The Identified Plush Object Network is one of a few bigger projects that I want to work on this year. The idea is to create a network of small plush animals that interact with users, each other, and the Internet. I called it “Identified” because as a separate project I’m working with an RFID reader/writer module I want to create a simpler interface for, and once that piece is working each object in the network will be tagged as well.
The motivation for the project is non-profit work I want to do in the future with at-risk teenagers here in Orange County, CA. I want to create something that can be built in phases that get increasingly complex as the students learn, but that starts simple enough to enable hands-on participation from day one. Software improvements will be made in each iteration.
Each plush animal will house electronics that will be “surgically” implanted. While the project is being designed I’m thinking of using soft circuits or even cardboard circuits wired with EFT tape instead of stripboards to make it easy to modify them while I’m still making decisions.
Cost Considerations
One of my requirements – due to the non-profit nature of this project – is to try to keep cost as low as possible, but maintaining simplicity. For example, even though the cheapest possible Arduino may be a homebrew version, I decided I will be using the Ardweeny (it is cheap enough and simpler to put together).
Another example of the cost x simplicity trade-off is the Internet of Things aspect of the project. The WiFi RedBack costs $69 at the time of this writing (but includes the Arduino), versus $24 for the barebones WiFi module (the MRF24WB0MA by MicroChip). I’m just not sure if the savings are worth the added complexity. (Here’s an example that uses this module). I also have to consider only one of the nodes/objects needs to have WiFi capability. Communication within the networked objects will happen over XBee.
Power Requirements
Another factor that will drive design decisions is power – I want to learn how to design for lower power, and I’m aware this may be a whole subject all on its own given the many choices of battery types and cost considerations as well. Baby steps. I’ll get there.
Phases of the Project
As of yet the IPON project is not defined on a detailed level, except for Phase 0. From a high-level perspective I have envisioned the following phases in small increments over the previous one (with each going through several iterations and refinements):
Phase 0 (current):
- Breadboard circuit and rough sketch for Phase 1
Phase 1:
- Semi-permanent circuit
- 1 plush object with implanted electronics
- Interacts with user
Phase 2:
- Semi-permanent circuit
- 1 plush object
- Interacts with user
- Interacts with the Internet
Phase 3:
- Semi-permanent circuit
- 2 plush objects
- Interact with user
- Interact with each other
Phase 4:
- Semi-permanent circuit
- 3+ objects
- Interact with user
- Interact with each other
- Interact with the Internet
Phase 5:
- Permanent circuit
- 3+ objects
- Interact with user
- Interact with each other
- Interact with the Internet
- RFID tags
IPON project, the big picture:
On the next post I will share the current state of the project, Phase 0 as described above, including circuit and Arduino sketch. Stay tuned!
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+Natalia F Norman
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Natalia,
this is so cool especially the part about working with at-risk teenagers. My husband and i had a lego team. we had to meet with kids to teach them about nono technology and programming and then we entered are finished lego project in a competition where our finished project had to go through a set of obstacles, a maze all programatically. It was exhausting but the kids really enjoyed it.
I think the kids are going to love DOMO too.