Process

This is my first time working with an Arduino, so I was pretty confused about how the system works. But the instruction and library of the Arduino helped a lot.

For the first project log, I familiarized myself with the Arduino and breadboard, and how to connect it with different components via wires. I also started to learn about the coding of Arduino. It turned out that I should have spent more time exploring different functions in the coding world. For the second and third logs, I played around with the proximity sensor and LED strips. It’s interesting to create different patterns of color and lightness, by changing the distance to the proximity sensor. For the fourth project log, I explored how the socket can be controlled by Arduino with relays.

When working on the prototype, I found that there’s a big difference between thoughts in mind and reality. Though I built a 3D model in Rhino and did laser cutting, when working on the physical body of the Hungry Socket, I found that I underestimated the distance between the proximity sensor and the mouth. I also didn’t take into account the weight and size of the marble ball which is hard to hold by the slope I made and hard to sense by Arduino, so I have to change it into larger paper balls.