Student Innovation Project
SIP
Technical Field
This project encompasses embedded systems design and engineering.
Background Information
I was inspired to create this project due to my personal vendetta against nicotine and the big tobacco industry. A nicotine addict myself for many years, my goal is to create a solution that actually works, and doesn’t rely on substituting one form of nicotine for another.
Prior Art
Myriad nicotine vaporization products exist on the market today. Any time you go into a convenience store in most states, dozens of options can be found. There are plenty of both nicotine and non-nicotine vaporizers available, however none of them combine both. Most nicotine vaporizers available are generally more addictive than cigarettes, in that they utilize nicotine salts, a highly-concentrated form of nicotine that delivers a dosage many times more than any cigarette ever could. Even the non-nicotine solutions, while they certainly address the oral fixation component of vaping addiction in that they satisfy the mere psychological addiction to the act of vaping, do not at all address the chemical dependency component of the addiction.
There are a few different types of controllers available currently, including variable voltage (VV), variable wattage (VW), temperature control (TC), and pulse-width modulation (PWM). VV boards use simple voltage regulators to apply the desired voltage to the coil. VW boards continuously monitor the coil’s resistance and automatically adjust the voltage output to achieve the user’s wattage setting. TC boards take it a step further and, given the predetermined properties of the metal used to manufacture the coil, automatically adjust the voltage output to achieve the user’s temperature setting. PWM boards use potentiometers to modulate the pulse frequency (or width).
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Nicotine Rugpull will utilize PWM to control the voltage delivered to each coil, and unlike any other boards I’ve seen on the market, will allow for the simultaneous control of two different coils.
With the gaming experience added to the project, it will be even more innovative. Although a few different vape mods exist on the market today that allow the user to play a game on them (like Q*Bert for instance), none of them reward the user based on progression through the game like my project does.
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Sources (also listed in Appendix H):
https://www.stealthvape.co.uk/product-category/mod-parts/boards/
https://downloads.evolvapor.com/dna30.pdf
https://www.modmaker.com/infiniohm-retro-pwm-board
https://vapingdaily.com/vaporizers/qbert-arcade-mod-review/
Project Description
This project is built on an Arduino Uno platform, utilizing two N-channel MOFSETs to drive each of the coils. The software is written in Arduino/C++. The project will benefit users by assisting them in removing their dependence on nicotine for good.
Innovation Claim
Nicotine Rugpull is innovative because it poses a solution unlike anything available in the vape market today. It utilizes two coils to gradually wean users off a nicotine-containing liquid onto a zero-nicotine liquid. Furthermore, it makes a game out of the nicotine consumption experience. While there do exist vape mods on the market that implement games (The Q*Bert Arcade Mod 2021), none of them use 2 coils, and none of them implement a reward-based system into the game for the user’s actual vape session.
Usage Scenario
Although this project is intended for controlling the mixture between a nicotine-containing liquid and a non-nicotine liquid, theoretically it could be used to hone the specific mixture between any two vaporizable substances in liquid form. Simply put, it is a medical device intended to digitally control the dosage of two substances to the user in inhaled form. The user will be forced to play a Simon game if they would like to consume nicotine.
The controller in the device, more specifically its firmware, is the star of the show. The targeted substance need not be nicotine, but can be any addictive substance with properties that make it soluble in propylene glycol, vegetable glycerin, etc. Imagine a scenario in which an individual is addicted to, for instance, methamphetamine. According to a study by PubMed (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6921295/), methamphetamine is indeed aerosolizable in an e-cigarette-type vaporizing device. Nicotine Rugpull could be used as a tool to help this addicted individual wean off this highly-addictive substance.
Evaluation Criteria
The following questions will identify the successful completion of the project:
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Does the device function as intended?
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Is the design practical and economically feasible?
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Is it marketable?
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Do users of the device actually stay away from nicotine after the tapering-off period has concluded? What’s the relapse rate?
Objectives and Tasks Associated with the Project
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Building physical breadboard prototype for testing purposes
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Refining control code to balance voltage between the two MOSFETs via pulse-width modulation (PWM)
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Gamifying the project – adding a puzzle the user must solve to earn higher levels of nicotine
Description of Design Prototype
The prototype system will be built on the Arduino Uno platform, with software written in the Arduino native language (C++ plus some Arduino-specific native libraries).
Two N-Channel MOSFETs will independently drive the two vaporizing coils, using pulse width modulation (PWM) from the Arduino microcontroller.
A variety of resistors, switches, and LEDs will be used in order for the user to control and monitor device operation, battery level, etc.
A Simon game will be part of the experience, requiring the user to progress through the game levels to earn higher levels of nicotine.
Evaluation Plan
During the evaluation phase, the device will be tested for actual functionality. Voltage monitoring at the MOSFET output will verify that the tapering down is happening as intended. LEDs will be used to represent the two vaporizing coils. The Simon game will also be played through, to ensure that the correct balance is applied to the coils after completing the intended levels.
Project Completion Assessment
I’m quite satisfied with how the project has progressed through completion. Through much trial-and-error, the circuitry functions perfectly and the code executes flawlessly.
I've implemented a Simon game into my project. Rather than code the entire game from scratch, I’ve used an open-source Simon project distributed under the MIT license, and implemented my dual-coil control code into that (Thenlie n.d.). Now, the user is forced to play a game before they're allowed to vape. They may vape right away if they wish, but it will be at 0% nicotine. Also, after vaping for 30 seconds, they may not do it again for another hour. If the user chooses to play for a nicotine reward, they will play Simon. Every 5 levels passed in Simon awards the user with 1.25% more nicotine, up to a maximum of 5% nicotine (after beating the game at level 20). During the game, every time a new nicotine level is achieved, the LEDs blink to indicate the new level. When the user either loses the game (they may try for a higher score if they so desire), game points are redeemed using the REDEEM button. Pressing this button sets the balance of the two coils to correspond with the level achieved. It also activates the internal coil in the master vape relay for 30 seconds, allowing the user to vape with the button. After these 30 seconds have expired, the relay and game will be completely disabled for another hour before they're permitted to try again.
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What went right?
I eventually got everything working.
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What went wrong?
I originally started prototyping on a physical breadboard, rather than simulating with TinkerCad. As a result, I burned out a several LEDs and other electronic components during my trial-and-error testing.
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What was learned throughout the process?
I learned not to assume that my code would work as intended without simulating it first. I’ve learned to rely more on virtual simulations prior to any physical construction of the project. Also, I leveled-up on my soldering skills!
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What would be done differently if I had to do it again?
I’d definitely start tinkering with TinkerCad rather than trying it on a breadboard using physical components first.
Appendices
Appendix A: Arduino Beta Code File – nicotine_rugpull.ino
Appendix B: PCB Schematic (Autodesk Eagle format) – eagle_schematic.sch
Appendix C: PCB Schematic preview image – eagle_schematic.png
Appendix D: Prototype logic flow chart – FLOWCHART.png
Appendix E: Nicotine Rugpull logo – nicotine_rugpull_logo.png
Appendix F: Tinkercad Prototype screenshot – NICOTINE_RUGPULL_TinkerCad.png
Appendix G: Powerpoint Presentation – SIP_Round1_Presentation.pptx
Appendix H: References
Evolv DNA 30D - evolv downloads. (n.d.). Retrieved November 11, 2022, from https://downloads.evolvapor.com/dna30.pdf
Infiniohm retro PWM Board. ModMaker. (n.d.). Retrieved November 11, 2022, from https://www.modmaker.com/infiniohm-retro-pwm-board
Krakowiak, R. I., Poklis, J. L., & Peace, M. R. (2019, September 10). The analysis of aerosolized methamphetamine from e-cigarettes using high resolution mass spectrometry and Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry. Journal of analytical toxicology. Retrieved November 11, 2022, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6921295/
The Q*Bert Arcade Mod: The World’s first game Vape. Vaping Daily. (2021, May 3). https://vapingdaily.com/vaporizers/qbert-arcade-mod-review/
Rob Ellard. (n.d.). Smart PWM V3. Stealthvape. Retrieved November 11, 2022, from https://www.stealthvape.co.uk/product/smart-pwm-v3/
Stealthvape. (n.d.). VW / VV boards - regulated boards at stealthvape. Stealthvape. Retrieved November 11, 2022, from https://www.stealthvape.co.uk/product-category/mod-parts/boards/
Thenlie. (n.d.). Thenlie/Simon-game: A simon memory game built for Arduino. GitHub. https://github.com/Thenlie/simon-game
YouTube. (2016, October 10). Smart PWM vaporizer from prototype to final product. YouTube. Retrieved November 11, 2022, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uP5mqBYo5pg
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