ATLS 4330 (Wearable Tech):
Final Project
Group Project with
Michelle Brannon,
Cam Klinger,
Klara Nitsche,
and Eli Skelly
JELLY-D
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Jelly-D
DOCUMENTATION: Mood Board
Leveraging concepts of biomimicry
Creating an artistic, avant-garde wearable
GOAL:
Create an artistic, avant-garde wearable that reflects a natural/biological process that challenges our group to use the skills we have learned this semester in Wearable Tech.
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Jelly-D
DOCUMENTATION: Mood Board
Inspiration for Our Project
Inspired by rave festivals and the frequent re-appearance of jellyfish.
(Cam said that Jellyfish are on her rave scavenger hunt when she attends)
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Jelly-D
DOCUMENTATION: Mood Board
Inspiration for Our Project
Our deep dive on jellyfish led us to the Comb Jelly:
Our group was curious on how we could play around with the rainbow appearance of the comb jellies
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Jelly-D
DOCUMENTATION: Sketching and Ideation
An enzyme called photoprotein in comb jellies produces light when calcium ions bind to it, causing a conformational change that releases energy.
Ctenophores, or comb jellies, are almost invisible jelly-like sea animals because their bodies match the water around them, but their rows of tiny hairs (called combs) shine like rainbows when they move.
Research Into the Comb Jelly and Their Biological Processes
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Jelly-D
DOCUMENTATION: Sketching and Ideation
Research Into the Comb Jelly and Their Biological Processes
GOAL:
Just like how the comb jellies’ paddling combs refract and scatter light to create a rainbow-like flickering appearance as they drift through the ocean, create a wearable that is visually similar to a comb jellyfish while using LEDs to shift colors in response to motion, mimicking the dynamic, shimmering effect of these gelatinous creatures.
It's as if our LEDs are “dancing” with light, much like the comb jellies' natural iridescence that captivates onlookers in the deep sea (or at raves).
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Jelly-D
DOCUMENTATION: Sketching and Ideation
References Visuals of Comb Jellyfish
Rainbow Effect -> Design Decision = Rainbow LEDs
Movement ->
Design Decision = Prioritizing Movement in the Design
(have movement through shape of garment + LEDs)
Strand Pieces of the Comb Jelly ->
Design Decision = Mimic the Aesthetics of a Comb Jelly
(have strand-like pieces)
Round/Curvy Comb Jelly Shape ->
Design Decision = Create a bouncy/bubbly design
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Jelly-D
DOCUMENTATION: Sketching and Ideation
References Visuals of Comb Jellyfish (Extra)
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Jelly-D
DOCUMENTATION: Sketching and Ideation
Biomimetic Principles (Michael Triantafyllou)
Steps in the Biomimetic Method
Here are some necessary steps in biomimesis:
1. Identifying the Specific Function to be Developed (choose what is “gold” for you).
In every mechanical system we develop, there are some particular processes that must be studied in particular, in contrast to other processes that are well understood. Identifying these will lead us in the second step, in selecting the types of animals and organisms that we must study.
2. Gathering the Material (digging through a lot of “dirt”).
This requires perseverance, patience, and good sources. One must develop the necessary knowledge to understand the biological processes at work in sufficient depth.
Remember that when you read material you must have specific questions in mind, so you select what you need from tons of unnecessary information.
4. Classifying the Material.
Animals perform many functions. Their behavior is partially influenced by processes unrelated to the function under study. For example, fish must feed and their mouth is developed to obtaining food. If we attempt to understand streamlining, we must also discard the shape of the head as being influenced by unrelated functions. It is particularly important in this classification of the information to find independent species that have developed similar traits—or the opposite, i.e. different species that have developed dissimilar functions with equal success.
5. Imitating Nature.
Remember that imitation of nature is NOT the goal; the goal is to imitate its performance. But, often the first step in understanding is imitating. We will often try and construct a system that imitates the form and function of the animal world. This will hopefully make us understand the necessary from the unnecessary parts, and hence understand the basic principles hidden within complex behaviors.
6. Technology Assessment.
When we imitate nature we may find that technology is lacking when trying to replicate live animals. For example, we do not have good muscle-like actuators yet. This leads us to either abandon imitation where technology is not available, or develop novel technology if feasible.
7. Final Design.
The final step is to decide whether new principles have been learned, and if so whether the technology is available to implement them. Implementation does not mean imitation because once principles are mastered there may be totally different ways of applying them.
The Ultimate Success of Biotechnology is not in Replicating Animals, but in Replicating their Performance When it is Outstanding.
Research Into The Biomimetic Method (Courtesy of Dr. Z!)
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Jelly-D
DOCUMENTATION: Sketching and Ideation
Material Hunt
Shimmery/Iridescent Fabric to Mimic the Comb Jellyfish natural iridescence
Using zip ties to mimic the comb jellyfish comb structures (as well as for stability)
Tulle to give the garment the bounce/bubbly shape of the comb jelly
Ribbon with snaps that will allow for a more size inclusive fit for our wearable
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Jelly-D
DOCUMENTATION: Sketching and Ideation
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Jelly-D
DOCUMENTATION: Sketching and Ideation
Planned Circuit Diagram
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Jelly-D
DOCUMENTATION: Data Collection
Code Testing and Working with the Tilt Sensors:
Testing tilt sensors
Testing tilt sensors with LEDs
Tilt Sensor Prototype
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Jelly-D
DOCUMENTATION: Data Collection
Electronics:
Executed Circuit Diagram
CHANGE #1:
Switched from 6 LEDs to 5 LED strands to balance the design
CHANGE #2:
Simplify the design by removing the breakout board
CHANGE #3:
Simplify the design by connecting the two tilt sensors ground wires together and then both of their input wires together (using pins 2 and 3).
CHANGE #4:
Simplify the design by connecting all the LEDs to a single pin (pin 4)
GOAL: Less wires to simplify the design and harness aesthetics
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Jelly-D
DOCUMENTATION: Data Collection
Electronics:
Power Demand Calculations
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Jelly-D
DOCUMENTATION: Data Collection
Electronics:
Elegoo Uno R3
(Supplies 5V of power, enough for 2 tilt sensors and 6 LED strands)
Ball-tilt sensors
(One for each wrist to mimic jellyfish movement)
LED Strips
(Five total to imitate comb rows surrounding body)
3.7V 2000mAh LiPo Battery
(Successfully powers the five LED strands and tilt sensors)
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Jelly-D
DOCUMENTATION: Data Collection
Electronics:
Tilt sensors affecting how the LEDs shine their colors.
Code Functionality Process
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Jelly-D
DOCUMENTATION: Data Collection
Power Efficiency Features
The pulse animation is also designed to be energy-efficient by:
Electronics:
Video demo of the LEDs operating on the low power mode functionality
Code Summary
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Jelly-D
DOCUMENTATION: Fabrication
Electronics:
Team Electronic Pics!
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Jelly-D
DOCUMENTATION: Fabrication
Our fabrication was done primarily with a combination of (1) 3D printing and (2) sewing
Sewing Machine + Hand Sewing
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Jelly-D
DOCUMENTATION: Fabrication
Fabrication: 1. 3D Printing
To secure the LEDs to the garment, we 3D printed these sewable enclosures to allow the LEDs to have structure yet still be mobile
and allow for movement (supporting
our goal of recreating the aesthetics
of a jellyfish).
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Jelly-D
DOCUMENTATION: Fabrication
Fabrication: 2. Sewing
Sewing the Tilt Sensors into Position on the Hand + Covering the Wiring
Had problems
with the sewing
machine with the
material’s spandex-like material—resorted to hand stitching
Twisted and sewn the fabric to be held around the middle finger. While the wire provides stability, we still sewed the tilt sensor to the base of the twist
(allowing for a moveable position to control the LED lights).
tilt sensor sewn inside
Power and ground wires inside
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Jelly-D
DOCUMENTATION: Fabrication
Fabrication: 2. Sewing
Patterning the Harness
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Jelly-D
DOCUMENTATION: Fabrication
Fabrication: 2. Sewing
Including Physical Components and Electronic Housing into the Harness
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Jelly-D
DOCUMENTATION: Fabrication
Fabrication: 2. Sewing
From Pattern to Sewing the Harness
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Jelly-D
DOCUMENTATION: Fabrication
Fabrication: 2. Sewing
Adding the Electronics to the Harness
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Jelly-D
DOCUMENTATION: Fabrication
Fabrication: 2. Sewing
Adding Volume to the Harness
Zip-ties to
(1) give the upcoming tulle shawl a lift/bounce and
(2) to mimic the visual of a comb jellyfish
Layering lengths of sewn tulle to
(1) give the upcoming tulle shawl a lift/bounce and
(2) to mimic the visual of a comb jellyfish
Reference:
create this
layered effect
of the comb jelly
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Jelly-D
DOCUMENTATION: Fabrication
Fabrication: 2. Sewing
Tulle Shawl that Covers Everything (Creating the Layers of the Comb Jellyfish)
With this tulle shawl, the design decision is to mimic the circular/bubbly/bouncy look of the Comb Jellyfish
Worn around the neck (like a choker) that will be worn over the harness and electronics.
Comb
Jellyfish Reference
Handsewn and recreating a tutu-type of structure
Hot glued our ribbon type over the choker (creating a more cohesive design)
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Jelly-D
DOCUMENTATION: Fabrication
Fabrication: 2. Sewing
Extra Team Sewing Pics!
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Jelly-D
DOCUMENTATION: Final Product
Garment Final Appearance
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Jelly-D
DOCUMENTATION: Final Product
In Class Demos of the Final Product
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Jelly-D
DOCUMENTATION: Summary
Function
Power
Hard-to-Soft Integration
The project was done primarily with sewing (a combination of hand and machine) with additional structure coming from our metal circular ribbon and 3D printed LED mounts. We did not create any joints for this project, instead trying to mimic the mobility/flexibly
of a comb jellyfish. The placement of the
electronics is also
placed on the chest,
similar to how comb
jellyfish have a complex
biomaterial at its core to
protect itself from
predators.
Polish
Placement of the tilt sensors were strategically placed on the hand to maximize readings in an area that has significant rotation while aesthetically following the visual design of a comb jelly and their combs.
Sensor Decision
Used ball tilt sensors (as recommended by Dr. Z) to reflect how a simple process can create and change light (just as the simple movement of the cilia on the comb jellyfish can create and change light). Ultimately, we worked to simplify movement to create a cool light display; ball tilt sensors and their simple design allowed for us to fulfill this design decision.
The choice of a 3.7V power supply for the Jelly-D was driven by the need for energy efficiency and compatibility with the Uno R3 while powering 5 strands of LEDs, ensuring stable performance.
Throughout design and prototyping, we minimized the power consumption for the Jelly-D system by simplifying the design. We originally had an additional LED wired to the circuit, but then decided to simplify the design, minimize the wires in the design, and reduce energy expenditures of that LED.
1. Sleep Modes - Deep sleep during inactivity using SLEEP_MODE_PWR_DOWN
2. Interrupt-Based Wakeup - Tilt sensors wake the device from sleep
3. Battery Management - Monitoring with dynamic brightness adjustment
4. Peripheral Control - ADC, SPI, TWI disabled when not needed
5. Progressive Power States:
- Normal operation
- Dimmed LEDs after 2 minutes of inactivity
- Deep sleep after 5 minutes
- Adaptive behavior based on battery level
Intentional Function
The Jelly-D functions as an artistic interpretation of a comb jellyfish. Mimicking the comb jellyfish physical appearance and natural process of light reflecting from the combs based on movement.
The target audience for the Jelly-D is for avante garde/couture wear. The original design was inspired by rave goers; therefore, with the wearable approximately 7 hour battery life, we envision this as sweet rave fit.
We will test our project by each wearing the prototype ourselves, though it is truly made for the runway or anyone interested in the intersection of fashion and biology.
Sticking to a Design Aesthetic
Code Power Consumption
3D Printing
Target Audience
Consideration of Use Case
Our project could be used in both fashion and educational settings, including artist shows, nature exhibits, classrooms, and more.
Power Supply Choice
System Power Consumption
Sensor/Actuator placement
Sewing, Joints, and Placement
Using the same material throughout designing to keep everything cohesive (ex: same tulle, fabric, and metal circular ribbon.
LOTS of Soldering
Sewing
Stability and durability is consistent through build and demonstration!
Wiring is secure and well-soldered; wire stain was considered.
Worked to finish all fabric materials (i.e. hemming) to ensure stability and durability
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