Experimentation & Learnings

Based on a preliminary concept, we set out to design the physical mechanism of the couple.

We tried out a variety of spring based "wobble" mechanisms. We mounted the cup on a steel pin, with a spring on the top. We tried out a number of positions for placing a servo or the vibration motor, to create an effective and convincing wobble. Ultimately we arrived on the solution of ditching the steel pin, and directly using the servo arm as the mounting pin.

This was followed by a bunch of permutations of ping durations within the code to create the ideal wobble.

The next part of the design involved designing a base to conceal all the electronics. Here to experimentation played a key role in determining the ideal form. The use of smaller breadboard did not immediately occur to us.