When trying to think of a project to design and make, it is helpful to think of a situation where there may be a need for a new product, or a creative solution to a real problem people may have.
The following prototypes have been developed as solutions to identified problems or real needs people have:
| 1, Bike Stand with Alarm |
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Due to the high number of bike thefts in an area it was felt necessary to produce a device for locking the user's bike and to provide a warning if an attempt was made to steal it.
The electronic circuit involved used a latching control device (Thyristor) to turn on an ear-piercing siren which could not be turned off, or unlatched, unless a key was inserted.
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| 2, Automatic Motor-Driven Snooker Cue Chalking System |
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The manager of a local snooker club was becoming concerned its members were not chalking the tips of their cues! This was leading to his table coverings being damaged.
The solution involved a fun-to-use electronic device which used infra red to detect when a cue was inserted. A chalking cube was then rotated for a specific amount of time to ensure the inserted cue was properly chalked.
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| 3, Humane Mouse Trap with Alarm |
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A house owner needed to catch a mouse which had found its way in. They did not want it to be hurt when being caught. Therefore a mechanical system was required to simply close a door and retain the mouse once it had crawled inside to eat a small piece of food or bait.
A sensitive electronic pressure switch was then needed to detect the mouse's weight. This turned on a remote visual and audible warning so the mouse was not left in the trap unknowingly. The house owner could then respond and take the mouse away and release it safely.
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| 4, Model Maker's Precision Rotating Tool Cramp |
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A model enthusiast needed a system to be able to hold and rotate metal figures so they could be accurately and carefully painted.
The electronics controlled a stepper motor attached to the holding system. This allowed the figure to be slowly and precisely rotated clockwise or anticlockwise by the touch of two buttons.
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| 5, Floating River Speed Measuring Device |
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For safety reasons, or to prevent flooding, it is necessary to be able to measure the flow rate of rivers. This floating device is placed and held in the middle of the water and the paddle underneath deflects by an amount which is proportional to the flow rate of the river.
The electronics uses a "sample and hold" system to create a voltage which indicates the speed of water. This can be read from an analogue meter when the device is brought out of the water.
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| 6, Electronic Flower Pot/Soil Dryness Indicator |
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Gardeners, or nursery owners, need to keep their flowers watered so they do not die.
This electronic product contains a control circuit which reacts to the amount of moisture on its sensing probe. The probe is kept in the flower pot and when the soil's water content drops to a level which is unsafe or too dry, a light is illuminated and an internal buzzer sounded to provide a clear warning that watering is required. |
| 7, Desktop Automatic Cooling Fan |
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It is important for people to be able to keep cool if the temperature around them rises. If not they can start to feel unwell and their ability to work seriously affected.
Office workers can sometimes be too busy to notice this when working on their computer. This automatic fan, detects the ambient temperature and automatically switches on should it increase above the critical level set. |
Further Reading:
The other links on the left will further explain the design process and assist you in developing your own project ideas:
"1 - Product User Needs and Wants "
When trying to think of a new product to design and make, it is helpful to begin by thinking about different people and what they are interested in, or might need or want.
"3 - User Centred Iterative Design"
This animated resource show you how to put the end-user at the centre of your design work.
"4 - Designing Ideas & Activities"
Use these to develop your understanding of the design process and to help provide ideas for projects you could design and make.