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Mackenzie O'Gara

Process Post

Riana Schaff and 2 OthersMackenzie O'Gara
Keziah Hoyt
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Our intention was to create a wearable paper fold device, so we created the “ThermoCuff” a bracelet that changes shape and color based on temperature and humidity. Originally we were unsure about our intention do to not having a concrete theme, however after brainstorming we decided that creating a wearable device would be the most interesting and feasible project. The bracelet has a servo linear actuator, which the interchangeable paper folds attach to, and as the temperature increases or decreases the actuator extends or shortens and the LED lights change colors. We originally thought, that the bracelet should be more like a sleeve, that wraps around the wearer's forearm, however after building our first prototype and receiving feedback, we decided that paper fold should sit on top of the arm. For our second iteration we worked on the mechanism that would cause the paper fold to condense and expand. When we started the project we thought that the bracelet should change shape based on temperature and color based on the wearer’s pulse, but at this point and after receiving more feedback, we decided that their were too many variables, so we nixed the idea of changing color based on the wearer’s heart rate. We then started working on the design of the bracelet, and how the different pieces would fit together. We decided to 3D print the bracelet, designing space for the servo linear actuator to sit on and for temperature and humidity monitor to go through. At this point in the designing process we decided to cut the bracelet in half, and have the bottom part be made out of velcro so anyone could wear it. After 3D printing the bracelet for our fifth iteration, we received feedback that it was too bulky, so we went back into fusion were it was designed and edited our design. Concurrently, we were designing different paper folds that could be interchangeable based on what the wearer wanted to wear and wrote the code for the arduino. Once we redesigned the 3D printed bracelet we put all the pieces together and designed and 3D printed caps for the nuts (due to previous feedback) we put our final iteration together. However, because of the many wires, the bracelet did not work all the time due to the wires falling out of the arduino. Also all the paper folds did not work as well as we wished, and due to limited time we were unable to spend much time working on how they would fold.