Goals and Limitations for Futuristic Design

Top 5 Goals

My project is a futuristic mask floating on a magnetic levitator themed after my boyfriend’s favorite anime. This project is fun, ambitious, and I have a lot of ideas, however there is limited time. Between finals, capstone, and other project deadlines the bandwidth of college students at this time of year is limited. For this reason, it is critical to nail down the priorities of the project, this will aid you if cuts need to be made. Further, it defines how time spent can be optimized. Further, we need to clearly establish the risks and largest deterrents to success in order to mitigate them.

The top 5 things you want my project to look like, to feel like, and to do are:

1. Look like a showcase of technology. I want to show off novelty tech such as maglev displays and the recent trend of exposed electronics resurging from the 1990s.Credit: Linkedin
2. I want this project to arise curiosity regarding its operation, circuitry, and design. I want observers to feel that the basis of the object is both accessible and exciting. I will know that this goal is achieved if I am asked questions regarding the specific components in the circuit during our peer reviews.Credit: StackSocial
3. The object needs to float and spin. Not only will this allow me do some fun circuitry work, but it is also necessary for the movement requirement of the course. This means that I’ll need to make a magnetic levitation circuit. Magnetic levitation works by using an electromagnet to counteract gravity and suspend an object in midair. A Hall-effect sensor beneath the object measures the magnetic field strength, which changes based on the object’s position. This signal is fed into a feedback control loop that adjusts the current through the electromagnet to maintain stable levitation. To ensure smooth and stable operation, the PCB includes a low-pass filter that remove noise from the Hall sensor signal and prevent rapid, unstable current changes. This system requires quite high voltage and current, especially during the initial balancing of the object. I will need a 12V, 2A source as well as a DMM in order to verify and troubleshoot the system.
4. The mask needs to resemble the item worn by Lelouch in the anime Code Geass. This item is a gift for my boyfriend. His favorite show is Code Geass so the object needs to fit with the aesthetic design of alternate future Japan imagined in the anime.            Credit: Sunrise Production
5. I want the system to feel like it comes from Lelouch’s command center as Zero, particularly the hidden Shinjuku ghetto underground base or later the Black Knights’ mobile headquarters on the Ikaruga. These spaces are dense with holographic displays, strategic interfaces, and high-tech Black Knights equipment. They’re the kind of places where advanced tech like my levitating mask would feel totally at home.

Top 5 Constraints:

This project has a few critical constraints that must be kept in mind.

1. The first and largest constraint is time, I am graduating college this month and have many competing responsibilities.
2. The second issue is I’m pretty inexperienced at 3D modeling/ printing and this project will require customization of STL files for the magnetic insert, text, etc.
3. It might be difficult as well to get access to 3D printers for a session, the mask file is ~8-10hour print and gaining access to a Bambu printer for an extended session during capstone season can be competitive.
4. I would love to resin print the face-piece, bit I have never resin-printed before.
5. Finally, I want to keep the budget for this project at ~$100, which may be a challenge because over 1/2 of that is already dedicated to the magnetic levitation circuit.

In order to mediate these risks I will have t be careful, stick to my gantt chart, pursue help, and hold myself accountable.