M&M DISPENSER
A Phone Add-On
Partner: Anvay Kantak
2023 | 02/09 - 03/02
Introduction
In this project, we are asked to develop and prototype a physical peripheral device for the phone that can change / alter our personal behavior.
There are two constraints: the phone add-on must connect to the phone through the USB port; it must augment the capabilities of the phone.
Our idea is to make a mini vending machine — a M&M dispenser — for the phone.
M&M dispenser rewards one a M&M when one powers the phone off. This add-on is meant to change one’s behavior of phone usage by positive reinforcement (in this case a reward in the form of an M&M). It is meant to help one use the phone less by providing a positive incentive. This device is also designed to be cute and trendy and customizable so people would like to use it on their phones. Shutting down phones also helps shut down all unnecessarily opened background apps, which helps with saving battery life.
Prototype
A sketchy prototype was initially done by using cardboard and hot glue. We roughly measured the size of the phone and made some sketches of the idea. We decided that we need:
a container for the m&ms
a tube to transport them
a small panel that can block the m&ms from falling down
a device that controls the panel — a servo motor
something that knows the power button is pressed for more than a couple of seconds — a force sensor
an Arduino and some code
When the power button is pressed for 3 seconds, a m&m will drop from the dispenser to reward the user. The power button is covered by a force sensor which detects the pressure in the accumulation of time (3 consecutive seconds). The force sensor is connected to an Arduino Nano 33 IoT which is powered by the phone. The servo motor is connected to and powered by the Arduino, when the 3-second signal is received, the servo motor rotates 45 degrees and lifts the panel, then drops a m&m. The lift will only stay for 1 second.
The whole thing must be compact, otherwise, reversely, the phone becomes its add-on, which makes no sense.
figure 1 - sketch
figure 2 - prototype
figure 3 - prototype
figure 5 - presentation piece work in progress
figure 4 - prototype
Presentation
Once the items needed to build the add-on are finalized, we started working on the final prototype for the presentation. The material we chose is basswood due to its lightweight and ease with laser cutting. We made a 3D model in Rhino, which helped us visualize the product. All the basswood are 1/8” thick in order to maintain both the weight and strength of the product. The pieces are precisely cut and assembled. We put the Arduino on a mini breadboard and re-wired the circuits to make everything as tight and compact as possible, while maintaining the durability of the whole piece. The container, block panel, tube, servo motor, breadboard and force sensor are then carefully glued on the phone case. The last step was to put the phone case on the phone and then connect power from the phone to the Arduino. The container and the tube were hand painted to give it a cute look and make it more presentable. We hope this idea can somehow change people’s behavior by limiting the usage of the phone.
figure 8 - presentation piece work in progress
figure 6 - presentation piece work in progress
figure 5 - presentation piece work in progress
figure 9 - presentation piece
figure 7 - presentation piece work in progress