Project Overview

The project was a competition to design and build a digital circuit. The requirements of the design stated that the circuit must be able to read multiple sensors, make decisions based on the data, and act accordingly. It needed to incorporate 2 motors, liquid crystal display, multiple buttons or switches, two or more sensors, and a microcontroller. I decided I wanted to build a practical circuit, rather than some one-use toy. Ultimately, I decided to build a model hot tub. It was originally pitched as the “robot-tub” but later the term “time machine” was added after my professor joked that if one used the tub they would likely be electrocuted and sent back in time. It also was a play off of "Hot Tub Time Machine” (2010).

System Functionality

The tub had all of the capabilities one would expect from a regular hot tub. It had a screen that displayed water temperature, buttons to set the temperature, turn on the jets, and turn on the lights, and an intricate system of hoses delivering hot water from a heater to the tub itself. Also built in, was a servo that dispensed cigars. Lastly, LEDs were placed in the tub to add lighting effects.

Project Achievements

I did not place first in the competition, but I did learn a lot about designing circuits that contain many components. I had to make decisions on sensor quality, read/write speed, and sacrifices due to space constraints. I got more experience coding in C++. And, most importantly, now I know I can make a real hot tub.