Supply Googling and Working on Labs

 Feb 4 2025 

I got a small win! I figured a very very simple way to set parameters so that I could get instructions for what to wear in the weather, rather than just the temperature as numbers. 




I worked on finding some links for my project. I think that the main components I will need is a mp3 shield (I even found one that takes a microSD), a load cell, a load cell amplifier, and a speaker. I think that those should be the major electronic components. I'm starting to feel more excited, because I think this is something that I actually could do. Even so, I see the limits of my knowledge as I am trying to decode all the jargon in the online listenings, figure out exactly what does what, and what other components I need to have with them. I've been emailing you, but here are the links I was looking at again.  

Some links that I found:
load cell: https://www.adafruit.com/product/4543?gQT=1  
load cell amplifier: https://www.sparkfun.com/sparkfun-load-cell-amplifier-hx711.html 
info on the load cell:
https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/load-cell-amplifier-hx711-breakout-hookup-guide/all
Adafruit Mp3 player:  https://www.adafruit.com/product/1681

Sparkfun Mp3 shield, with a microCD card?:https://www.sparkfun.com/sparkfun-mp3-player-shield.html


For next week, I want to try and get the entire physical side of the project done. I also want to get as much supply ordering done as I can. My goal is to keep the cost of the project under $100. I'm looking at this bassinet:

And I decided I'm going to go with a much cheaper version. And we found this for the audio:



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

locking in with the electronics

Image
  March 4 2025  As I suspected, I attempted to work connecting the board myself only to become immediately stumped. I tried to find the right board to select and connect to, but I couldn't find the exact model and wasn't sure what to sub it with. I tried an Adafruit with the same letters/numbers after it. Come to think of it, maybe I'll just try it with the arduino uno as the input?  I also need to ask you about installing the extra "developer tools". You had told me to put it off for as long as I could, but it has started to show "lack of developer tools" as an issue when I go to proof the code.  The good news is, the boards light turns on and it is certainly connecting. I just need to find the right way to connect the appropriate tools. This is difficult.  I tried to connect it as an arduino uno just in case it would talk to the computer like that, but it's not able to send the code, so my guess is that that's an issue. It is finally clearing m...
Read more

A Week Without Rob: Fabricating Work and Getting Supplies

Image
This week I got all of my supplies ordered and started work on fabricating the shell of the project. The amazon arduino that can play sound arrived and I am still waiting for the load cell and load cell amplifier.  I looked at the videos, but I haven't been putting in the time to learn every part of touch designer. I am not going to use it and I don't want to spend the many hours it would take to learn it if it won't serve my practice. I think it's helpful to get a general idea for how it works, but I'm not going to gain any sort of proficiency. My interest in electronic components remains with the basics of audio playing. I am not interested in distorting my audio or anything like that.   I spent time in the studio working on fabricating the physical core of my artwork. Instead of buying a bassenett and spending more money, I'm making my own out of a pillow and a laundry basket. In the final rendering it will be covered so that it isn't obviously a laundry ...
Read more

I always forget to do these: Fabrication is Completed

Image
     This week I completed the base fabrication of my project. I have all the electronic parts and will work on assembling them next week. I emailed these images but will also include them here: I've added a semi-quilted piece to cover the laundry basket turned cradle. I added a mobile and a faux baby. The baby should weigh just a little over 4 pounds. I hope that knowing this will be helpful to me in the next steps. I will bring the electronic pieces on Tuesday to begin coordinating that part of the project.  I am a little concerned about how to keep the load cell level. There is a solid base to the cradle, but the whole piece rocks. Setting the baby in doesn't make it rock, but it makes me wonder if the load cell placement will need to be very specific in order to read properly. 
Read more