This was my first attempt at building the mechanism to turn a page of a book.

For this class, I was tasked with solving a pet peeve of mine. However, I thought it would be cool to adapt the prompt.

I saw myself in my favorite coffee shop, with a book propped in front of me. While reading, I would just wave my hand in the direction I wanted to move in the book, and it would turn the page without me needing to touch the book. Besides this looking really wizardy and cool, it would be practical if I am eating food and do not want to get my book dirty, and after feedback from our recitation where we presented, this could be a mechanism to support people with mobility related disabilities to help manuever through a book.

Feedback when presenting:

I brought up the concern of finding a different way to turn pages then a servo and stepper as there is a lot of grey areas like if the servo doesnt catch the page, and steppers tend to waste a lot of energy to heat.

For my next round, based on feedback, I am going to try using a linear actuator and attach a DC motor (or stepper) to it to try and have it drag the page across linearly as the motor spins.

There were concerns about what types of books I would be interacting with. My intention is to make the stand adjustable or well fitted to any size of book, hard and soft copy.

I would like to also include a solar cell to try and make it more energy efficient, however I have to do some more research to see how well it works.

I just need to finish a book stand, and get the parts for the next prototyping phase.

Supplies

1st round:

Arduino Uno R3
Joystick
5V stepper Motor
Stepper Driver
9G Micro-Servo
External 6v Battery Holder

2nd round:

Arduino Uno R3
Gesture Sensor
Joystick

For 3rd round of prototyping:

Will Try

Uno
Gesture Sensor
Linear Actuator
DC Motor or Stepper
Driver
Voltage Regulator Module (destroyed my last stepper driver so might need to do better)
7v Solar Cell?

Step 1: Ideate

Video is my friends and I brainstorming the mechanics for flipping the page using a lego car wheel to do initial prototyping.

Photo is of an idea of how I could laser cut a book stand using slots to hold the two pieces. Will flesh this through better.

Step 2: Get Supplies

Went to Micro Center to pick up all the supplies. Also borrowed the voltage regulator from my friend(this video is him describing how to use it.)

Snapchat-205355310.mp4
Download

Step 3: Make Code

Gesture Sensor with Servo Test Code (currently failing)

Joystick, Servo, and Stepper Code (working, however timing is not the best)

Step 4: Make Circuit

First photo is set up for testing the Gesture Sensor with a Servo.

Second photo is the circuit with the Joystick, Stepper, and Servo to try and figure out how it will look.

Step 5: Test Functionality

Unfortunately, I did not get a video while it was still working, and when I set it up to record the video, the stepper driver got fried, and I do not have the materials to replace it or to check if it has any current running through it. When I have access to these materials I will take a video.