g., show day/night mode, point to countries).
19/9/2025
21/9/2025
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