Overall Status Report:
Hardware (Taylor):
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New 3D-Printed Body & Upgrades: A redesigned body has been printed. The diffuser now functions correctly, and the Arduino Nano Every was replaced with the Arduino Nano Connect RP2040, improving internal wiring by allowing a 3.3V operation.
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Functional Components:
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Humidifier is connected and working.
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Rotary encoder successfully adjusts music volume.
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Arms wiggle every 40 seconds in fidget mode.
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Silicone molds and skins have been created and applied.
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Testing:
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Humidifier Module: Average refill rate is 47 minutes and 11 seconds across five trials—13 minutes short of the 1-hour goal but still practical for 2-hour study sessions (2.57 refills/session).
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Battery Life: Ongoing trials show Bearbot functions well past the required 2-hour duration, with some trials reaching up to 10 hours using Duracell and Amazon rechargeable batteries.
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In Progress: Final part (top lid) is being 3D printed. Remaining tasks include debugging the DF Mini Player, enabling diffuser chip control via RP2040, and cosmetic refinements.
Software/Web (Kayla):
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Timer Sync: Fully integrated Bearbot’s physical timer with the React web interface via POST/GET requests. Timer states (start, pause, resume, stop) now sync in real-time.
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Feature Toggles: Real-time two-way synchronization achieved for LED, aroma, and study mode toggles.
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Volume Control: Rotary encoder is now bidirectionally linked to the webapp’s slider. GET/POST requests keep firmware and web interface in sync.
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Bug Fixes: Resolved visual desync issues with timer and volume slider.
Kayla’s Status Report:
This week, I successfully completed two-way synchronization between the Bearbot firmware and the React-based web interface:
Timer Integration:
Connected the Bearbot’s physical timer state (start, pause, resume, stop) with the web interface using HTTP POST requests.
Implemented polling via GET requests so the webapp reflects live timer state (running, paused, etc.) and remaining time.
Ensured the timer progress ring, time text, and controls update dynamically based on Bearbot’s internal state.
Toggle Features (LED, Aroma, Study Mode):
Completed real-time two-way sync between Bearbot toggles and webapp.
Added polling logic to reflect Bearbot’s physical state on the webapp.
Volume Control:
Linked the rotary encoder on Bearbot to the volume slider in the webapp.
Implemented slider dragging to send new volume levels to Bearbot via POST.
Added GET polling to receive and reflect updated volume from Bearbot.
Fixed display desync issue where slider visually lagged behind firmware value.
There was an issue I was having for a while where timer countdown continued visually on the webapp even after pausing on the Bearbot, but I was able to fix that.
Can view videos here
Taylor’s Status Report:
In the past couple of weeks, great progress was made on the hardware.
A new body was 3d printed, the diffuser works now, and the Arduino Nano Every was switched out for an Arduino Nano Connect rp2040.
The new chip made the wiring on the inside cleaner since the chip operates at 3.3V instead of the 5V of the Arduino Nano Every.
The Humidifier is connected and operational, the rotary encoder changes the volume of the music, and the arms are programmed to wiggle every 40 seconds while in fidget mode.
The Silicone molds and skins have also been created and applied to the Bearbot.
Hardware testing has also commenced for the battery life and the humidifier module.
Humidifier Module
| Trials | Time |
| 1 | 42:25:00 |
| 2 | 44:25:00 |
| 3 | 56:40:00 |
| 4 | 47:28:00 |
| 5 | 43:40:00 |
The refill rate on average for the humidifier module is 47 minutes and 11 seconds. Even though it’s 13 minutes off from the goal refill rate of 1 hour, it results in an average refill rate of 2.57 for every study session (with the base assumption each session is 2 hours).
Battery Power
| Hour 1 | Hour 2 | Hour 3 | Hour 4 | Hour 5 | Hour 6 | Hour 7 | Hour 8 | Hour 9 | Hour 10 | Notes | |||
| Trial 1 | x | x | x | x | x |
Rechargable Amazon Batteries
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| Trial 2 | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
Rechargable Amazon Batteries
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| Trial 3 | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
Duracell Batteries
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| Trial 4 | |||||||||||||
| Trial 5 |
Even though the trials are not complete yet, the battery life for the Bearbot while utilizing all of its functionalities is well over the 2 hours required for the study session.
One final partis also getting 3D printed – a lid for the top to contain the water when transporting the Bearbot has been created in Fusion 360
Some final things that need to be done include debugging the DF Mini Player and making the diffuser chip controllable with the Arduino RP2040, and cosmetic touchups.
The robotics club officers were super helpful when I didn’t understand what was happening with a specific component. I would also look at Arduino forums for people who would have similar problems as me – especially with the DF Mini Player.
