Projects
Not everything in life goes as planned. But that’s what makes it fun. Check out these projects that I’ve had varying success at. If nothing else, I enjoyed attempting them. Click the pictures to see more info!
2024
Inspiration: I saw an illusion that I thought would be really cool made out of laser cut wood
Idea: Use wood, epoxy and lead to create an illusion
2023
Inspiration: Christmas present for my sister!
Idea: New phone who dis?
2022
Inspiration: Christmas present for my sister!
Idea: Have dumpster fires talk to one another, light up, and smoke
2021
Inspiration: Christmas present for my sister!
Idea: Make her iPhone 11 “magsafe” in the most ridiculous way
2021
Inspiration: Wedding and iris mechanism
Idea: Create a box for our ring bearer to hold the rings in that did a bunch of stuff
2021
Inspiration: Gift for Lindsay’s graduation
Idea: Create a box to hold the fountain pen I purchased for her
2020
Inspiration: Yearly Christmas present for my sister!
Idea: Make Disney inspired coasters to go with the bar cart I made the previous year.
2020
Inspiration: Aluminum anniversary present.
Idea: Make an aluminum case for her ring for when we go on adventures.
2020
Inspiration: Needed a unique and personal way to ask everyone to be in our wedding party
Idea: Make a smaller version of the original Puzzle Box for each person in our wedding party and customize the puzzles to whoever was opening it
2019
Inspiration: Christmas present for my sister!
Idea: Design and build a bar cart that had pictures epoxied into it
2019
Inspiration: Wanted to propose to Lindsay
Idea: Design and build a puzzle box for her to solve. Start and finish within 6.5 days.
2019
Inspiration: Old clock kept going out of time and had an iPhone 5 laying around doing nothing
Idea: Design a housing for the iPhone so I could use it as a bedside clock.
2019
Inspiration: Wanted a better way to document projects I’ve done and photos I’ve taken with easy access wherever I am
Idea: Create a website where I can post all of my projects and photos. Give family and friends access but restrict access to the general public with passwords.
2018
Inspiration: Christmas present for my sister!
Idea: Create a 3D-printed knight’s helmet with removable tiara to match my sister’s shield.
2018
Inspiration: Birthday cake for my sister’s 30th birthday
Idea: Make a three-tiered (one for every decade of my fabulous sister’s life) cake with crazy sparkles.
2018
Inspiration: Entrants to the model yacht competition were assigned “yacht clubs”
Idea: Create custom logos for each yacht club so everyone could label their yachts.
2018
Inspiration: Gift for a friend’s two children (and had a lot of leftover plastic tubing)
Idea: Design a rattle that changes color based on 3D orientation. Wireless charging. Must be childproof.
2018
Inspiration: Scavenger hunt for family reunion needed a prize
Idea: 3D print a gold trophy designed to reflect the event.
Picture by Ryan Burlinson
RGB LED Array
2015-2018
Inspiration: Gift for a friend’s newborn
Idea: Make a “mobile” which would light up in different colors and patterns. Have a nightlight component which would illuminate a train capable of going around a track. Continue making 4 alternate versions with remaining PCBs.
2016-2019
Inspiration: Dad has a garden which needs to be watered
Idea: Work with him to build a system which could automatically water his garden based on the moisture level of the soil. Internet-enabled to allow for data logging and schedule updates.
Autonomous Yacht
2017-2018
Inspiration: Friends host a model yacht RC race every year where everyone builds their own boats
Idea: Do as little building as possible and make an autonomous entry. Use a bilge pump as propulsion.
2017
Inspiration: Sister went to a renaissance fair and sent me a picture of someone with a wooden shield, and her birthday was coming up
Idea: Make her a shield out of carbon fiber with the logo we designed that she could hang up in her apartment and wear to fairs.
Portable Monitor
2017
Inspiration: Wanted an external monitor but didn’t want to have to plug it into the wall
Idea: Build one out of an old broken laptop I had.
Catch Phrase
2015-2017
Inspiration: Had Catch Phrase in college that was fun to play
Idea: Make a custom version with my own set of words.
Cutting Board
2016
Inspiration: Christmas present for my sister who didn’t have a nice cutting board
Idea: Build a cutting board out of maple and wood burn in a ridiculous design.
ESP8266 Programming Board
2016
Inspiration: Was using ESP8266 wifi modules and getting frustrated by all the loose wires required to program them
Idea: Design and build a PCB that lets me just plug an ESP8266 in and program it via USB.
Airplay Speakers
2015
Inspiration: Christmas present for my sister who didn’t have any speakers in her apartment
Idea: Build custom airplay speakers that look ridiculous.
Clock
2015
Inspiration: Didn’t have room for my iHome on my new nightstand
Idea: Make a new housing for the internals of my iHome out of some wood I had.
Sudoku
2015
Inspiration: Was playing a lot of sudoku
Idea: Write a java script to solve any sudoku puzzle.
Hide and Seek
2014
Inspiration: Final project for Robot Systems Programming Class
Idea: Have two turtlebots play autonomous hide and seek.
Java Applet Games
2013
Inspiration: Wanted to learn how to make computer games
Idea: Write simple Java Applet games. Created Frogger, Pac-Man like game, and a magic eight ball.
Virtual Piano
2012
Inspiration: Final project for Computer Vision Class
Idea: Allow user to play a piano based using a Kinect and colored objects.
Guitar
2009
Inspiration: Was just getting into playing guitar and needed a final project for AP 3D Art
Idea: Build my own electric guitar from scratch.
3D Animation
2005
Inspiration: Being a nerd
Idea: Attend a summer camp to learn how to use Autodesk Maya, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Flash and other computer programs.
