Onsight Headlamp
Designed for outdoor sports, this is a smart headlamp that reacts to changes in its environment.
Project intent
Timeline
6 weeks, August 2024-September 2024
Skills used
-Arduino coding
-Circuit building
-3D printing
-Fusion 360
-Sketching
-Keyshot
This studio project was centered around making and coding an electronic device that would solve an issue by reacting to various inputs by the user. Students were encouraged to use sensors, LEDs and any other Arduino components to construct their prototype.
Examining Painpoints
2.
1.
Multiple different settings but single button to switch in between them, resulting in accidentally turning it off or using the wrong setting.
Extremely difficult to switch between settings when doing high intensity activities, like running, biking or climbing.
Most headlamps offer a flood light or a focused beam but rarely both.
3.
An external photoresistor reads the ambient lighting and increases the headlamp's brightness the darker it gets.
An internal accelerometer reads the user's speed and increases the light's brightness as speed increases.
Sensors as Solutions
When creating an image board, I found this old bank building in Guinea-Bissau and drew inspiration from these very distinct arches. What stood out to me about this architecture style was how well it combines the way humans, nature and the built environment all interact. These principals were something I wanted to carry into my design.
Design Language
Lens
LED & reflector
Body components
Circuit board
Band attachment
By dissecting a headlamp on the market I was able to gain useful insight on the manufacturing and assembly process of these devices, as well as what components were essential for its functionality.
Examining Current Product
I began to develop a basic form based around the reoccurring arch, getting smaller and smaller as it moves forward.
Ideation
Prototyping
Using fusion 360, I modeled and printed a quick mockup to understand how the form would fit on the band. This also served as a jump off point for further iteration.
LED's here
Light sensor
Button
Working towards a final model, I soldered together my components including batteries, sensors and LEDs. When combined with my code from an Arduino Nano this would create a "smart" lighting effect.
Sensor Integration
Final Model
The final model for this project is a headlamp that is both light reactive and motion reactive. As speed detected by the accelerometer increases, the middle LED's brightness increases. As the ambient light decreases the brightness of the outside two LEDs increases.
Illumination at .075 lux
Illumination at .5 lux
Illumination at 2 lux
