Fab Academy: Applications and Implications

Here is my project plan for my Fab Academy project: Interactive Dinosaur Kits

what will it do?

I am going to make a modular toy dinosaur kit incorporating some electronic behaviours. The kit is for 8-10 year olds and will allow them to freely construct their own dinosaurs, mixing body parts as they wish. The dinosaurs will be made by slotted ply construction, and copper vinyl at the interfaces will act as an electrical conduit between different body parts. Each body part will contain one element of the electrical circuit: one or more inputs, one or more outputs, processor, or power supply. For the prototype I will attempt to use 3 tilt sensor inputs and 2 LED outputs, and work onward to an additional output triggering an MP3 module, to play dinosaur sounds.

who's done what beforehand?

The principle of the kit owes a great deal to the classic dinosaur kits of my youth, as well as on the electrical side of things, Ayah Bdeir's Littlebits, and Yuri Suzuki's Denki puzzles. All of these examples brilliantly capture my aim of producing a simple, fun, educational kit, very elegant in presentation such that young minds can freely explore both the possibilities and constraints of a puzzle like kit, as well as simple electronic theory and ending up with a cool dinosaur at the end too.

what materials and components will be required?3mm Laser ply,

Copper vinyl,
Components for hello world board
3 tilt sensor inputs
2 LED outputs
MP3 module
Batteries

where will they come from?

3mm Laser ply - lab stock
Copper vinyl - Techsoft
Components for hello world board - lab stock
3 tilt sensor inputs - Rapid online
2 LED outputs - lab stock
MP3 module - Embedded Adventures
Batteries - my stock

how much will it cost?

3mm Laser ply, £5
Copper vinyl, £6
Components for hello world board, £3
3 tilt sensor inputs, £2
2 LED outputs negligible
MP3 module £16
Batteries £1
TOTAL: £33

what parts and systems will be made?

Physical dinosaur body parts (kit of)
One controller board, based on Hello World
Battery holder
Copper vinyl contacts 

what processes will be used?

Physical dinosaur body parts (kit of) - CAD and laser cutting
One controller board, based on Hello World, - milling, electronics production, programming
Battery holder - 3D printing or resin cast from CNC milled master
Copper vinyl contacts - CNC vinyl cut or handcut 

what tasks need to be completed?

Design and develop body parts from templates,
Test and develop slotting together using copper vinyl,
Develop integration of electronic components into body parts,
Design main circuit board,
Produce main circuit board,
Laser cut body parts,
Assemble electronic components with body parts,
Write code and upload to board,
Test first assembly
Iterate onwards, incorporating sound output.

what questions need to be answered?

What electrical implications are there for separating the various electronic components and what happens in all the combinations that they might be connected? Do those constraints fit with the pysical/geometric constraints of the kit/puzzle? 

what is the schedule?

As I am short of time anyway in the next few weeks, I am considering concentrating on completing previous week's assignments and tackling the final project after the course ends, in order to make the most of the tutor contact time I have remaining. This may well be ill conceived, in any case the general schedule will be:

Day 1:
Design and develop body parts from templates,

Try to answer those unanswered questions.

Day 2:
Test and develop slotting together using copper vinyl,
Develop integration of electronic components into body parts,

Day 3:
Design main circuit board,
Produce main circuit board,

Day 4:
Laser cut body parts,
Assemble electronic components with body parts,

Day 5:
Write code and upload to board,
Test first assembly,

Day 6:
Iterate onwards, incorporating sound output.

how will it be evaluated?

My criteria for success will be whether a child or range of children of 8-10 can understand and enjoy assembling the kit.