Prototyping with Applied Science: Design and build a bite sensor

TL;DR

The video discusses the process of designing a bite sensor for a musician who needs to control the sustained pedal for a digital piano, exploring different construction techniques and design philosophies.

Transcript

today on applied science i'd like to show you this project that i've been working on this is a bite sensor for a computer human interface so you might want this for a lot of different reasons but this particular one was built for a musician who doesn't have the use of his legs but still needs to control the sustained pedal for his digital piano so ... Read More

Key Insights

• 🏛️ The design process often involves building prototypes and iterating based on feedback and discovered requirements.
• 🎮 Consideration of both electrical and physical feedback is crucial when designing an interface for expressive control.
• 🗯️ Finding the right mechanism and materials for construction is essential to ensure a smooth and reliable user experience.
• 🩹 The choice of lubricant and adhesive can significantly impact the performance and durability of the device.
• 😋 Creative problem-solving, such as drilling holes to remove o-rings, can overcome challenges during the design process.
• 😓 Custom-shaped silicone enclosures can be created using 3D printing and casting techniques, allowing for tailor-made designs.
• 🥺 Avoiding unnecessary complexity and focusing on user requirements can lead to more effective and elegant solutions.

Questions & Answers

Q: Why did the designer choose to create a bite sensor for a musician?

The bite sensor was specifically developed for a musician who does not have the use of his legs but needs to control the sustained pedal for his digital piano.

Q: What were some of the challenges faced during the design process?

The main challenge was creating a continuous pedal with a linear output that would be compatible with the digital piano's circuitry. Additionally, finding a solution that provided both physical and expressive feedback proved to be difficult.

Q: Why were pneumatic and hydraulic control solutions not ideal?

While initially attractive, these solutions had limitations such as stiction, lack of physical feedback, and difficulty in achieving a consistent response. Additionally, implementing these solutions would require considering the compatibility of the digital circuitry within the piano.

Q: What was the final design solution?

The final design involved a linear potentiometer and a ramp mechanism, providing a controllable and consistent response. The design also incorporated a custom-shaped silicone enclosure for the device.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The project involves creating a bite sensor for a musician who needs to control the sustained pedal for a digital piano.

• The initial design using a micro switch had limitations in terms of expressiveness and physical feedback.

• The designer explores different construction techniques, including pneumatic and hydraulic control, before settling on a design with a linear potentiometer and a ramp mechanism.