Nu-Nag : Project Intelligence
Date: October 2025
Project Length: 5 Weeks
Background
The goal of "Project Intelligence" is to design a simple, intelligent object that responds to the user’s action or the status/changes of the environment. I wanted to create something to help reduce drowsiness while driving. Drowsy driving is extremely dangerous, and not many people know what preventative measures exist.
My device is a visual reminder to:
Rest every 2 hours &
Crack the windows every 20 minutes
These two actions can help improve alertness reduce drowsiness.
Target User
This device is geared towards people with a sleep disorders who wants to take preventative measures against fatigue. The form is playful, the light element maintains attention without being distracting, and it encourages safe practices.
I can also envision the device being used by rideshare and taxi drivers, families who road-trip often, or someone who travels long distances for work frequently.
Ideation
Interaction Scenario
The window timer is meant to be hands free since locating a small button while driving would be a disctraction, so a distance sensor detects when your hand is there which triggers the 20 minute timer. For the rest timer, since the driver would be parked, it is a button that starts the 2 hour timer.
3D Modeling
Prototyping
The APDS9960 sensor was malfunctioning in my first circuit and I was forced to re-wire and solder a new circuit. I worked through some flaws in the design of the internal structure for my final prototype: greatly improving the process of wiring and soldering.
Circuit & Code
The two LED rings sequentially turn from green to red to indicate when the respective amounts of time has passed (20 minutes for window, 2 hours for rest).
I used an Adafruit APDS9960 sensor to detect proximity: infrared light over the proximity threshold triggers the “window” LED sequence to begin/restart. The button triggers the “rest” LED sequence to begin/restart.
Process
Final Prototype
