Week 1: Final Project Proposal

I have several ideas for my final project. Potential candidates include a 2-D drawing machine, a device that can stir milk, and a stairlift/elevator for pets. This is the first makerspace that I have stepped foot in, so I am unsure how any of these projects will turn out. The 2-D drawing machine is pretty straightforward. If modified, it could reasonably be used as a latte art machine (which are ridiculously expensive) or to draw icing on cakes.

Here is an example of latte art:

The inspiration for a device that can stir milk came from the time I spent cooking with my mother. Some of the deserts that she makes require boiling milk, which can be a time-consuming process because if you do not stir the consistently, the milk will either burn. Constant supervision is required because the milk can also boil over. The device would be able to stir the bottom of the pot consistently, be adaptable for different sized pots, and perhaps turn off the stove once the boiling temperature of milk is reached.

Lastly, I thought about making a stairlift/elevator for pets. The inspiration for this idea comes from a YouTube video posted by Liam Thompson:

The elevator would be used in cases where a pet is old and cannot climb up and down the stairs easily anymore. I wanted to try and build on Liam Thompson's project by making the elevator weight-activated (using a pressure plate) so that it only moves when the pet steps onto the platform. The pet should not be able to get off mid-ride, so I would also add a door that opens and closes like a drawbridge. The closing of the door would depend on input from the pressure plate, and it would open once the elevator reaches either the top or bottom of the stairs. To achieve this, I was thinking of using a magnetic sensor that tells the microcontroller when to stop the elevator. These modifications would mean that the pet could use the elevator freely without needing the help of the owner. And of course, the lift needs to be able to go both ways. I will need to take this into account as well when programming the microcontroller.

Update, 3/1/2022: I have decided to pursue the pet elevator idea for my final project!