Insimbi Ubunjiniyela · 2024
Openwear Ithuluzi Lokwakha Amaprototype Angagqokwa
by Leijing Zhou
- Umklomelo Wensimbi we-A' Design Award 2024 in Ubunjiniyela
- CLIENT: Zhejiang University
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 53,077
- Verification code 7B004D940D · Verify this award
Colors
About Openwear Ithuluzi Lokwakha Amaprototype Angagqokwa
Openwear iyithuluzi lokwakha ngokushesha amaprototype we-elektroniki angagqokwa. Ithuluzi lihlanganisa ibhodi ye-Lilypad USB development eguqulwe, amamojula ayishumi nanye asanda kuklanywa kanye nezintambo zokuxhuma ngokushesha. Imojula ngayinye iphethe itshibhi lokungenisa noma lokukhipha kanye nezinsimbi eziyisithupha (pins) ezinobubanzi bu-3 mm. Amasosha (magnets) anobubanzi bu-10 mm anamathiselwe ngasemuva kwamabhodi, ukuze izingxenye zibambelele ezingutsheni ngamaphedi kasoshi kunokuthi zithungelwe. Izixhumanisi zohlobo lwe-O (O-connectors) kanye namabhawuti zihlanganisa izinsimbi (pins). Amaprototype angakhiwa, ahlolwe futhi ahlelwe kabusha ngokuqondile phezu kwendwangu.
About the Umklomelo Wensimbi we-A' Design Award
Openwear Ithuluzi Lokwakha Amaprototype Angagqokwa iwinile uMklomelo Wensimbi we-A' Design Award, ukwaziswa okuhloniphekile okunikezwa imiklamo emihle ehlangabezana nezidingo zobungcweti nezemboni ezilindelekile ezimpahleni ezihlelwe kahle. Abawinile beNsimbi babonisa ikhono elikhulu, ubungcweti obuphezulu, ukuqonda kochwepheshe namandla okudala abadali babo. Openwear Ithuluzi Lokwakha Amaprototype Angagqokwa ilindeleke ukuba ibe yinto exatshwa kakhulu, edunyiswayo nethandwayo esebenzayo nenezinto ezintsha. Lo mklamo owinile uMklomelo Wensimbi we-A' Design Award uhlanganisa izindlela ezinhle kakhulu zemboni futhi unezimfanelo zobuchwepheshe ezifanelekile ezihlanganiswe nolwazi nethalente. Openwear Ithuluzi Lokwakha Amaprototype Angagqokwa iyahlonishwa ngenxa yokucophelela kwayo futhi ihlelelwe ukulethela izinguquko zomgangatho wempilo ezisiza ukwenza umhlaba ube yindawo engcono.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- Openwear is a toolkit for building rapid wearable prototypes. It includes a modified Lilypad USB development board, 11 newly designed modules, and quick connecting cables. This kit facilitates rapid prototyping by enabling quick attachment and connection and allows users to directly build and test prototypes on the intended substrate like clothes.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Development board size is ϕ50*1mm, module size is ϕ25*1mm.
- Tags
- Hardware, Electronic, Toolkit, Wearable, E-textile
- Production Technology
- For the modules, we have designed 11 different modules with input or output chips contained on each module. Each module has six 3mm diameter pins. For quick fixing, we fixed a 10mm diameter magnet on the bottom of the development board and modules, which works with the magnetic fixing pads to attach to clothes. For quick connects, we used O-connectors and bolts, which work well with the 3mm pin sizes on the PCB.
- Design Challenge
- The biggest challenge in the whole research was to achieve a rapid fixing and connection of the PCB. We tried a variety of methods including pins, buttons, velcro, and finally we chose to use magnets with O-connectors, which had not been used before.
- Research
- The success of the LilyPad has resulted in the creation of various development boards, such as the more compact TinyLily and the Circuit Playground with many sensors. However, these variations only modify the dimensions or integrate sensors, without modifying the Lilypad's method for constructing wearable circuits. This method presents a challenge in prototyping wearable circuits: sewing processes are time-consuming and set a high threshold for beginners. Furthermore, the troubleshooting process in wearable circuit prototyping often requires resetting and resewing. Once the development board is integrated into the fabric, the complexity of the debugging code also increases proportionally.
- Inspiration
- Common wearable circuits often need to be fixed using sewing, which is very cumbersome. To solve this problem, we took inspiration from magnetic buttons. We have embedded magnets in the back of the PCB to fix it using magnetic force.
- Project Duration
- The project started in August 2023 in Ningbo and finished in January 2024
- Operation Flow
- 1. Building the First Circuit Prototype: Select modules based on design requirements and assemble them on a flat surface for initial circuit testing and debugging. 2. Continuous Testing and Adjustment of the Circuit: Reconfigure module positions on the body for testing purposes. 3. Building the Final Circuit: Sew components directly onto fabric using conductive yarn or utilize sewing magnet fixing pads as an alternative method. This ensures flexibility and ease of removal.
