Technology & Realization.
I have developed exponentially in this area over the past years. Driven by my vision for smart products within interior design and architecture, I strategically chose electives such as ‘Designing Connected Experiences,’ ‘Design Actuated Systems,’ and ‘Intelligent Interactive Products.’ These electives broadened my knowledge and competency of connected systems and how to program them.
To deepen my understanding of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, I joined the ARTIFICE squad for Project 3. We developed a smart kitchen AI assistant, where I learned the basics of data foundry and practiced programming in HTML, JavaScript, and C++. While a highly experienced teammate initially made it difficult for me to keep pace with the electronics, this taught me to be more assertive about my learning goals in future collaborations.
This shift in mentality proved successful in the elective ‘Designing Connected Experiences.’ By explicitly stating my learning intentions, I was able to program an entire paired module for a connected escape room with minimal guidance. I successfully integrated a physical wire puzzle with a digital interface, managing six unique frequency sounds and MP3 files. I also gained significant troubleshooting experience, such as resolving driver conflicts (CP210x) for an ESP-32C6, which reinforced the value of trial and error.
Beyond software, I advanced my hardware skills in soldering and using sensors, actuators, potentiometers, and rotary encoders. My determination to bridge the gap between Creativity & Aesthetics and Technology & Realization led me to seek a technically demanding internship at Bestronics for my B3.1 semester.
During this internship, I moved far beyond the basics of CAD modeling and product assembly. I gained crucial insights into Design for Manufacturing (DFM), material properties, and component costing. By performing full assembly, disassembly, and testing for client prototypes, I gained a comprehensive understanding of the necessity for precise assembly guides in batch production.
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