Authors: Zhu Youming, Wang Zifan, Xu Chenhao
This article is sourced from “Invention and Innovation” July 2023 High School Edition
Students usually have to wake up early for school, and accompanying parents often wake up even earlier. Sometimes, if a student is home alone, they rely entirely on an alarm clock to get up. Some students may hit the snooze button and end up being late, missing out on the teacher’s exciting explanations. We wanted to design an alarm device to prevent such situations from occurring.
The biggest feature of this device is that it is tailor-made for accompanying parents and students, and can be conveniently worn on the wrist, resembling a small bracelet. Every morning, after the pre-set alarm goes off, the person being awakened must get up and walk 50 steps with this device before the alarm will turn off; otherwise, the alarm will continue ringing.
1. Research Process
(1) Data Collection
The Micro:bit mainboard is an ultra-mini programmable board. Despite its small size, it integrates 2 programmable buttons, 1 buzzer, 1 microphone, 1 electronic compass, an accelerometer, 1 USB interface, 25 monochrome LED lights, Bluetooth, and other commonly used sensor devices. Additionally, it can be connected to an external battery pack, and its bottom has multiple ring hole connectors for controlling external devices.
(2) Questionnaire Survey
Is there a necessity for in-depth research in this study? We prepared a questionnaire and conducted a survey.
A total of 620 questionnaires were distributed, with 598 valid responses returned. The statistical results indicate that many people have not used or are even unaware of eye-tracking sensors, and many have never seen a step-counting alarm clock, feeling it is too far removed from their reality. Almost everyone hopes to develop a step-counting alarm clock to solve the problem of students being late for school.
2. Design Principle
This device uses a master-slave wireless networking system: the “alarm device”‘s slave part is worn on the wrist, while the master part is placed on the bedside table in the bedroom.
The accelerometer on the Micro:bit mainboard detects the number of steps taken by the person being awakened. Once the programmed target of 50 steps is reached, it sends a command to turn off the alarm, ensuring the person gets out of bed. The timing part of this device can be synchronized over the network for accurate timekeeping. It is particularly noteworthy that the code for this device was developed with the assistance of software engineers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
3. Programming and Production
(1) Programming Plan
The 25 monochrome (red) LED lights on the front of the mainboard form a matrix that can display various graphics, and the Micro:bit website has many pre-set common images, such as hearts and smiley faces. The Micro:bit mainboard supports online programming, eliminating the need to download programming software, making it convenient and simple.
I used two Micro:bit mainboards, one as the accompanying parent’s wrist device and the other as the service host for the alarm device.
The program code is divided into three parts: basic functionality code, clock display code, and the association between the master and slave devices. To ensure signal communication between the accompanying parent’s wrist device and the alarm device’s service host, we diligently studied the programming methods for the Micro:bit mainboard, and after repeated writing, modification, debugging, and downloading, we confirmed that there were virtually no issues before completing the final program.
(2) Production Process
1. 3D Modeling Design
Figure 1 3D Design Diagram
2. 3D Printing Components
Figure 2 Printed Components
3. Connecting Circuits
Figure 3 Connecting Circuits
4. Programming Data Optimization
Our collected data indicates that a sound environment of 15-45 decibels is optimal for human survival, while sounds above 60 decibels can interfere with normal life and work. In this project, we set the alarm sound to 49 decibels.
Figure 4 Actual Device Image
4. Innovations
(1) The device encourages people to get up by detecting the number of steps taken to turn off the alarm, utilizing the built-in accelerometer of the Micro:bit mainboard to programmatically detect the steps taken by the person being awakened.
(2) This alarm device can serve multiple purposes. It is equipped with an infrared thermal sensor that automatically increases the brightness of the light when someone approaches, meeting the need for nighttime illumination. Additionally, the device synchronizes time over the network for accurate timekeeping. It can also function as a household Bluetooth speaker, smart desk lamp, or bedside lamp. Its beautiful appearance allows it to serve as a decorative piece in the home.
(3) The wrist-worn part of this alarm device features a vibration reminder mode, which can be used to check daily exercise completion. For example, the alarm will only stop if the step count exceeds 5000 steps or if the number of dumbbell squats exceeds 60.
5. Acknowledgments
Thanks to Teacher Zhu from Jiangsu Province Xinghua High School for providing much assistance and advice for my experimental research, guiding us in purchasing electronic components, programming, and more. Thanks to the leaders and experts from the Municipal Science and Technology Association and the Invention Association for their constructive opinions and suggestions. Finally, special thanks to all the teachers and students at the school for their help and encouragement (Guiding Teacher: Zhu Shiming).
Expert Review
The step-counting alarm device created by students Zhu Youming, Wang Zifan, and Xu Chenhao is a small invention based on their learning and living needs.
This invention primarily reflects the following characteristics of the students:
Firstly, it demonstrates a good sense of innovation. Upon noticing that existing alarm clocks often fail to wake people up, they conceived this device that only stops ringing when the user walks a certain number of steps, allowing users to appreciate the cleverness of the innovation with a smile.
Secondly, it reflects the inventors’ intrinsic pursuit of innovative practice. Entering high school, with heavy learning content, tight schedules, and significant pressure, it takes courage and determination to carve out time to complete this project.
Thirdly, it showcases a certain level of technical application ability. While this device is convenient and fun to use, completing it requires knowledge and skills in a range of areas, including open-source software, sensors, artificial intelligence, and 3D printing.
It is worth noting that the students’ innovative vision could be broader and more forward-looking. Choosing other projects with more positive significance rather than those that contribute to the “involution” of learning and life may be more beneficial for their innovative development. (Review Expert: Tan Diaao, First Expert Consultant of the Chinese Invention Association, President of the Primary and Secondary School Creative Education Branch of the Chinese Invention Association, Special Teacher of Science and Technology Innovation Education, Expert in the Ministry of Education’s National Training Program Expert Database.)
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Source:“Invention and Innovation” July 2023 High School Edition
Editor: Qin Yinyin, Xia Yanhui
Review: Qin Yinyin
Final Review: Li Baichun