YouTube / Jonathan Dyer – via Iframely

This project is a second iteration of the project documented here: Repman Part 1

To improve on this project, we did three main things: improved the appearance of the band, created an app, and improved the signal processing.

First, we improved the appearance by making a more robust button. From our first iteration we learned that users really liked our logo so we decided to make the logo a button. To do so, we had to make the button larger and moved the dumbells from the top of the logo to the side allowing us to cut the logo completely out of conductive fabric. We then used fabric adhesive to attach it to the wristband and conductive thread to attach it to the rest of the circuit.

Second, we created an app that allows the user to interface with the wristband. The user can input values for number of reps, number of sets, and rest period between sets.

Lastly, we improved the signal processing by playing around with various parameters pertaining to the peak detection. The code for both the app and the arduino for the light blue bean can be found here: App/Arduino Code

The circuit diagram is below:

Forget TV dinners. Forget “Netflix and chill”. NewFlame is the future of romance. Technology is now in every part of our lives. Your phone follows you everywhere, buzzing and glowing in the dark. Fitness bands record your every move, and smart watches tap on your wrist for attention. Netflix has changed dates forever. We think it’s time to bring technology a step further. Presenting NewFlame – “the future of romance.” NewFlame adds spice and excitement to your love life, instantly upping the ambiance when you turn off the lights by igniting a warm candle flame. All of this is done automagically. You don’t even need to think about it. The flickering yellow light cast by NewFlame is even enough to overcome the harsh glow of a cell phone screen, minimizing any intrusion that your texting will make during a fancy dinner.

New Flame is a candle that lights itself when the lights are turned off. It works with an ambient light sensor that controls a servo motor to push down and let go of a button on a lighter. The spark is produced by nichrome wire, a resistance wire that heats up very quickly when provided with large amounts of current. When the lights are off, the servo motor turns and pushes the button on the lighter to make it produce butane. The power source then drives current through the nichrome wire, which heats up and makes a flame with the butane. When the lights are turned back on, the power source stops providing current and the servo motor returns to its original state to turn off the butane.

YouTube / Bob Rudolph – via Iframely

#include <Servo.h>

#define PIN_IGNITE 14
#define PIN_GAS 15
#define PIN_SENSOR A5
#define PIN_SENSOR_5V A4 // optional – plug the sensor right into pins A3 – A5, with the output on A5.
#define PIN_SENSOR_GND A3

#define DARK_THRESHOLD 50

#define GAS_ON_POS 80
#define GAS_OFF_POS 55

boolean flaming = false;

float sensor_smoothed = 1023.0;

Servo servo_gas;

void setup()
{
pinMode(PIN_IGNITE, OUTPUT);
digitalWrite(PIN_IGNITE, LOW);
pinMode(PIN_SENSOR_5V, OUTPUT);
digitalWrite(PIN_SENSOR_5V, HIGH);
pinMode(PIN_SENSOR_GND, OUTPUT);
digitalWrite(PIN_SENSOR_GND, LOW);

servo_gas.attach(PIN_GAS);
servo_gas.write(GAS_OFF_POS);
Serial.begin(9600);
}

void loop()
{
update_sensor_reading();

if (sensor_smoothed < DARK_THRESHOLD && flaming == false) {
flame_on();
delay(1000);
update_sensor_reading();
while(sensor_smoothed < DARK_THRESHOLD) {
update_sensor_reading();
}
flame_off();
delay(2000);
}

if (Serial.available() > 0) {
byte inByte = Serial.read();
if (inByte == ‘a’) {
flame_on();
} else if (inByte == ‘b’) {
flame_off();
}
}
}
void update_sensor_reading() {
sensor_smoothed = (sensor_smoothed * 0.9) + (analogRead(PIN_SENSOR) * 0.1);
Serial.println(int(sensor_smoothed));
}

void flame_on() {
digitalWrite(PIN_IGNITE, HIGH);
delay(6000);
servo_gas.write(GAS_ON_POS);
delay(3000);
digitalWrite(PIN_IGNITE, LOW);
flaming = true;
}

void flame_off() {
servo_gas.write(GAS_OFF_POS);
flaming = false;
}

YouTube / Kiran Matharu – via Iframely

Group Members: Bob Rudolph and Kiran Matharu

In these modern times, the idea of romance has strayed from the traditional to be more centered towards technology, with the emergence of Netflix, texting, and the internet. This project serves as a cynical commentary on modern romance by adding a technological twist to a traditional idea of romance.

New Flame is a candle that lights itself when the lights are turned off. It works with an ambient light sensor that controls a servo motor to push down and let go of a button on a lighter. The spark is produced by nichrome wire, a resistance wire that heats up very quickly when provided with large amounts of current. When the lights are off, the servo motor turns and pushes the button on the lighter to make it produce butane. The power source then drives current through the nichrome wire, which heats up and makes a flame with the butane.

This product is very unique because it is built around multiple different groups of users for more than one purpose. This example shows how Internet of Things can connect an entire city and provide uses to different fields like research and policymaking. It is interesting to see how people feel the need to know as much information as possible about the environment they live in, an ability that is now becoming possible.

This product shows how Internet of things and connectivity can allow people to transmit important information even while not physically close. This kind of connectivity can save lives and have widespread applications in healthcare and communications. It also brings up the concern of how secure our information can be in a large network of personal data.

This instance of the Internet of Things shows how much simpler these products can make life by combining information from different sensors to have everything in one place. It also introduces an aspect of learning and adapting to machinery so that it gets even better over time. These two concepts seem to be up and coming in the world of physical computing and can have a great affect on the scope of technology.