Our five weeks in Tokyo truly flew by. I had an amazing time and honestly think I will talk about this experience forever.
This final week we spent bringing our designs to life. We were tasked with creating a product that improved individuals’ daily lives. We could focus on accessibility, convenience, or anything we had been inspired by here in Tokyo. In just one week, we were able to create Cling-E, a smart cart that automatically follows the user. Using our limited resources in Tokyo and our electrical engineering starter kits, we equipped Cling-E with all the features needed to meet our initial goals of being convenient, secure, and accessible.
Here are some features we were able to implement:
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Direction sensing: There are 6 IR receivers on Cling-E, the IR receiver that receives the signal from the emitter indicates the direction the robot must move
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Movement: The robot uses 3 omni wheels and is programmed to move in 6 directions (each direction corresponds to an IR receiver)
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Distance sensing: There are 6 ultrasonic sensors to check if objects or the user are close to CLING-E. CLING-E is programmed to stop if the user is within 30 cm.
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Alarm system: A plastic lid protects the luggage. An accelerometer is on the lid and is programmed to detect changes in the z-position of the lid, triggering an active buzzer circuit if the lid is lifted.
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Locking: There is an RFID locking system to switch between unlocked (no alarm if lifted) and locked (alarm if lifted) mode. Scanning the RFID tag on the lid is used to lock and unlock.
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Face: LED screens are used for the eyes and mouth. Currently Cling-E has a happy expression, an angry expression (when alarm is triggered), and a winking animation.
If you want to learn more about Cling-E, our prototyping process, or see videos you are can check out my digication.
Although class might be over, my time in Tokyo hasn’t quite come to an end yet. My parents will be joining me for an additional week. We will spend time in Tokyo, Hakone, and Kyoto. I am excited to get to show them my favorite spots and give them a glimpse of what my time during iSEED was like.
I mentioned in an earlier blog how I was keeping track of all the places we were going and adding them to a “guide” in Apple Maps. Our total was 119! I am truly so thankful for this experience and encourage everyone who can to study abroad. I have learned so much in and outside of the classroom. The BEST five weeks!
It’s been a pleasure. Bye iSEED Blog!!
– Caroline