During this mornings session, we watched and gave feedback on a great presentation by Dr. Rebecca Stewart, based around electronic music interfaces, primarily using unconventional materials like fabrics or textiles. It was very helpful to see and witness how one can experiment with somewhat traditionally sourced materials.
This is a screenshot of one of the projects featured within the presentation, by Afroditi Psarra
In the lab session, we revised last weeks topics and began working towards our final projects independently. I personally tried to resolve some software issues I am having with MAX/MSP but they are persisting which is causing me great frustration. I am at this stage considering switching to Pure-Data instead, before I am too far into this project and I cannot change program as I have committed too much time into one software.
Seminar: In the seminar I did my presentation of potential ideas and inspirations that I have had for my project. This was a good way of presenting my project and also getting feedback from my peers as to ways I could improve my ideas, things I can add, and how to go about documenting my work.
Lab: In the lab we were looking at our individual projects. We were introduced to how we can access softwares that will help us to build the casing of our projects. In my case I know that in order for me to progress to the stage of case design etc I would need to make sure that my code works, my circuit is built and everything works accordingly so that I can accommodate this with my casing. I was able to grab inspirations from different Arduino keyboard projects and this helped me to understand the coding of tones and what numbers to type regarding the tone I desire. This has made my job easier for next lab as I can then come to the lab with the correctly selected codes.
In this morning’s session, Tolu gave a great presentation on some projects that inspire his project and gave a great insight into his thought process into how he decided his final project.
For the lab session, we began with a recap of last week which we then followed by an informative session around remote access of the DMU computers which in turn gives us access to software such as SolidWorks which is a material design/3d printing and construction software that will be crucial for us to
A Screenshot of a half sphere created within SolidWorks
The second phase of the lab was spent checking fitting within the enclosure and trying to work out creative ways in which I can get the most out of my circuit and make it a unique, interesting project.
Today one Tolu presented his presentation about the ideas that he had for his project and spoke about how far he’d come with his project already. We also watched a short video about someone who had produced a similar project to our own final pieces. It was interesting to see someone else’s take on the project that we are facing.
Lab
In the lab we looked at the progress that each of us had made in regards to our projects and gained any materials that we needed. We were introduced to the software called SOLIDWORKS that can be used in order to create 2D and 3D designs for your work. Below is an image of me experimenting with this software but as we have a limited time slot for the lesson I decided to use Word to create a simple design.
This is a picture of me working with SOLIDWORKS in the class.
I think that using this piece of software when creating 3D models to print would be very useful as you ca see your piece in multiple dimensions however I think that I would have to practice with this software many times to truly understand how I can create my vision.
As you can see below, I have decided to make my model template using Word as I will be producing the case for my final piece myself by using plastic and tools.
This is the very simple model that I made during the lesson to visualize what I am trying to create for my final piece.
I found today useful as I gained knowledge of another piece of software that I can use for any designing that I wanted to do for my project. It was also interesting to use VM Horizon as this allows you to access the university computers from home which I hadn’t used before.
Seminar – In the seminar, we had 2 presentations from colleagues of potential ideas that they have for their projects. We scored them according to their complexities, aesthetics and functionality out of 4. We also scored them on their presentation skills out of 4.
Lab – In the lab we recapped on the learning of the previous weeks and went down to the mechanical workshop to tour and understand what we can do. In the tour we were given the availabilities of materials, tools and different options we could take in making our cases. With the options I’ve been provided I was able to get many potential idea of how I would want my project to look like. With all these branches of ideas, I still need to make sure I plan accordingly to the electronic and audio parts of my project the proceed to design casings and structures.
I am planning on using the mechanical workshop to create my casing. My idea is to produce a miniature keyboard/piano running from C to C. when a button is pressed it will play a tone that aligns with the scales of a piano. Tones should be able to be played at any time when the circuit is working.
Today’s Lab was split out over the following tasks:
Guided Tour of The Mechanical Workshop
Project Development
Guided Tour of the Mechanical Workshop
What is the mechanical Workshop?
The Mechanical Workshop is a workshop where we can build/create the physical components of our projects.
Who are the contact persons?
When can you go?
Monday and Friday are the best day. But Any Day within university open times.
Where is it located?
Towards the back of the Queens Building. If you were to come in via the back entrance of Queens and continue past the stairs and lift through that door. This will lead to a corridor where you go strait ahead into the main part of the Queens Building. The mechanical workshop is down the right side corridor.
Why you should go?
It is helpful for those who need tools to build their projects.
Also if you would want to cutout materials
How are you planning to use the mechanical workshop?
Today we presented our presentations about Arduino projects that have helped give us ideas towards our own. This was a timed presentation that was 15 – 20 minutes and everyone in the class gave feedback on how the presentation was completed as well as the criteria that they had completed their project up to. It was interesting to gain feedback from those in the class as we completed these presentations on our own and needed ways in which we could improve them. It was also captivating to see how other people had done their presentations and the ideas that they had for their own projects as we all have very different ideas about the projects that we wish to complete.
This is one of the instruments that I looked at during my presentation and it is the instrument that has had the most influence on my final piece in total.
We took a tour of the mechanical workshop to see what machines they had available and the kinds of projects that they were producing. It was interesting to see a completely different department compared to the one that we are usually situated.
The mechanical workshop is a room that has multiple different pieces of equipment inside it that can be used to make various different projects that include making physical things.
2. Who are the contact persons?
3. When can you go?
The timetable is on the back of the door of the workshop room.
4. Where is it located?
In Queens at the back of the building near the very end.
5. Why you should go?
You should go to develop any project that you have decided to create to add originality and a creative fare to it.
6. How are you planning to use the mechanical workshop concerning your project?
I may decided to use the mechanical workshop in my project as I’d like to create a mini piano that look realistic. This would mean that I could laser cut pieces of the piano such as the keys. However, I don’t know have access to one of these machines so visiting the mechanical workshop would be necessary.
Conclusion
In conclusion it was interesting to see the various pieces of equipment that they had available to use as I wasn’t aware that the department existed. They had various models of planes and cars which was interesting to see as there are many different options that you can make. It has allowed to to see that I can create a much more interesting instrument that I first thought and I think that it will look more professional in total.
In today’s session, we had a guided tour around the engineering facilities on the ground floor of the Queen’s building. I found this greatly helpful as I am in need of tools and potential parts that I cannot facilitate on my own, such as 3D printers, CNC machines, etc..
In my own project, I have ordered an enclosure I intend to use for building my project however, if I had known I could custom make an enclosure then I would have. Since I already have bought my premade enclosure, I can use the facilities to machine the holes in the enclosure whilst making a half sphere shape that will increase the playability of my device. Rather than the box sitting on a flat plane and needing to be picked up, Raising it up on a free moving sphere that can support the project to stay flat yet allows to easy adjust the orientation, increasing the functionality of my project as an interface to create sounds.
Here is something that has been printed by someone else that is similar to what I would like to make, except only 1/2 of the sphere would be necessary.
In todays seminar session, Jade and I presented some projects that inspire us in our own work. Jade gave a very in-depth presentation upon 3 projects, each with a unique take on a similar concept but executed to different level of complexity. Jade explained the code portion of the projects in a much greater detail than my own presentation and it is clear to me that I need to expand my understanding of the coding and how that controls the different parameters.
For my own project, I was less in-depth with specific design components but had an overarching theme of trying to do more with the same design of circuit, by changing just the software.
Here is a demonstrational video I used within my presentation, demonstrating the use of an mpu6050 Gyroscope and 3 axis accelerometer with a GUI toy plane representing the X,Y, & Z data.
In the lecture we covered the content of the write-up to our project. Here is the layout for my project:
Introduction – explaining all the initial ideas and aims of my work)
Context – project ideas and examples of other work)
Prototype – my idea and diagram of circuit)
Results – video of my project and and discussion
Conclusion – summary of the project and and conclusions made
Lab –
Above is a timeline that I have made for my project outlining my main goals with milestones and all other dates that I have to have achieved certain tasks by.
It’s important to use a timeline chart for a project as to allows you to stick to goals and have a better understanding of when you need to achieve certain goals by to accomplish your task.
