Tilt Sensor Glove Project

So, if the student is unenthusiastic about the answer and raises her hand slowly, no response (change of state) within this glove?

Curiosity: Sixth grade?

No 8th. And the pressure is on based on some of the stuff I saw from last hear. Yes I think you defined what I was shooting for. If you slam your hand into a "STOP" position, it would trigger a response. Buzzer, light, etc.

Put between the ball on a spring. If the hand moves abruptly inertia will compress the spring and the ball makes the contact. If the stop is slow acceleration the ball does not compress the spring enough and does not reach the contacts.

Ball on spring. Makes sense. But I'd have to design a latch circuit. Needs to stay on as long as the hand is in the upright position.

"Needs to stay on as long as the hand is in the upright position."

What other surprise requirements will be discovered along this path? The forum isn't well know for our enjoyment of "Twenty Questions".

2 amps @ what voltage? 200 watt light bulb?

Sorry about that. This one is just a 12V 20W lamp.

This switch... we now know it stays closed as long as the hand is in the air. Mechanical switch action (like flipping a light switch)? If no, then what resets this switch to open, a timer?

Does this switch count on similar energetic motions to both close and open?

See you think I'm about 20 questions but our question just gave me a great idea. Allowing the glove to shut off by a second gesture is a great though. Just wish someone came out with a accelorometer with a built in MOSFET switch. Maybe a DIP switch with 10 options? Any ideas on really great DIY resources?

What about this...

http://letsmakerobots.com/node/30850

DAGU's new Micro Magician robot controller which has a dual 1A FET "H" bridge and the 3-axis accelerometer built in.

Glove controller kits...

This is pretty cool....

http://www.robotshop.com/lego-mindstorms-nxt-accelerometer.html

• Let your robot know which way is up, down, left and right
• Measure acceleration
• Does not include connector cable (sold seperately)
• Shipping available in Canada only

Know which way is up! Using the NXT Intelligent Brick (sold separately), the Lego Mindstorms NXT Accelerometer Sensor lets your LEGO® MINDSTORMS® creation know which way is up and when your robot tilts left or right, up or down, or side to side. This three axis accelerometer sensor also measures acceleration in three axes x, y and z. Hence, you can measure g forces just like jet fighter pilots and astronauts. It also measures tilt along each axis that tells you if your robot is level so you can build self-leveling robots and much more.

This is the individual component, and does not include the NXT Intelligent Brick, software or any accessories.

Wouldn't know where to begin with this! Reading data sheets now though.

Basically what you have is a Wii controller mounted on a glove, all you're doing is a version of it...

http://shopper.cnet.com/wii-controllers/wii-motionplus/4014-9587_9-33690777.html?tag=mncol;lst

http://shopper.cnet.com/game-accessories/cta-boxer-gloves-game/4014-10110_9-32783395.html

The ball on the spring IS an accelerometer. It depends of how you choose the spring. You can even design a switch based on this principle which is "on" when the hand goes up and stays on till the hand comes down. All can be mechanical.

if you want to keep it simple make the ball and spring activate a mini relays with hold circuit (or a logic variant)

Some good ideas in here. Bit of overkill for your application, but if you want to turn your kid on to electronics and computer control, an Arduino is not a bad way to light the fires.

Here is another from a University project. The funny thing about this one is that apparently, they wanted it to be able to interpret "single middle digit hand gestures" if you catch my drift. Look at the illustrations.

Separate finger accelorometers. Very cool reference. Thanks!

a mecury switch is cheap and simple. you might be able to modify a mercury switch from an old house thermostat. enabling the switch with the glove would be as simlpe as closing the curcuit.

It is starting to look like science fair projects today are a lot different than when I was a kid. Maybe not all that different, as I reconsider.

Criticisms of Science Fairs

Doorman you have no idea. I'm being vague because we have kids out here with dads that have access to engineering teams. Remember the toys that used to say "for kids 4-6 years old"? Those same kids are now using iPads. Rules have changed.

Oh, I do have an idea. I was in the running for the Westinghouse Prize (boy, that seems like a hunnerd years ago). When it came to my schooling, my parents were very much the 'hands-off' type, and there were many kids I competed against with parents, aunts and uncles, etc. who were very 'hands-on'.

This or a similar experience is (I believe) common among CR4 members.

I can still remember my 6th grade science fair....I had constructed a concentrating solar collector...On the morning of the competition when I had to load the project in the car, a Prefect, English Ford, it wouldn't fit...It was damaged as a result....To this day, I think a project through from start to finish, including the details of deployment, before I lift a finger...A painful(sniff) memory and valuable lesson in responsibility and planning....