Advanced Wearables 2023

The Sun Glasses

Aranya Khurana
ARANYA KHURANA + NIKHIL THOMAS

Project Description

General Concept

The Sun Glasses

The Sun Glasses are designed to light up in response to direct sunlight. Hook them up to the paired solar panel accessory, and they light up when you have the sun on your back! The connecting electrical wires are inspired by and meant to emulate vintage eyeglass chains.

This project made us aware of and was significantly affected by the real-world possibilities and practical limitations offered up by solar power. The original concept for these glasses was intended to be a kaleidoscope (we preferred the term ‘sol-eidoscope’) using rotating tubular glass containers hooked up to motor actuators and filled with fun coloured shapes. However, any attempt to connect even the least powerful motors available to us (believe us, we tried a bunch!) in any possible permutation and combination of the 6 solar panels we had (all in parallel, all in series and every kind of solar array in between such as 3S x 2P, 2S x 3P, etc) was unsuccessful in getting them to move.

Choosing to scale the power requirements of the project down, we then changed the concept to a set of glasses that simply used light and LEDs. In this iteration, we were inspired by the role of the sun in the creation of rainbows. In nature, one can only see a rainbow when the sun is behind the observer, its light passes through water droplets, reflects internally and is split into its constituent colours. We wanted to use this same relative orientation of the sun and the observer for our wearable. We used 2 sets of 5 LEDs (red, orange, yellow, green and blue) to approximate the colours of a rainbow.

Terrible power consumption along with our insistence at using a direct drive circuit (or, at least, no battery power) presented another familiar roadblock: the solar panels (in artificial light-based testing conditions) weren’t powerful enough to run all the colors of LED’s together. Owing to power and project time considerations, we again scaled our design down and decided to only use red and orange LEDs (which require less power than yellow, green and certainly blue LEDs).Although all of this would have been solved by using a battery which is powered by a set of solar panels, we strived to push ourselves and learn about the intricacies and the challenges that would arise if we directly power the output with solar panels. This really did teach us a lot!

How The Solar Circuit Works

The circuit is a simple direct drive solar circuit using 6 solar panels in parallel to power 2 sets of 5 LED’s in parallel according to the diagram below:

Parts and Materials

We used the following parts, materials and tools for testing and prototyping :

  • Cardboard (thin, non-corrugated)
  • DC Electrical Motors (3 different types)
  • Used Garden Lamp Plastic Casing x2
  • Rechargeable AAA Battery
  • Garden Lamp Solar Circuit
  • 10F Capacitor (RIP)
  • 2F Capacitor
  • Solar Capacitor/Battery Charging circuit
  • Red, Orange, Yellow, Green and Blue LEDs (3mm diameter)
  • 9V Battery
  • 9V Battery Holder

For the final design we used these parts and materials:

  • 3V x 130mA square solar panels, 6 pieces
  • Clear PETG 3D Printing Filament
  • Red and Orange LEDs (3mm diameter)
  • Non-Leaded Solder Wire
  • Red, Black and White Solid Core Wire
  • Hot Glue
  • Fabric Scraps
  • Painter’s Tape
  • 2mm thick Clothes Hanger Wire
  • Transparent Plastic Coloured Beads

And as for tools:

  • Lulzbot Mini 3D Printer
  • Soldering Iron
  • Multimeter
  • Alligator Clips
  • Breadboard for prototyping
  • Jumper Cables
  • Needle Nose Pliers
  • Wire Cutters
  • Power Drill
  • Tabletop Lamps
  • Wire/Bolt Cutters
  • Fabric Scissors
  • Hot Glue Gun
Sketches
Solar Panels in Parallel
Solar Panel Wiring
Testing the Circuit
Details

Technical areas of focus

Circuit Category
Direct Drive

Integration of circuitry

  • The circuit is powered by 6 X 3V solar panels that are connected in parallel to 10 LED’s which are also connected in parallel.
  • The LED’s are placed inside individual holes that are provided in the glasses that helps to spread the light within. Whereas the solar panels are attached to a piece of cloth which is placed on a person’s back, which relates to the concept of sun situated behind the observer.

Wearability

Needs to be sturdy but light, not sharp/hurt, symmetrical, should fit properly (ergonomics) and also for a wide range of faces/heads, proper distance and separated from face or insulated so that people don’t get shocked.

Project Context and Inspiration

The project originally originated from the conventional association of wearables with the body, typically found on limbs or the torso, Deviating from this norm, our focus was on leveraging the face as a unique wearable medium. We believe eyewear is a good representation of the expansion of this space.

Delving into the historical roots of our project, we found inspiration in the ancient concept of harnessing power from the sun. This practice dates back to the 7th century B.C. when humanity first directly harnessed solar power by using a magnifying glass to concentrate the sun’s rays and create fire. Fast forward to 1883, and we witnessed a pivotal moment in the progression of solar technology when American inventor Charles Fritts installed the first solar device to produce electricity from sunlight on a New York rooftop.

Motivated by these historical millstones, we conceived the idea of solar-powered eyewear, viewing it as a symbolic connection to the sun as the ultimate power source. This connection resonates with the initial association of the sun with fire, weaving together ancient wisdom and modern technology. Our inspiration was significantly inflected by the work of Cyrus Kabiru, a self-taught artist from Kenya who uses found objects to create bold and unusual eyewear sculptures. This inspired me greatly to design the aesthetics that portray a futuristic tribal artwork. Which represents the combination of modern power harnesses with the oldest power source.

In designing the eyewear, a deliberate choice was made to expose the connecting wires between the solar panels and LEDs. This decision wasn’t just about aesthetics; it was a conscious effort to highlight the intricate connection between the power source and the illuminating element of the eyewear. By incorporating this feature, we aimed to communicate not only functionality but also transparency in the design process, allowing users to visually engage with the synergy between solar technology and wearable illumination.

While the eyeglass chains may evoke nostalgia, our approach offers a fresh perspective. In the past, glasses and chains were often associated with aging grandparents that we all relate to. Whereas in the Victorian era, ladies would wear ornate chains draped across their chests, keeping their glasses close at hand without actually donning them on their faces. However, in today’s context, eyeglass chains are undergoing a revival, propelled by a movement endorsed by celebrities like Bella and Gigi Hadid. This revival transforms eyeglass chains from a functional accessory to a bold fashion statement, challenging and reshaping perceptions surrounding age-old fashion norms.

In conclusion, our project is a harmonious blend of historical inspiration, technological innovation, and contemporary design aesthetics. From the ancient practice of harnessing solar power to the influence of artists like Cyrus Kabiru, our journey has been one of weaving together diverse elements to create a wearable that not only embraces the sun’s power but also challenges and redefines conventional notions of fashion and functionality. Our solar-powered eyewear creates a seamless integration of the ancient and the modern, inviting users to engage with a wearable that goes beyond mere functionality, offering a unique and visually captivating experience.

Inspiration-

Lessons learned

  • Always check if the multimeter itself is working before testing your circuit
  • The solar panel output might be lesser than that is mentioned in the specifications
  • DO NOT charge capacitors to direct power(battery) without checking the voltage of the battery as well as the capacitor.
  • Motors require an initial high current to start rotation from stationary position which is higher than the current required to run the motor while in motion.
  • LED’s connected in parallel is better since the voltage is same across and even if one LED fails the other would still operate, whereas in series due to voltage drops very few LEDS would work and if one fails the others wouldn’t work.

References

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Aranya Khurana

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