Hello, my name is Chris Hill and I'm a research at the University of Colorado, Boulder
Craft Tech Lab and the ATLAS Institute.
The title of our paper that I am presenting today is
The ThreadBoard: Designing an E-textile Rapid Prototyping Board.
Our paper is about the development of a novel prototyping board designed specifically for
e-textiles called the ThreadBoard.
In the paper, we discuss our design process, design considerations, features of a magnet
based design, and the ThreadBoard as a part of the larger e-textile tool ecosystem.
E-textiles is a field of embedded computing that enables creators to design and build
textile computational devices.
The stitching of conductive thread traces allows for the freeform design of pathways
that connect microcontrollers and other components.
This is a powerful distinction from traditional circuit boards and breadboards which impose
a more rigid grid-like design for conductive connections.
Our research identifies a key technique of traditional embedded computing that is missing
from e-textile creation.
This technique is the rapid prototyping of threaded circuitry during the initial design
stages.
Our solution to this problem is to develop an e-textile tool that allows for the placement
of free form circuitry, uses materials and components that are native to e-textiles,
does not stifle creativity, is non-intimidating to novices, and can be made at home.
So current e-textile tools for rapid prototyping can be arranged on a spectrum from highly
structured to open systems.
On the highly structured end of the spectrum the user is typically given proprietary components
that fit within a predesigned form.
By constraining choice, the structured kits help the maker avoid errors, but restricts
the creative freedom that on the other end of the spectrum open-ended kits afford.
While open ended kits offer more creative and design freedom, they can also be more
challenging to assemble and allow for bugs that the user wouldn't encounter in a structured
system.
We believe that the e-textile makers need a tool that provides enough structure so they
can quickly prototype their circuits but without restricting the variety of circuit designs
they can create.
The ThreadBoard addresses this need by providing a rapid prototyping board that uses components
native to e-textiles and that allows for free placement of conductive thread, sensors, actuators,
and microcontrollers.
The need for rapid prototyping tools for e-textiles is also highlighted by the difficulties associated
with debugging threaded circuitry.
Upon finding that their project does not perform as intended, e-textile makers face the often
disheartening task of disassembling their project to isolate and identify bugs.
Once they find a bug and attempt a fix, the maker must then re-stitch portions of their
project in order to test it.
This trial and error approach is time intensive and frustrating with the regular stitching
and re-stitching of circuits.
While some tools have been suggested to assist with locating errors in the e-textile circuits,
either during or after the sewing process.
We instead advocate for students to iterate over their circuit design before sewing, in
a matter similar to the traditional solderless breadboard where the user can quickly disconnect
and reconfigure the hardware components and a microcontroller.
This is an early prototype of ThreadBoard that served as a proof-of-concept that we
can embed magnets into pre-existing microcontrollers easily and that they would allow for an intuitive
connection with the magnets embedded into stiff felt.
The main issue with this design was the layout restrictions.
The Threadboard could only support 1 or 2 actuators or sensors and also due to the layout
design the user could not easily utilize all the adjacent pins available on the micro:bit.
This is the current version of the ThreadBoard.
This version was inspired by the initial user tests and insights gained from the previous
iteration.
The layout was inspired by the circular design of a e-textile microcontrollers like the
Lilypad Arduino and Adafruit Circuit Playground.
This design allows for the creation of more complex circuitry, as well as the implementation
of microcontrollers and e-textile components.
This is the ThreadBoard toolkit we've been developing.
Due to the metals used in certain components, like the vibration motor, LEDS, and stainless
steel thread that you see in the picture, these components are attracted to the magnets
embedded in the ThreadBoard.
We also discovered that you can enrich pre-existing microcontrollers with magnets
to have them interface with the ThreadBoard as well.
In this video we can see an example project called the Big Dipper, where several LEDs
and stainless steel thread attach to the microcontroller to make the circuitry.
In the video, you can see me populate the board with several LEDs and then lay the ground
bus on the outer layer of magnets and on the inner circle of magnets I lay down the power
bus, then I connect the LEDs to the busses to power them on.
For future work, we are currently distributing ThreadBoards to students in a Wearables class
for both feedback on the board's design and to document what types of projects and circuitry
that students make with the ThreadBoard.
We are experimenting with creating a 3D prototyping device, which will more closely take the form
of objects like teddy bears or stuffed avocados, for example.
Currently, the ThreadBoard encourages radial designs due to its magnet layout being circular.
We plan on observing how different configurations of magnet layouts can affect circuit and project
design.
In conclusion, the ThreadBoard is a rapid prototyping platform for e-textiles, that
utilizes a system of magnets.
Incorporating magnets provides a prototyping platform that is more appropriate for e-textiles
than the solderless breadboard.
Makers no longer need to work with single use snap connections or maneuver alligator
clips onto small pins.
Rather they can now lay circuit traces with conductive thread.
More over, without the opaque top layer substrate of conventional breadboards, users can better
visualize circuit connections, allowing them to more easily troubleshoot complex designs.
Makers also do not need to fabricate or purchase special components for use with the ThreadBoard,
as the magnets simplify and modify commercial electronic components.
As a result, the ThreadBoard enables makers to build prototypes with components that can
be directly transferred into a final product and have a more authentic e-textile experience.
Thank you for listening to our talk.
This work would not be possible without the National Science Foundation, as well as our
colleagues at CU Boulder.
If you follow the link on the bottom of the slide, there are instructions on how to fabricate
your very own ThreadBoard.
Thank You