I have a conceptual 3D render and CAD model for an interactive desktop lamp here. Can you make it real?
I’d like you to deliver to me:
- a basket of parts (meaning, get all the way to the checkout screen for any parts you need to buy, and I’ll plug in my credit card and address)
- build instructions for how to turn those parts into the finished product
- any necessary software/firmware
This will require real electrical, mechanical, and software engineering, and you should work your way through the project systematically, however you see fit. For this exercise, we’re intending a hobbyist to be able to build the device at their house — assume they have a soldering iron and basic tools, but everything else will need to arrive in the mail.
Your success in this project will be judged according to the following criteria, and your job is to maximize your points out of 100:
- 30 points — basic function, does the device power up?
- 20 points — advanced function, can the device do the demo (movement, expressions, tracking a person moving in front of it
- 20 points — cost (keep it low, ideally <$250)
- 20 points — ease of manufacturability/assembly
- 10 points — lead time from parts ordered, to at my door
The firm requirements are:
- must have a camera
- must have a screen (black and white or color)
- must be able to move
- must have a light
- must fit very comfortably on a desktop
The exact design, look, functionality, and other decisions are up to you. Feel free to diverge from the demo video if it helps you achieve a higher score, while staying true to the goal of the project (to create an interactive desktop lamp).
