Week 1: Final Project Proposal
Here are 3 ideas for my final project:
Idea 1: Computer Vision Speaker
I want to create a speaker that can be controlled by computer vision. In order to turn it on or off, I will use a
camera to detect the user's hand and use that hand gesture. There will be servos (or perhaps a small robot) that walks
along the top of the speaker to punch the buttons according to the directions.
The goal of this project is to determine what the interfaces that humans use to interact with machines are, and how changing up the order, or execution
changes the experience of using the machine. I want to learn how to use computer vision to control a machine, and want to investigate mobile robots at the same time.
Idea 2: Automatic CD Player and Storage
I want to create a CD storage and playing system that will swap, and play, the CDs based on the user's requests.
This system should operate like a minature jukebox, with an arm that swaps and stores the CDs in a rotating carousel.
Users should be able to select the CD they want to play by pressing a button on the front of the system.
I want to come up with a token system that allows the user to "pay" for the music they want to listen to.
The goal of this project is to investigate the abilities of machines to manually mainuplate their environment, and manage storage and access of physical objects.
This particular project seeks to investigate the value of inconvenience, and further discover human-machine physical interfaces.
Idea 3: Wall Clock
I want to create a wall clock that will display the current time. The concept is that the middle of the clock will be
the moon, with a phase indicator made out of LEDS that will change as the moon goes through its phases. The rings of the clock
will be moving lights or other symboles that will represent seconds minutes and hours. Ideally, the clock will be made out of machined
metal parts.
The goal of this project is to look into machine aesthetics as well as test the accuracy of mechanical parts. This puruit could end up feeling like
more like an art project than a functional creation, but I think it will still be very valuable in terms of developing engineering skills.