Gems of Wisdom
Plan out mechanical design and assembly of electrical hardware ahead: Integrating the electrical components into the mechanical aspects took longer than expected because we had to rearrange the electrical hardware to match the exterior of the device
Keep track of expenses throughout the project: This makes it easier to write up the report, BOM, and divide expenses in the future
Start prototyping early: Begin drafting and manufacturing parts ahead of time, especially as PRL fills up towards the end of the year
LED display noise: If the LED display isn't displaying LEDs perfectly or working as intended, try shortening the wires to reduce noise or power cycling
Power supply switch: If you are using multiple power supplies, consider putting them all on one power strip so that you can power cycle everything all at once
Schematic updated: Keep the schematic updated frequently, this is incredibly useful for reference throughout the project during debugging and reassembling
State diagram: Make sure you plan out a state diagram with events and services clearly listed, this will help with writing code and debuggingÂ