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Step 2Build and Program Circuit. Hack into Air Pump
I like to start by getting the electronics working first, usually with a prototype of what I want to build (made from cheap exterior plywood, or even cardboard and hot-glue).
The electronics are divided into two parts. This part is the receiving end. It will receive a wireless signal from the wearable unit and use that signal to turn an air pump on for ~2 seconds and then turn it off.
Between the pump and balloon, is what's called a check valve, which lets air pass one direction but not the other.
The air pump is a Coleman Rechargeable "Quickpump". I like it because of the rechargeable battery, and the different sized nose attachments.
Open up the pump and rework the toggle switch, so that it's bridging between the battery and one terminal of the motor. The other terminal of the motor will run to the collector of the TIP120 transistor. To do this, you'll have to de-solder the black wire from the second motor terminal, and also de-solder the lead coming from the battery charger and going to the other end of the toggle switch. Be sure to common ground the motor's battery with the arduino's power supply.
Build the circuit in the diagram below. There is also a PDF attached for higher resolution.
Program the arduino with the code supplied in the text file. You'll need to install this library.
If you don't know how to work with Arduino, here are some references so you can learn:
> Main Arduino Website
> Freeduino -- Repository of Arduino knowledge and links
> NYU, ITP's in-house physical computing site with tutorials and references.
The electronics are divided into two parts. This part is the receiving end. It will receive a wireless signal from the wearable unit and use that signal to turn an air pump on for ~2 seconds and then turn it off.
Between the pump and balloon, is what's called a check valve, which lets air pass one direction but not the other.
The air pump is a Coleman Rechargeable "Quickpump". I like it because of the rechargeable battery, and the different sized nose attachments.
Open up the pump and rework the toggle switch, so that it's bridging between the battery and one terminal of the motor. The other terminal of the motor will run to the collector of the TIP120 transistor. To do this, you'll have to de-solder the black wire from the second motor terminal, and also de-solder the lead coming from the battery charger and going to the other end of the toggle switch. Be sure to common ground the motor's battery with the arduino's power supply.
Build the circuit in the diagram below. There is also a PDF attached for higher resolution.
Program the arduino with the code supplied in the text file. You'll need to install this library.
If you don't know how to work with Arduino, here are some references so you can learn:
> Main Arduino Website
> Freeduino -- Repository of Arduino knowledge and links
> NYU, ITP's in-house physical computing site with tutorials and references.
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