Description as a Tweet:

An electric, remote controlled, motorized, RGB LED-ridden sofa chair complete with a touchscreen infotainment system and a backup camera. Also, it reclines.

Inspiration:

We wanted a cool ride to get attention from people all across campus and we couldn't afford a Tesla.

What it does:

What doesn't it do? With a Raspberry Pi infotainment system, you can play Minecraft and browse Reddit while confidently cruising down the sidewalk or backing into an elevator. Two accessibility scooter electric motors ensure a top speed well into the single digits. Although quiet, a spectacular array of flashing lights will make sure you are heard.

How we built it:

We built an electronics test board that allowed us to test everything on our table before finally applying it to the side of the chair. We also ripped apart one arm rest to allow us to snake in wires throughout the skeleton. Finally, whenever we were presented with an opportunity to add one more light, we took it. Always.

Technologies we used:

• Arduino
• Raspberry Pi
• Microcontrollers
• Robotics
• Other Hardware

Challenges we ran into:

We were originally using MOSFETs which were very unreliable and quirky. One quick trip to the hardware table gave us the digital relays we needed to be successful.

Accomplishments we're proud of:

The chair moves. Everything else is a bonus.

What we've learned:

We learned how to interface a Raspberry Pi and an Arduino together, how to build a control loop, and how to "test in production" (i.e. on the chair).

What's next:

We are going to add more lights and an object tracking mode.

Built with:

We used Python, Arduino C++, HTML5, CSS3, Vue, WebSockets, and a variety of electrical tricks to make sure everything works together.

Prizes we're going for:

• Best Hardware Hack
• Best Web App
• Best Documentation
• Best STEM Hack
• Funniest Hack

Best Hardware Hack

Andi Duro
Norlinda Steward
Amrit Parmanand
Matthew St Jean

Table 25