Spring 2016-Week 12

This week, we had some hits and misses, After weeks of working on the animal sound module we realized that, the data logger/SD card reader we acquired was faulty  so we got a new one.
Thank fully the new one worked, the arduino board read the data off the SD card without an issue. We then built the circuit for the animal sound module but no sound came out, we are currently trouble shooting and rebuilding

Current circuit for animal sound module.
We attempted to reprint our whole module, apart from it being an over 50 hour print job, about 1/3 of the way into printing, we ran out of the colour of filament we were printing in. We intent on attempting to print again when we have enough filament of the same colour.

Lastly, we had a set back with the Simon says module, when we connected it to momentary switches we bought for this project, we realized there were some glitches. we are currently working to rectify this and all other issues. Hopefully all will be fix in the next week.

Spring 2016-Week 11 part 2

This week part from making changes to the frame we also ordered new parts for the "simon says" module as well as the animal sound module.
We got new wire connectors as the ones we previously ordered were too big. we also  purchased a new SD card reader. This week, we will be rebuilding the animal sounds and simon says module as well as putting the whole toy together.
  

Spring 2016 - Week 11

This week, we have improved on the frame of the toy in order to make it more stable than Prototype 1. In Prototype 2, we have made the main body of the frame only consist of two parts rather than ten parts. Below, is how Prototype 2 will be made.

Figure 1 - The Right Side of Prototype 2. Instead of having separate modules attached to the frame post-3D printing, the modules will be 3D printed attached to the frame of the toy. This module consists of the Pull-String Toy, the Sound Toy, half of the Pop-Up Toy, and half of the Sliding Door Toy

Figure 2 - The Left Side of Prototype 2. This module consists of the Maze Toy, the Simon Says Toy, half of the Pop-Up Toy, and half of the Sliding Door Toy

Figure 3 - All Sides of the toy attached to each other.

Spring 2016 - Week 9

During Spring Break, we tested various portions of the toy to ensure durability and consistency with the toy. In order to better understand the usability of the toy, we brought parts of the prototype to a church's Children's ministry and allowed for some children to play with some of the modules. By doing so, we are able to see how parts of the toy last in a real world scenario.

There are a few things that would be best to change, such as ensuring that epoxy is not found on the outside of the toy.

 Figure 1. This is a situation we wish to avoid. While it is not easily separable from the plastic, material like this should not be exposed to children using the toy

  Figure 2. There were some durability testing issues with the toy. Before any assembly, the module insert slots are very fragile and can break if enough force is put onto it. Epoxy was used to fix the insert slots.

Figure 3. Waterproofing is also an issue, while there are some modules that can be used without worry of electrical components, there are little slots like shown above that can be dangerous since it provides a route that can expose any electrical components to liquids.

In order to better complete testing, it would be better to have kids who use a Kid Cart to play with the toy. Furthermore, better information would be accessible if we were able to test the toy with the whole prototype assembled.

Spring 2016 - Week 7

After waiting a few weeks for some parts to arrive, we finally received them so that we can continue with building the mechanical portions of the toy. Also, other parts were received so that it will be easier to build the electronic portions as well. The biggest improvement currently is the Pull String module. Before, we were using a lawnmower starter as a part of our toy. However, with it being bulky, changes needed to be made and we decided to use a constant force spring in order to reduce size and make the toy easier to use for the kids.

Figure 1. The apparatus used to provide a pull string toy. Changes were made because this portion of the module was very bulky. While it could fit, it had to be at the expense of other modules.

Figure 2. The new mechanism of the toy will be similar to how a tape measure works by using a constant force spring. 

Figure 3. The new module. While looks very similar to the module shown in Week 5, (albeit from the other side), the mechanism itself is very different.

Figure 4. The new mechanism does not take up as much space and is able to fit in the toy without compromising other parts.

Spring 2016 - Week 6

Team children first had a list of accomplishments this week, we have made significant progress with the 2 remaining modules ( they simon says type module and the animal sound module).
In the past the simon says module had a error ; it was registering some presses as a double press, the error has thankfully been fixed as you can see in the video and pictures below. The animal sound module has an error in which only a few buttons could produce sound and not all 5 buttons lite up when pressed. The circuit  of this module was once again striped and rebuilt, starting by building a simple LED only circuit and then moving on to an LED switch circuit then finally attempting to power all 5 LEDs via their switches. This method seemed to work using 5, 220 Ohm and 5, 10K ohm resistors. The next and final step is to add the ".wav" component which we plan on accomplishing soon.

animal sound component

simon says module 

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B3Y_e1B8MLQjN01HM2dfT3pJZzA

Spring 2016 - Week 5

 This week, we made more small improvements for our prototype to hit 90% completion for our first prototype.

First of all, We made corrections to the sliding doors so that they would close and open properly. Before, the doors did not close all the way. Now they have been corrected.

 For the Pull String part of the project, we have a working portion. However, the amount of force required to pull the toy may be too much for a child too handle. Therefore, while this is still a working prototype, we are working on making an easier pulley system using a constant force spring. It will be similar to how a tape measure works.

While this may seem to be a small part of the toy, we do have a battery compartment finished. It has a screw on it so that kids won't be able to easily access the batteries. There are also slight openings for the battery to dissipate any heat that it makes.