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Neck-stroking wearable for sunny days. The components for this solar driven circuit are integrated in this decorative t-shirt, exploring the possibilities of textile electronics and interaction with the sun.
Following the example of the Wearable Piano Interface this Instructable is made to accompany a workshop titled "Build your own interactive t-shirt" that will take place on the 1st January 2009 in Basel, Switzerland at the Plug.in gallery.
The workshop takes place during the Ying Gao exhibition at Plug.in and for the first time we experimented with the use of solar cells, motors and motion in wearables. So this workshop will be a mix of our regular methods and some new techniques that we hope won't fail us. Smile.
Link to workshop
The circuit and this project were inspired by the Overheadbots which we saw at the workshop they gave at the DIY Festival in Zurich 2008. Thank you very much!
The complete circuit that harvests the energy from a 0,5V 100mA solar cell, storing it in capacitors and then releasing it to drive a motor, is split up into modules and integrated into a t-shirt.
The solar cell (which can also be replaced by a 3V button battery) is combined with two capacitors in a necklace that can be attached and detached from the t-shirt via poppers.
The motor (a force-feedback motor taken from a Playstation controller) is situated on the shoulder, and is also connected via poppers. The force-feedback is removed and replaced with a feather that strokes the neck of the wearer every time it turns full circle.
The remaining components are soldered together to a cluster (maintaining the correct circuit connections) and sewn to the t-shirt directly. Optionally this module could also be made removable or even encapsulated in resin, making the t-shirt fully machine washable.
The final part of the circuit are the conductive traces that connect the components in the individual modules. These traces are made by fusing (iron-on) strips of stretchy conductive fabric directly to the t-shirt. The traces can finally be isolated using stretchy fabric glue. This keeps them from coming loose as well as stopping short circuits or otherwise unwanted connections caused by folding of the fabric.
This is only an example of what is possible. In the workshop, participants will also be introduced to Fabric Buttons and switches, and especially encouraged to experiment with the motor output (see step 9).
Follow this link to see pictures of the workshop >>
http://www.flickr.com/photos/plusea/sets/72157613266762580/
Video
Following the example of the Wearable Piano Interface this Instructable is made to accompany a workshop titled "Build your own interactive t-shirt" that will take place on the 1st January 2009 in Basel, Switzerland at the Plug.in gallery.
The workshop takes place during the Ying Gao exhibition at Plug.in and for the first time we experimented with the use of solar cells, motors and motion in wearables. So this workshop will be a mix of our regular methods and some new techniques that we hope won't fail us. Smile.
Link to workshop
The circuit and this project were inspired by the Overheadbots which we saw at the workshop they gave at the DIY Festival in Zurich 2008. Thank you very much!
The complete circuit that harvests the energy from a 0,5V 100mA solar cell, storing it in capacitors and then releasing it to drive a motor, is split up into modules and integrated into a t-shirt.
The solar cell (which can also be replaced by a 3V button battery) is combined with two capacitors in a necklace that can be attached and detached from the t-shirt via poppers.
The motor (a force-feedback motor taken from a Playstation controller) is situated on the shoulder, and is also connected via poppers. The force-feedback is removed and replaced with a feather that strokes the neck of the wearer every time it turns full circle.
The remaining components are soldered together to a cluster (maintaining the correct circuit connections) and sewn to the t-shirt directly. Optionally this module could also be made removable or even encapsulated in resin, making the t-shirt fully machine washable.
The final part of the circuit are the conductive traces that connect the components in the individual modules. These traces are made by fusing (iron-on) strips of stretchy conductive fabric directly to the t-shirt. The traces can finally be isolated using stretchy fabric glue. This keeps them from coming loose as well as stopping short circuits or otherwise unwanted connections caused by folding of the fabric.
This is only an example of what is possible. In the workshop, participants will also be introduced to Fabric Buttons and switches, and especially encouraged to experiment with the motor output (see step 9).
Follow this link to see pictures of the workshop >>
http://www.flickr.com/photos/plusea/sets/72157613266762580/
Video
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Signing UpStep 1Materials and Tools
MATERIALS
All components from http://conrad.at/
UNFORTUNATELY the solar cells that we ordered for the workshop (model# 1-100, 0,5V 100mA, 3.50USD/each) are not strong enough. We are looking into getting replacement cells from a company in Europe, which we will send you.The following solar cells from Conrad should work, but no guarantee until I've tested them >>
- Conductive thread from http://www.sparkfun.com or http://www.lessemf.com
- Stretch conductive fabric from http://www.lessemf.com
- Conductive copper tape with conductive adhesive by 3M http://www.3m.com/
- Fusible interfacing from local fabric store or from http://www.shoppellon.com
- 1,5mm thick neoprene from www.sedochemicals.com
- Hook-up wire for hooks and loops
- Poppers from local fabric store
- Small piece of non-stretch fabric as backing for poppers
- Motor taken from a Playstation controller (vibration force-feedback motor with ungewicht)
- 3V Button battery
- T-shirt
- Regular thread
- Beads
All components from http://conrad.at/
- BC556B Transistor
- BC546B Transistor
- LED or diode
- 2200mF Capacitor
- 1000mF Capacitor
- 1 K Ohm Resistor
- 2,2 K Ohm Resistor
UNFORTUNATELY the solar cells that we ordered for the workshop (model# 1-100, 0,5V 100mA, 3.50USD/each) are not strong enough. We are looking into getting replacement cells from a company in Europe, which we will send you.The following solar cells from Conrad should work, but no guarantee until I've tested them >>
- 5V, 81mA, 7,20Euro from http://www.conrad.at/goto.php?artikel=191321
- 4V, 35mA, 3,10Euro from http://www.conrad.at/goto.php?artikel=191308
- 3V, 80mA, 10,25Euro from http://www.conrad.at/goto.php?artikel=194760
- Plus you can also check your local electronics store for solar cells 3V or stronger
- Foam to make a Fabric Switch
- Aleene's Flexible Stretchable Fabric Glue from http://www.amazon.com/Aleenes-Flexible-Stretchable-Fabric-Glue/dp/B0001DSCQ0
- Decoration for motor output
- Scissors
- Sewing needle
- Soldering iron, solder and helping hands
- Wire strippers
- Wire cutters
- Two pliers for undoing popper mistakes (pulling them apart)
- Rounded tip pliers for curling wire into hooks and loops
- Popper machine
- Pen and paper
- Multimeter
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/plusea/3236542913/in/set-72157613088115999/
step 9, you have some sort link error, second paragraph, 3rd sentence