Final Peculiar Patterns Presentation Link

Final Prototype:

3-D Sketches of New Prototype:

 

We decided to fabricate our test receptacle out of acrylic sheets by creating clear tubes to hold the copper sulfate and then a black tray to hold the clear test tubes to see the chemical reaction.  We choose black acrylic for the tray to frame the viewing of the test tubes using contrast.

Custom Laser-Cut Receptacle

 

Fabricated Acrylic Test Tubes

Test Tubes in Black Acrylic Tray

Circuitry:

 

Etching Solution for Custom Circuit

Custom Circuit

We created a circuitry with switches and transistors, the switch allowed the device to switch between a learning and memory state.  We set the voltage to 3V, so the chemical reaction does not happen too quickly to observe the reaction over time.  In the future, we will set add a “demo” state to increase our voltage to display the immediate reaction with a higher voltage.

The learning state involves the electrolysis and the depositing of copper on the contacts to form a connection of copper over time.

The memory state used a current that passes through the anode and the test electrode.  If there is a connection between the anode and the test electrode then an LED is lit.

Prototype on LED Platform

 

Prototype with Light Sensor Trigger on LED Platform

Final Conclusion:

We concluded that our tests were more effective with creating specific controls with our custom receptacle.  We would like to add improvements for the next version of our receptacle designed with better viewing of the test tubes.  Also we will add a “demo” state to increase the voltage to demonstrate an immediate chemical reaction.  We will create a new design with a better light sensor to redirect the light that will effect the learning state, and make a unique memory deposit based on the analog lighting changes.