Problem Statement
The waking process is often difficult for individuals. It’s common to feel groggy and inattentive, forcing users to go after their routine cup of joe. There have been countless implementations of alarm clocks in the past to improve morning alertness and get individuals moving such as performing a puzzle upon rise, stepping on a mat, or auto-brewing coffee at a designated time. Although these may be effective for some individuals, many stay in bed and “slap” the snooze indefinitely.
Tools Used/Skills Gained
• Particle Dev, Laser Cutter, 3D Printer, Motors, Wireless Transmission & Connection, Accelerometer/Gyrometer
• Design Thinking, Iterative Design and Development, Project Management
Solution
The moving alarm clock developed for this project focuses on forcing individuals to rise out of bed and initiate basic physical activity to turn off the alarm. It is likely that individuals will feel more energized and less likely to return to slumber if they are forced to chase down an alarm robot to cut the device’s audio. Particularly, the early activity and being forced to bend down to reach for the clock increases blood flow to the head and improves alertness. The moving alarm clock has three fundamental features: (1) a core-body system that adds mobility to the clock, (2) the accelerometer that detects movement, and (3) external time display and speaker system.
Design Description
• The final product is a spherical robot alarm clock that runs away from the user when the appropriate time, set by the user, is achieved.
• The core body of the clock is an acrylic sphere that houses an inner motor-mechanism, which we will refer to as the motor system. The motor system contains two wheels that freely rests within the acrylic sphere, allowing the sphere to rotate.
• A third wheel is used to add balance to the structure and keep it from toppling or rotating on its axis or upside down.
• The motor system is equipped with a photon that connects directly with an external time-keeper through Wi-Fi/TCP/IP. The external time-keeper can only be shut off through the core-body.
• Thus, there are three natural sub-components to the product: external time-keeper, core-body, and Arduino programming.
Research
• Literature Review - Reviewed 30+ publications online to understand psychology behind waking up process and implementation of wireless alarm clocks.
• Market Research - Thorough research on current implementations of alarm clocks and direct competitors.
Prototypes & Design Iterations
Live Demo @ Ithaca Science Centre in front of Kids and Parents
Video Demo
Team Members: Christopher Yoo, Tone Xu
Advisor: Prof. François Guimbretiere
