Project

# Title Team Members TA Documents Sponsor
13 Modular and Affordable Digital Accordion
Guangyang Sun
Henry Zhang
Zhuoer Zhang
Jiankun Yang design_document1.pdf
final_paper1.pdf
other1.pdf
proposal1.pdf
video1.mov
Team Members:
- Guangyang Sun (gsun16)
- Zhuoer Zhang (zhuoer3)
- Hanyu Zhang (hanyu8)

# Problem

Traditional accordions are expensive, delicate instruments that require regular maintenance. Their sound quality is sensitive to environmental factors such as temperature and humidity, making them less reliable in varying conditions. Additionally, learning to play the accordion presents a steep learning curve, especially for beginners.

Currently, digital accordions on the market cost over $7,000, making them inaccessible to most entry-level players and hobbyists. These challenges highlight the need for an affordable, beginner-friendly, and modular digital accordion that can replicate the traditional instrument’s features while addressing its limitations.

# Solution

We propose to build a low-cost ($150 or less), modular, and beginner-friendly 12-bass digital accordion. Our design will replicate the sound and functionality of a traditional accordion using modern electronics while offering improved durability and ease of maintenance.

The solution will include the following subsystems:

1. Key Input Subsystem: Detects user inputs from bass buttons and treble keys.
2. Sound Synthesis Subsystem: Generates high-quality accordion sounds using a microcontroller.
3. Output Subsystem: Delivers audio through wired and optional Bluetooth connectivity.
4. (Optional) User Interface Subsystem: Offers optional features such as LED backlit keys, playback, lazy mode, and sound customization.

The system will detect key presses via a matrix scanning technique, process the input in the microcontroller to synthesize accordion sounds using a MIDI sound bank, and output the audio through wired or Bluetooth connections.

# Solution Components

## Subsystem 1: Key Input

This subsystem is responsible for detecting treble key and bass button presses. A matrix scanning approach will minimize the GPIO usage while ensuring accurate detection.

Design:

Matrix Configuration: A 5x8 matrix (5 rows and 8 columns) will be used to detect inputs from 26 treble keys and 12 bass buttons.

Components:

- Tactile push buttons (low-cost option) or capacitive touch sensors (for enhanced user experience).
- GPIO pins on the micro controller for interfacing with the matrix.

Key Features:

- Accurate key press detection with minimal input lag.
- Scalable design for modularity.

## Subsystem 2: Sound Synthesis Subsystem

This subsystem synthesizes high-quality accordion sounds in real time based on user inputs.

Design:

- Use a MIDI sound bank with pre-recorded accordion samples to replicate authentic sounds.
- Generate polyphonic sounds by combining waveforms for multiple notes.
- Utilize built-in DAC for waveform generation or an external DAC for higher audio quality.

Components:

- Microcontroller with DSP and DAC capabilities.
- External DAC for better audio quality.
- Flash memory or SD card to store sound samples and MIDI files.
- Optional: Low-pass filter for improved audio output.

## Subsystem 3: Output Subsystem

This subsystem delivers audio to external devices through both wired and wireless methods.

Design:

- Wired Output: A 3.5mm audio jack with an amplifier will support headphones or external speakers.
- (Optional) Bluetooth Output: Integrate Bluetooth streaming for wireless audio playback.

Components:

- Audio amplifier.
- 3.5mm audio jack and connectors.
- (Optional) Bluetooth module.

## Subsystem 4: (Optional) User Interface
This subsystem adds additional functionality to enhance user experience.

Features:

- LED Backlit Keys: Guide beginners in learning to play.
- Playback Mode: Replay user performance or pre-recorded songs.
- Lazy Mode: Random button presses play pre-recorded high-quality accordion sounds.
- Sound Customization: An LED display and interface allow users to change sound profiles or remap keys.

Components:

- RGB LEDs for backlit keys.
- Small OLED or TFT screen for the user interface.
- Additional GPIOs for expanded functionality.

# Criterion For Success

Our project will be considered successful if it meets the following testable criteria:

1. The system can detect treble and bass key presses accurately with no noticable input lag.
2. The sound synthesis subsystem generates high-quality accordion sounds with minimal distortion.
3. Audio output is clear and functional through wired connection.
4. The system is modular, with components that can be easily replaced or repaired.
5. The total cost of materials stays below $150.
(Optional features can be added to the project, such as LED backlit keys, playback, lazy mode, and bluetooth, if time permits)

Waste Bin Monitoring System

Benjamin Gao, Matt Rylander, Allen Steinberg

Featured Project

# Team Members:

- Matthew Rylander (mjr7)

- Allen Steinberg (allends2)

- Benjamin Gao (bgao8)

# Problem

Restaurants produce large volumes of waste every day which can lead to many problems like overflowing waste bins, smelly trash cans, and customers questioning the cleanliness of a restaurant if it is not dealt with properly. Managers of restaurants value cleanliness as one of their top priorities. Not only is the cleanliness of restaurants required by law, but it is also intrinsically linked to their reputation. Customers can easily judge the worth of a restaurant by how clean they keep their surroundings. A repulsive odor from a trash can, pests such as flies, roaches, or rodents building up from a forgotten trash can, or even just the sight of a can overflowing with refuse can easily reduce the customer base of an establishment.

With this issue in mind, there are many restaurant owners and managers that will likely purchase a device that will help them monitor the cleanliness of aspects of their restaurants. With the hassle of getting an employee to leave their station, walk to a trash can out of sight or far away, possibly even through external weather conditions, and then return to their station after washing their hands, having a way to easily monitor the status of trash cans from the kitchen or another location would be convenient and save time for restaurant staff.

Fullness of each trash can isn’t the only motivating factor to change out the trash. Maybe the trash can is mostly empty, but is extremely smelly. People are usually unable to tell if a trash can is smelly just from sight alone, and would need to get close to it, open it up, and expose themselves to possible smells in order to determine if the trash needs to be changed.

# Solution

Our project will have two components: 1. distributed sensor tags on the trash can, and 2. A central hub for collecting data and displaying the state of each trash can.

The sensor tags will be mounted to the top of a waste bin to monitor fullness of the can with an ultrasonic sensor, the odor/toxins in the trash with an air quality/gas sensor, and also the temperature of the trash can as high temperatures can lead to more potent smells. The tags will specifically be mounted on the underside of the trash can lids so the ultrasonic sensor has a direct line of sight to the trash inside and the gas sensor is directly exposed to the fumes generated by the trash, which are expected to migrate upward past the sensor and out the lid of the can.

The central hub will have an LCD display that will show all of the metrics described in the sensor tags and alert workers if one of the waste bins needs attention with a flashing LED. The hub will also need to be connected to the restaurant’s WiFi.

This system will give workers one less thing to worry about in their busy shifts and give managers peace of mind knowing that workers will be warned before a waste bin overflows. It will also improve the customer experience as they will be much less likely to encounter overflowing or smelly trash cans.

# Solution Components

## Sensor Tag Subsystem x2

Each trash can will be fitted with a sensor tag containing an ultrasonic sensor transceiver pair, a hazardous gas sensor, a temperature sensor, an ESP32 module, and additional circuitry necessary for the functionality of these components. The sensors will be powered with 3.3V or 5V DC from a wall adapter. A small hole will need to be drilled into the side of each trash can to accommodate the wall adapter output cord. They may also need to be connected to the restaurant’s WiFi.

- 2x ESP32-S3-WROOM

https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/espressif-systems/ESP32-S3-WROOM-1-N16R2/16162644

- 2x Air Quality Sensor (ZMOD4410)

https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/renesas-electronics-corporation/ZMOD4410AI1R/8823799

- 2x Temperature/Humidity Sensor(DHT22)

https://www.amazon.com/HiLetgo-Digital-Temperature-Humidity-Replace/dp/B01DA3C452?source=ps-sl-shoppingads-lpcontext&ref_=fplfs&psc=1&smid=A30QSGOJR8LMXA#customerReviews

- 2x Ultrasonic Transmitter/Receiver

https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/cui-devices/CUSA-R75-18-2400-TH/13687422

https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/cui-devices/CUSA-T75-18-2400-TH/13687404

## Central Hub Subsystem

The entire system will be monitored from a central hub containing an LCD screen, an LED indicator light, and additional I/O modules as necessary. It will be based around an ESP32 module connected to the restaurant’s WiFi or ESPNOW P2P protocol that communicates with the sensor tags. The central hub will receive pings from the sensor tags at regular intervals, and if the central hub determines that one or more of the values (height of trash, air quality index, or temperature) are too high, it will notify the user. This information will be displayed on the hub’s LCD screen and the LED indicator light on the hub will flash to alert the restaurant staff of the situation.

- 1x ESP32-S3-WROOM

https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/espressif-systems/ESP32-S3-WROOM-1-N16R2/16162644

- 1x LCD Screen

https://www.amazon.com/Hosyond-Display-Compatible-Mega2560-Development/dp/B0BWJHK4M6/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=3.5%2Binch%2Blcd&qid=1705694403&sr=8-4&th=1

# Criteria For Success

This project will be successful if the following goals are met:

- The sensor tags can detect when a trash can is almost full (i.e. when trash is within a few inches of the lid) and activate the proper protocol in the central hub.

- The sensor tags can detect when an excess of noxious fumes are being produced in a trash can and activate the proper protocol in the central hub.

- The sensor tags can detect when the temperature in a trash can has exceeded a user-defined threshold and activate the proper protocol in the central hub.

- The central hub can receive wireless messages from all sensor tags reliably and correctly identify which trash cans are sending the messages.

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