5. E-textiles¶
Research¶
This week’s project focused on working with e-textiles. I decided to design a touch sensor to integrate with the wings and backplate I previously created. The goal was to replace the button on the back of the costume with a touch sensor, making it easier for the wearer to control the lights. By placing the touch sensor on a more accessible area, such as the wrist, the design would allow for seamless operation without requiring the wearer to reach behind their back.
References & Inspiration¶
For this project, I utilized the PCB (Printed Circuit Board) plate I made during Fab Academy 2024. The PCB serves as the control hub for the wings, managing the lights and electronic features of the costume. I modified the board to connect the touch sensor, replacing the existing button that was attached to the backplate. This adaptation ensured the touch sensor worked efficiently with the existing system.
Process and workflow¶
Tools¶
Step 1: Testing the Chip¶
The first step was to test the PCB chip to identify where the button was connected. Using this information, I designed a touch sensor with copper tape. The sensor was intended to replace the button and be hidden on the wrist of the costume for easy access. I conducted initial tests to confirm that the sensor responded correctly to touch input.
Step 2: Coding the Sensor¶
I wrote and tested the code to integrate the touch sensor with the control system. This involved programming the sensor to respond to touch inputs by activating or deactivating the lights on the wings. The code ensured that the touch sensor worked seamlessly with the existing PCB system and performed consistently during testing.
Step 3: Final Assembly and Testing¶
After assembling the touch sensor with the PCB and integrating it into the costume, I conducted a full system test. Unfortunately, during this stage, the chip burned out, likely due to an unforeseen issue in the power management or connections. As a result, I was unable to complete a live demonstration of the touch sensor in action. I plan to create a video showing the sensor’s functionality in future iterations once the issue is resolved.
Code Example¶
Use the three backticks to separate code.
``` // the setup function runs once when you press reset or power the board void setup() { // initialize digital pin LED_BUILTIN as an output. pinMode(LED_BUILTIN, OUTPUT); }
// the loop function runs over and over again forever void loop() { digitalWrite(LED_BUILTIN, HIGH); // turn the LED on (HIGH is the voltage level) delay(1000); // wait for a second digitalWrite(LED_BUILTIN, LOW); // turn the LED off by making the voltage LOW delay(1000); // wait for a second }
Reflection¶
This project highlighted the challenges and potential of integrating e-textiles into costumes. While the touch sensor successfully replaced the button during preliminary testing, the chip failure underscored the need for more robust power management and testing protocols. The experience provided valuable insights into designing and implementing user-friendly controls for wearable electronics, paving the way for improved iterations in the future.