Final project and sample book

Intention

I would like to make a high-capacity messenger bag to carry textbooks, notebooks, and a laptop, while warning when maximum weight or capacity are exceeded. I have used messenger bags for many years to carry these sorts of items, with varying success. Even bags which appear high quality are unable to hold the weight of a computer and books for long periods of time. My goal is to create a bag with pressure sensors embedded in it so that the bag can warn when its exterior or strap are strained.

Product

This bag would contain 2 main sections in the interior, the main compartment and a laptop section. These two sections would be split by a foam layer surrounded by two separate pieces of conductive fabric, one on each side of the foam. A similar construction of foam and conductive fabric would be incorporated in the bottom of the bag.

The foam layer between two layers of conductive fabric is designed to allow for contact between the conductive sheets. Holes cut in the foam allow for contact between the sheets when enough pressure is applied. These holes are cut appropriately so that the sheets come into contact when the pressure is sufficiently high to begin to damage the bag. The pressure sensitive layer between the laptop section and main compartment prevents damage to the edge seams of the bag, while also protecting from damage to electronics such as a laptop in the bag. The pressure sensor in the bottom of the bag warns of excess weight, which could wear down and potentially break the bag.

Finally, the bag would have a shoulder strap made of two similar layers of conductive material with a layer of Velostat in between. This assembly would allow for a varying resistance between the layers of the strap with the amount of weight in the bag. This would also allow the bag to provide warning when the strap is strained and may break.

These pressure sensitive conductive sections of the bag would be designed to provide feedback through small LEDs which would light up on the exterior of the bag or on the strap to signify that the bag has been filled past its capacity.

Reflection

I enjoyed looking into solutions to my own problem though the techniques explored in class. In writing this project proposal, I had to consider how to best apply the technique of using fabrics to create pressure sensors. Through consideration of the technique, I learned more about what materials can be used to make these pressure sensors and where they work best. With more time, I would explore more deeply how to fine tune these pressure sensors to provide more accurate warning about when a bag may be at risk of breaking due to weight.

Sample Book