Professional Documents
Culture Documents
mitchamtuell@gmail.com
706-474-9477
Interactive Coke Bottle
Designing an electronic beverage package for Coca-Cola
We chose 9 surface-mount LEDs as the light source - cheap, small, and Coke
red. We used a surface-mount microprocessor designed for use with NFC
tags. The only kind of PCB that could fit our form factor is a flexible plastic one, but we started with a
prototype on a rigid PCB before moving to the more expensive flexible type. Once assembled, the
processor was flashed with some embedded code that lit the LEDs in different patterns according to
different signals received from a smartphone transmitter. The whole assembly was wrapped in Kapton
tape to protect from moisture and static electricity.
The design process for the drum has been complex. Since we are attempting to carve a new market niche
there are very few hard requirements for what the final product should encompass. We want to make
something that sounds and feels good and is durable and well-built, but also want to minimize cost. Up until
now, we’ve been relying on our own ears and
intuition to judge those factors but are
approaching the point of sending drums to
performing drummers for feedback, and we have
devised a schedule of qualitative and quantitative
feedback that we expect to receive from the beta
testers. Hopefully this feedback will allow us to
hone in on the right MVP to offer to our first
customers.
Pedal Controller
Designing and prototyping a signal routing touch controller
The Oddity electric drum is designed to be used with effects pedals. There is already a
very mature market of fantastic effects pedals available to musicians, but drummers face a
challenge that guitarists don’t - their feet aren’t free
while playing. I set out to design and prototype a
controller that would allow drummers to turn on and
off effects pedals by
hitting a rim-mounted
pad with a drumstick.
Original design for hand-forged steel Handmade bottle opener with magnet.
corkscrew. Original variation on known design.
Homemade “smart”
power strip used for
controlling string lights.
Each double outlet relay
is addressable with
externally accessible logic
pins. Original design
variation.