Prototyping

In this step you will be looking at the prototyping stage, and

finding out how to prototype both the hardware and fabrication
elements of your build. Using cheap materials to make your
designs a reality, and doing it fast, is the best way to see how
your ideas work when they are made real.

Why prototyping will be useful for you

There are lots of questions you will need to answer in order to build
your embedded system into a physical thing, and the easier
questions can be answered through prototyping. These are
questions such as, “How big will the housing be?” and “How will the
components be laid out?” These are much easier to work out in the
prototyping stage. While cardboard can be quickly cut and
reassembled, this is not as easy to do with more sturdy materials.

You should use cheap materials for your prototypes, the kind you
don’t mind having to throw away completely and start over. There
will be many times when you will need to do just that! The
prototyping stage is where you try out all of your ideas and see how
they work, so don’t be afraid of it not working. It is a learning
experience.

Methods for prototyping

There are two stages to your build: first, you have to construct the
hardware, and then you have to prototype the fabrication. We will
talk about some tools that you can use for each of the stages; try to
think how each of them would apply to your build.

Hardware

Before you can start building a housing for your device, you are
going to need a device to house.

Use a simple board for your processor, something like an Arduino

or a micro:bit. Choose one that will allow you to get things
connected and running as quickly as possible. Once you have all
your features working in the real world, you can iterate over the
design and see if there are better ways to arrange your hardware,
or superior components that you could use. The most important
thing is to get something you can test — something that achieves
the features you set out to create as quickly as possible.

Implement your algorithms according to your designs, and make

sure to note where you had to change things. This keeps the
designs relevant. Avoid making too many changes in the code
without updating the plans, as otherwise the designs may no longer
apply and this could cause confusion.

Here are some resources to help you get started with those boards:

 micro:bit
 Arduino

Housing and design

When prototyping the design elements, cardboard is the most

effective tool in the world. It is easy to get hold of, takes minutes to
shape and cut, and is easily disposed of when you need to change
it. Keep it cheap at this stage and try to use things you have lying
around the house. Save your budget for the final build.

Try to use cardboard that is of a similar thickness to the material

you intend to use for the final build, to get an accurate
representation. Avoid using glue if you can, as this makes it harder
to iterate over prototypes.

Once again, be sure to note any learnings or changes to your

designs, as you will want to go back over them and it’s important
that they still apply to the device you are making.

Use colours and paint to test out the designs, as these visual
elements are important too. Don’t leave colour until the last minute.