Our Inspiration
From a skin care lover to brothers who swim
without sunscreen...
10
UV IndexSummers in GA
¾ of our group are native Georgians and
know how sunny days can be disastrous
outside.
Whether or not you have melanin to help protect you from sun burns, all skin receives skin damage from UV rays. UVB rays are causes of sunburns, but UVA plays roles in development of skin cancer and reducing skin elasticity that causes wrinkles and dryness. Let’s protect our skin by educating our fellow students!
Whether or not you have melanin to help protect you from sun burns, all skin receives skin damage from UV rays. UVB rays are causes of sunburns, but UVA plays roles in development of skin cancer and reducing skin elasticity that causes wrinkles and dryness. Let’s protect our skin by educating our fellow students!
Skin Cancer Prevention Skin Damage as a wake-up call
leads
We segmented our leads for the project
based on our experience and strengths in
our previous Arduino Projects as well as
duties that aligned with our majors (if
available). We also had co-leads for
major process steps for accountability.
Our Ideation presentation
Matt Steele (CS)
LEAD: Wiring Prototype
CO-LEAD: Code Architecture, User
Testing
Ben Steele (ME)
LEAD: Product Design
CO-LEAD: Research + Supplies, Video
Production
Vaishu Adimulam (CS)
LEAD: Web Development
CO-LEAD: Code Architecture, Video
Production
Nakai Jack (CM)
LEAD: Documentation
CO-LEAD: Product Design, User
Testing
documentation
Inital UV Setup
UV Sensor Output
Motor Conceptualization
Soldering + Wiring
Water Pump
@Hive
Testing Strip Lights (not functional)
Soldering LEDs
Complete Box Structure
Painted Box
Assembled Inside the Box
What the hand goes under
Day of Presentation
UV Initial Test
01
The Issue
What happens when you realize
you neglected the most crucial
part of taking care of your
skin?
The easiest solution just slipped your mind because no one reminds you that you are safe from the sun one day and not safe the next explicity. When you check the weather, you check for temperature or rain, but not for the UV index!
The easiest solution just slipped your mind because no one reminds you that you are safe from the sun one day and not safe the next explicity. When you check the weather, you check for temperature or rain, but not for the UV index!
02
Expectation
Our idea is to prototype a UV
index sensing robot box that
dispenses sunscreen upon
detection of a hand under an
ultrasonic sensor.
We want an LED visual indicating the safety of the UV index based on a UV sensor for students passing by.
The tested UV index values can be mapped into data visualization sheet to compare with the real time data.
We want an LED visual indicating the safety of the UV index based on a UV sensor for students passing by.
The tested UV index values can be mapped into data visualization sheet to compare with the real time data.
03
Problems
After converting
voltage inputs from the sensor
into a UV index, our trouble
started with the motor control
responsible for pushing down in
the sunscreen lotion bottle. No
matter how much torque, there
was not enough pressure to
surpass the bottle press and
dispense.
In addition, our LED matrix was compromised with LED strips that also didn't work.
In addition, our LED matrix was compromised with LED strips that also didn't work.
04
Strategy
Our final strategy with the
motor was to use a small water pump motor to dispense sunscreen from
a bottle when the ultrasonic sensor detects an obstacle nearby- aka a hand!
For our UV detection response, we settled with colorful LED lights.
For our UV detection response, we settled with colorful LED lights.
Prototype
- Step 1
-
Approach our friendly
box if sunscreen
is needed
(indicated by LEDs).
- Step 2
-
Put your hand under
the directed black
arrow to get a
splash of sunscreen.
Our working prototype involved various components that make the UV Index informing, sunscreen dispensing SunBot
become a comprehensive portable skin protection station.
From our original ideation sketches and brainstorming presentation, the prototype that we designed meets many of our foundational functional expections, with adaptations to how the technical elements work.
We will specify all our steps on this page, but look at our result video for a full understanding of our product!
From our original ideation sketches and brainstorming presentation, the prototype that we designed meets many of our foundational functional expections, with adaptations to how the technical elements work.
We will specify all our steps on this page, but look at our result video for a full understanding of our product!
Testing + Research
The first part of our prototype was aquiring the UV sensor and learning about how to apply the information we receive into meaningful output.
Converting voltages into corresponding UV index values, we were able to make code to calculate our LED range.
UV Workshop we followed.
Converting voltages into corresponding UV index values, we were able to make code to calculate our LED range.
UV Workshop we followed.
The next step for the UV sensor was to make sure it reported somewhat accurate values. Being inside at the Hive, Vaishu
was able to test and make sure the UV range would be green since it is safe indoors. Here is the Serial monitor displaying an index of 1.
UV Index Ranges
UV Index Ranges
Vaishu tracked the data of the current day's UV index each time the sensor
was tested and mapped it.The LED Response shows which range of color it is in (in this graph, green or yellow)
and circled points are those recorded indoors.
Most UV index values were green (because it is winter) except for when she tested in Miami.
Most UV index values were green (because it is winter) except for when she tested in Miami.
Our 4th version with a tiny water pump succeeded in dispensing sunscreen!
Observing how even the COVID sanitizing stations use a sensor and pump rather than a motor to push down on a bottle,
we agreed that this was the best method.
Our initial inspiration for the sunscreen pump
Our initial inspiration for the sunscreen pump
Outside of Skiles, our SunBot was placed at the staircase to attract passing students and inform them about sunscreen.
Strangers came up to our colorful box, asking us about what to do and why it was there.
Although the LED showed green, we encouraged people to test out the product and still wear sunscreen!
Although the LED showed green, we encouraged people to test out the product and still wear sunscreen!
Result
Arduino LMC 3813 Fall 2021 Final
Code
We worked on separate functionalities, so thus we had two code files for the UV sensor and the water pump motor + ultrasonic sensor. Download our code here:
UV Sensor Code
Control Code
Our Final Thoughts
Our team's conclusions were mostly realizing to plan better with respect to our available time and equipment to trouble shoot technical difficulties let alone add additional features. This would also help us meet deadlines and do work of people who didn't carry their weight. Thus, we aimed to meet the functional basic requirements that were already challenging to implement and then add user experience features that weren't as technically difficult.
Code + Conclusions
-
Our favorite projects (besides this one 👀)
- Seed Planter
- Disco Bee
- ADAM
- Trash Sorting