Girls into Coding: Project Particle Pavilion

Hi, my name is Avye and I’m 14 years old. I’m a coder, maker, workshop leader, girl in tech advocate, and the founder of Girls Into Coding (GIC). Through GIC I create opportunities for girls to explore coding, physical computing, robotics & 3D printing.

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Project Particle Pavilion

For my project, I've decided to explore how spaces can monitor & react to internal air quality in order to improve the experience of the users. 

I think there are a range of spaces that could benefit from this, including classrooms, maker spaces & eating areas in the hospitality sector, to name just a few.

Since the pandemic, social distancing along with the need for additional space and appropriate ventilation has become hugely important. Because of this, I want to also explore the concept of a POP-UP Pavilion - A pavilion that could be installed in different locations to provide space & indoor air quality solutions where needed.

Future Workshop

As mentioned earlier I’m a workshop leader, and I create opportunities for young people, particularly girls, to explore tech, so I hope to be able to develop a version of the Particle Pavilion to be used as an educational tool for future workshops

Scale & Hardware

Ideally, my finished ‘Particle  Pavilion’ will have a footprint no bigger than A3 (for now) and will be made from laser-cut pieces of plywood & acrylic, the different mechanisms used will involve stepper motors & servos, and will be powered by an ESP-32 or a Raspberry Pi.

Pavilion Ideas / Sketches / Models

Pavilion features

• Neopixel inside of the pavilion that changes colour to indicate different co2 levels – alongside some sort of audio alert.
• A sliding skylight opens when a specified co2 level is detected. Possibly using a servo with a linear actuator
• Vertical Shutter wall that will open & close in response to different co2 levels. Possibly using a stepper motor or servo. Will need to explore making different mechanisms/linkages to get this to work.
• I like the idea of using a fan or air purifier which switches on at a certain co2 level. However, I will need to think of an interesting way to include this in the Pavilion idea.

Vertical Shutter Idea / Sketch Models

Which of these will I use to get things moving & how?

Sliding Skylight Mock Up

Bill of Materials (this list may change as the project develops)

• Adafruit ESP32-S2 Feather with BME280 Sensor
• Adafruit Stepper Motor Featherwing
• TFT FeatherWing - 2.4" 320x240 Touchscreen For All Feathers
• Adafruit SCD 40 - True CO2, Temperature and Humidity Sensor
• NeoPixel Ring - 24 x 5050 RGB LED with Integrated Drivers
• Mini Air Purifier
• 5V DC, Axial Fan, 40 x 40 x 10mm, 7CFM
• Relay - 5V
• 4mm Economy Birch Laser Plywood - 600mm x 400mm sheet (quantity to be confirmed)
• Clear Perspex Sheet (Cast) 4mm x 600mm x 400mm (quantity to be confirmed)
• 6mm Poplar Laser Plywood, 600mm x 400mm sheet
• Lipo Battery - 3.7 v; 500mAh
• AA Battery pack; 3x 1.5V
• Jumper wires
• USB C to B Cable
• M3 button head screws (lengths & quantity to be confirmed)
• M3 hex nuts (quantity to be confirmed)

Follow the Pop-Up Particle Pavilion Project:

• Part 1: Rethinking Shared Spaces
• Part 2: The Build & Demo
• Part 3: Build your own & Reflections