I successfully completed the wiring and soldering of the LED subsystem. Initially, we attempted to solder four separate 4-LED strips (16 total) into a square formation to fit the base of our design. However, we encountered a major roadblock: current flow inconsistencies due to segmenting the strips. To resolve this, we opted not to cut the LED strips. Instead, we used a continuous 16-LED strip and geometrically folded it into a square pattern to maintain uniform current flow and simplify the wiring layout. This new configuration has been tested using our power booster and logic level shifter, which step the Arduino’s 3.3V output up to 5V for the LED signal and power. All 16 LEDs now light up consistently with no drop in brightness, verifying the effectiveness of our revised wiring approach. The 4 squares of LEDs will now take up 4 pins in total on our main ESP32 board.
I’ve completed testing the power circuit stability. Using a multimeter, I confirmed that the voltage booster consistently outputs ~5V under full LED load, and the logic level shifter correctly translates the Arduino’s 3.3V signal to 5V for LED data input. The system maintained stable performance with no flickering or voltage drops.
I still need to complete testing for the light sensor, which is scheduled for next week. This will involve simulating fridge door open and close states using a flashlight to verify that the sensor correctly detects changes in ambient light and triggers power-off behavior when lux levels drop below the threshold.
To verify pressure sensor accuracy, we will place 10 items of varying weights (≥50g) on the GlowFresh pad, testing sensor response with and without the silicone mat interface. I’ll confirm that placement and removal are consistently detected, aiming for a 98% success rate with minimal false positives. We’ll also evaluate sensor sensitivity and response when two items are stacked, ensuring that changes in total force are correctly registered.