PROCESS POST FOR ECLIPSE LIGHT FIXTURE.

The Problem: A light fixture is a simple thing, but a solar eclipse, as a light fixture, is not. However, despite that scenario, one must be created, using the tools and supplies within the shop.

The solution: Using servos, sonar sensors, 3D printed holders, and laser printed wood, we can innovate, and ultimately achieve completion of this strategic project, by connecting everything with cardboard, along with 3D printed items.

Detailed solution: Once we setup a sonar sensor to detect people in front of the fixture, we can get a simple light, while using servos to move the modeled moon in front of the light, and reverse, by moving away, as the person leaves, as opposed to a button, which would take more unnecessary effort.

Main Story or Theme: Our project requires us to design a solar eclipse phenomena, abstracted into a light fixture, using advanced technology and printed objects. It serves the perpose of providing light, in a unique fashion, which will achieve our goal, which is to impress everyone who observes it.

Mechanics: After seeing our fixture, a person will walk towards it. Once the person is relatively close to the fixture, a sonar infrasound sensor will automatically detect the person, and 'tells' the uno board that it sees someone. Once the uno board receives the info, it communicates with the servo in which moves the moon, which will cause the modeled moon to move in front of the light. Once the person looks at it for a bit, they will leave, and the servo will move back into its original place, and the light will shine normally.

Development: We started with an assigned phenomena, which we instantly started studying. Once we looked over some images of the solar eclipse, and got a general idea as to what it consists of, and what it looks like, we started making abstractions, and searched for more details. After abstraction, we started making cardboard models, with a box cutter, and put everything together using hot glue, and screws as servos. Once we had a mini model of the fixture, we began to design the real fixture, by laser cutting parts, 3D printing objects, wiring electronics to the uno board, and ultimately put everything together.

Challenges: We had multiple challenges along the way, which we had to overcome in the long run. We experienced malfunctional sonar boards, faulty uno arduino boards, badly soldered wires and falsely sized objects which were 3D printed. To fix the sonar board, we had to re-solder the pins after using the desoldering pump to get what was there before, out. We replaced the ardruino board, which was an easy solution, but when we tried using wires, from the shop, to connect the board to the servos/sensor, we were forced to cut the wires and re-solder the ends of them. When the 3D printed servo holder came out too small, we improvised, by drilling slots on the holder in order for the servo to fit inside of it, despite having a wire sticking out on the side.  

Iterations: The main idea of a solar eclipse is pretty straight forward, apart from the small abstractions in which need to be made. We were assigned to figuring out those abstractions and ultimately creating a light fixture dedicated to the general idea of a solar eclipse. In order to accomplish this, we had to solve creative problems, such as: Ways to make the moon 'move' in front of the light, and then away from it, and how to get the person observing it, to move it by themselves. In order to successfully make the moon move in front of the light, we used servo motors as levers to move the moon. When it came to having the observer move the moon themselves, we used a infrasound sonar device, which senses how far away from the fixture the person is, and once they come close enough to see it, the sonar communicates with the servo and makes it move the moon. It was quite difficult, but it ultimately paid off, as it has advanced features which work flawlessly.