Project Overview
The Wizardly Wand capstone project is composed of a receiving unit embedded in resin and a transmitting wand used to control it. The project is designed to be a technology demonstrator to inspire the next generation of electrical engineers.
It is designed to be a portable system with up to 3 hours of battery life that responds to predefined gestures that the user can make with the wand. This project demonstrates the practical application of concepts from circuit design, microcontroller programming, sensor integration, and material properties of resins and LEDs.
Key Features
Interactive Design
The cube responds in real-time to user movements and commands from the IR wand.
Dynamic Lighting
Multiple LED patterns and animations create stunning visual displays.
Custom Circuitry
Carefully designed PCB ensures reliable performance in a compact form factor.
Advanced Programming
Efficient code handles input processing and controls complex lighting patterns.
Project Goals
The project was conceived by Profesor Bogatin as a tech demonstrator that would be displayed at the electrical engineering front desk and brought to lectures to inspire new engineers to pursue electrical engineering. Professor Bogatin wanted it to be an engaging interactive experience through user inputs and responses. It was envisioned to be cast in resin so that the electronics would be visible to onlookers without a risk of damage. The product was designed to have a "wow" factor while remaining functional and practical. The implementation and design of much of the product was left to the team, with few engineering requirements other than resin and portability.
Technologies Used
Hardware
- Raspberry Pi 4b
- Custom LED PCB Design
- Custom Charging Circuit PCB Design
- IR Sensors and Emitters
- Clear Casting Epoxy Resin
Software
- Python
- Open Computer Vision Libraries
- Onshape CAD
- Bash