An Inventing With Tech project by Hannah
The LED Shoe Rack 2.0
In tech class, we worked on making something using a French cleat and a micro-bit and combining them into a project. I started out making a kitchen timer; you would have been able to tap a bottom and it would set a timer for whatever you're cooking. I quickly realized that didn't involve a French cleat, so I made a shoe rack with LEDs on the bottom instead.
What Inspired Me
When trying to come up with idea number two I went and looked around my house. I realized that me and my brother both had metal shoe racks much like the one on the left. We both have nice shoes but we keep them in our closets. So I thought a shoe rack in our rooms would look nice.
The shoe rack
The Micro:bits Use
My Mirco:bit is what powers the LED strip for the shoe rack. I built a code with orginally 12 modes now 15. The modes are the colors that the strip shows. When you press A on the mirco:bit the mode changes. The strip only turns on it the light in the room is below a certian point.
What Skills I learn
I learned how to code, some of the codes I learned are: How to make a function, use math to cycle through colors, and how to turn on and off the mirco:bit based off light levels. I also learned how to solder and too uses a saw so I could cut wood. I also learned how to use a nail gun.
The French Cleat Use
The French cleat is used to hold the shoe rack to the wall. It will be hanging on my wall. The LED strip will be on the bottom of the rack shining down at the floor. There will be shoes on the hanging rack, it will be able to hold 3 to 4 shoes of any size
Challenge 1
My first challenge was making my mode 12. Mode 12 was supposed to flash each color of the rainbow on repeat until and other factor change that. Instead it got stuck in a loop on mode 12 not being able to leave that mode. I was able to fix this by using math! I worked with Mr.Ellenbogen and we used math to make the mode cycle. The mirco:bit would calculate to find which color it should be one.
Challnege 2
I had trouble with my LED board. It stop working after I glue it to my shoe rack and I couldnt firgue out the problem. I re-solder my board multiple times thinking the wires werent connected but that didnt help so I asked my teacher and my classmates fore help. We both worked on it for a while and firgure out that my board over heated and wasn't working also that I used to much super glue on the strip so that wasnt working either.
Challenge 3
My secound challenge was when I was making my shoe rack. The wood was differnt sizes slightly so when putting the corners together it would leave a crack. So I cut down a bit of wood from the peice but the gap was still there so I figure out that the wood piece was warped. So I clamped the pieces toghter while glueing them then nailed gun them down so it would stay in place.
What I learned about myself
I learned that I liked the hands-on part of the project better. I like making the shoe rack and using tools like the solder. I learned that I am also good at coming and asking for help and working on this project outside of class. However, my biggest takeaway from this class was allowing others to help like my classmates.
My Growth
Before this class, I had no experience in any coding or woodworking as I said before, but one thing I am proud of this year is my perseverance and independence. I had to redo my board multiple times, troubleshoot, try new ideas, and more. But I never sat around in class watching for someone to come help me. I tried new things. Some didn't work and some did. I was even complimented on my independence by Mr. Ellenbogen. Of course, I did ask for help when I needed it. I was able to get my project done on time and was also able to play around with my code.
What I will do next
I am going to make another shoe rack. Just like the one seen below. I will not be able to do it this semester, but I plan on taking another technology class and making another shoe rack for my brother.
Final product Before Show case
After the Showcase
After the showcase, I spray-painted my shoe rack white. I added a Thanksgiving mode to my code. So I now have 16 modes. Both of these improvements were feedback to me during my showcase. I had to re-solder my shoe rack one more time. Now here is the final version of my project.
