L2 Electronics

~ Project Exploration ~

Electronics Overview

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Electronics Project Brief

Electronics Design

Electronics Development

Teachers Notes

Course Length: Approximately 16 weeks.

AS92007- Design a digital technologies outcome

AS92005 - Develop a digital technologies outcome

This course is designed to be done in conjugation with the Electronics or Networking Outcome. Students will come up with an idea, refine the idea through and create a justifiable proposal for what they plan to produce.

Software requirements:

Any Web Browser (eg Chrome, Edge, Firefox or Safari) for documentation

YOUR PROJECT

This is a great opportunity for you to work on a project of your choosing allowing you to explore your interests further, be creative, and gain valuable skills in designing and developing a digital technologie outcome.

At this point you should have spent time learning electronics skills, so you should have a good idea of what you can create.

We will be working through the

Task #1: Project Working Document

You are going to work through your electronics project to explore an area, come up with some ideas, define what you are going to make and the design and create your idea.

You will use one document to collate all your work as you go, make a copy of Electronics Project document

Task #2: Brainstorm

INTERESTS & SKILLS + OPPORTUNITIES & END USERS

Think about all the possible electronics projects you'd like to do. At this stage, write down every idea that comes to mind. Don't worry about how complex it is; just get the ideas down.

Start by thinking about the following:

Skills & Interests: What do you enjoy? Are you into music, sports, art, gaming, or sustainability?
People & Problems: Who is important to you? What kind of problems do they have that an electronic device could solve?
Hobbies & Enjoyment: What do you do in your free time? How could a custom electronic device make that activity better or more interesting?

Task #3: Exploration of Existing Electronics Outcomes

Check out some of these if you are stuggling with what you could do with your ideas

Basketball Scoreboard

https://www.instructables.com/Radio-Controlled-Electronic-Basketball-Scoreboard/

Enviro-Saver

#NZ

https://www.motat.nz/about/news/samsung-solve-for-tomorrow-winners-2024/

Heart Monitor with Web intergration

https://www.instructables.com/REAL-TIME-HEALTH-MONITOR-WITH-WEB-INTEGRATION/

Kea Airspace

#nz

https://www.christchurchnz.com/business/growth-sectors/aerospace-and-future-transport/kea-aerospace?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Positive Climate Pitchfest 2023 - NZ

https://battery-tech.net/tasmanion/

Christchurch based Solar company

https://www.prlog.org/11876220-enatel-motive-power-wins-innovative-hi-tech-hardware-product-award.html

Basics of ESP 32's

Circuits

PCB Design

Task #4: Your Project Direction

Based on your brainstorm, what area will your project focus on?

Consider the potential impacts of any project. Who or what might be positively or negatively affected by it. Some impacts could be monetary, emotional, physical or spiritual, environmental.

For example:

You should make sure you are not stealing other people's ideas (intellectual property).
You should make sure you are allowed to use other people’s content like music or tutorials (copyright).
The content should be inoffensive and age appropriate (moral/ethical and legal).
The content should be viewable by ALL people on their device and not create any barriers to them viewing it. (accessibility).
How will you protect your own work? (intellectual property)
And lots more!

Here are some ideas specifically for Electronics:

Ideas

Arduino/ESP32 temperature & humidity logger – Displays data on an OLED or sends to a phone over WiFi.
Portable phone charger – Li-ion battery, charging module, USB output. Students learn about power regulation.
FM transmitter or receiver – Small-scale, short-range (introduces RF basics).
Solar-powered gadget – Like a solar garden light, fan, or mini water pump.
Reaction timer game – LEDs light up randomly, player must press a button quickly. Displays time on a 7-segment display.
Electronic safe – Box with servo lock, opened by password or RFID tag.
Smart plant monitor – Soil moisture, light, and temp sensors, with data logged/displayed.
Bluetooth-controlled car – ESP32/Arduino car driven via phone app.
Mini CNC drawing machine – Uses servos/stepper motors to draw shapes.
Home energy monitor – Current sensor + microcontroller to log household power use.
Wearable step counter (pedometer) – Accelerometer + microcontroller + display.
Counter-Strike LAN server monitor – Simple ESP32 device showing number of players connected (ties nicely to your Ubuntu/CS project).(Focus on why the circuit is made, not just how)
Hearing aid amplifier – Simple audio amp tuned for speech frequencies. (Focus on why the circuit is made, not just how)
Classroom noise monitor – Shows LED levels when the class gets too loud. (Focus on why the circuit is made, not just how)
Low-cost burglar alarm – PIR sensor + siren, possibly with SMS notification (ESP32).

Task #5: Research

Based on your chosen topic you now need to do some research.

Research is essential for fostering progress, innovation, and positive societal impact. It empowers individuals and societies to address challenges, seize opportunities, and create a better future.

Research Existing Outcomes

What is it for? What problem does it solve or what does it do? (e.g., A smart watch tells time and tracks your fitness).

Who is the user? Who is this product made for? (e.g., A gaming headset is for gamers).

How does the user interact with it? Does it have buttons, a screen, a touch sensor, or connect to an app?

What are the main electronic parts? What kind of sensors, lights, motors, or computer chips does it use?

How is the outside designed? What materials are used for the casing? Was it designed using CAD (like Fusion 360) and then made using a 3D printer or laser cutter?

What's good and bad about it? What works well, and what could be better? (e.g., The smart watch is good because it's small, but the battery life is bad).

Is it easy to use? Is the design clear and simple for the person using it?

What new technologies does it use? Does it connect to the internet (IoT), use AI, or is it wearable?

How could it be improved? If you were to redesign it, what changes would you make?

Is it safe? Are there any risks like overheating or electrical hazards?

How long might it last? Is it built to be durable, or is it likely to break quickly?

What are the ethical considerations? This is a critical area. Consider:

Privacy: Does the device collect personal data? If so, how is that data protected?
Sustainability: Is the product designed for a long lifespan? Can it be easily repaired or recycled?
Safety: Are there any risks of electric shock, overheating, or other physical hazards?