This week, I focused on creating a working prototype of the mobile app that will interface with our smart charging table. The app is designed to display essential information, including:
- Charging Status (whether the device is charging or not)
- Device Name (currently connected device)
- Battery Percentage (real-time battery level)
- Temperature (monitoring device temperature)
- Estimated Time to Fully Charge
- Settings (for customization and additional functionality)
The prototype was developed using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, offering a sleek and intuitive user interface. The app will be the central communication tool between the table and the user, allowing real-time updates on charging status and other metrics. It will also serve as a feedback to the whole system, so that we know whether the phone is charged, and whether we need to adjust the charging pad position.
Coordination on Final Design
I had multiple discussions and feedback sessions with my teammates, and we finalized the core design of the system:
- We are opting for a gantry system to move the charging pad to the desired location.
- Instead of attaching the charging pad directly to the gantry or a robot arm, we decided to make the charging pad constantly powered. This pad is placed between two layers, and the gantry system will use magnetic forces to move it to the correct position for charging the device.
- This approach reduces mechanical complexity and ensures constant power flow to the charging pad, making the system more reliable and efficient.
Component List and Part Sourcing
This week, I also started working on assembling the component list for our smart charging table. This involved:
- Researching suitable parts for the gantry system, such as motors, magnetic components.
- Evaluating charging pad technology that can be integrated seamlessly into the table and be constantly powered without overloading or power loss.
- Ensuring that all components align with our design constraints, including size, power requirements, and budget.
Design Presentation
In addition to technical work, I began working on some parts of the design presentation slides. Some of the parts I worked on:
- Overall concept and design goals.
- The functionalities of the smart charging table, with visuals of the app interface and how it will communicate with the table.
- A detailed explanation of how the gantry system and magnetic movement will work.
This presentation will help convey our design decisions and ensure that everyone is aligned as we move forward with implementation.
I am currently on schedule.
Next Steps:
- Finalize the component list and begin buying parts.
- Add more features to the APP.
- Start implementing the communication between the app and the table’s hardware.