Final project for Interactive Device Design
Professor Björn Hartmann
Production Period: seven weeks
Motivation:
In response to a recent power outage and explosion on the UC Berkeley campus, we wanted to develop a low cost device for peer to peer communication that can function independently of external power and communication networks. The existing text-based campus warning system was highly ineffective - it was delayed and when it did appear, it lacked in details.
Solution Overview:
In the absence of external power and communication, we want to empower the general public to spread relevant information instead of fully relying on centralized authorities. The device contains a microcontroller, wireless transceiver, and simple inputs and outputs: leds/buttons/switches/piezo.
In addition, the device's basic I/Os can be augmented by a smartphone through communication through the standard TRRS audio jack.
Team Members: Alvin Yuan, Lanssie Ma
My Responsibilities: Electrical and mechanical design of entire device, some microcontroller programming.
Poster
High level view of our network diagram. The range of the hand-held devices are complemented by 'base-stations' which have greater broadcasting range.
Drawing credit to Lanssie Ma.
Short video demoing wireless communication through the device, as well as communication through the audio jack
Circuit board in initial stages of assembly.
Sanity check. Testing the inputs and outputs. Buzzers/buttons/leds.
Custom circuit board holds an an Arduino Pro Mini and a Nordic Transceiver. In the interests of time, we decided against designing directly with the ICs.
