Prop Pillow: Smart Comfort System

Role: Hardware Engineer & Circuit Designer | Collaborative Project with 4 Classmates | Duration: Dec 2021 - Jun 2022

Prop Pillow is an innovative smart pillow system that provides dynamic comfort through real-time adjustable firmness. Building on experience from previous projects involving solenoids and smart control systems, our team developed a compact, battery-powered solution that seamlessly combines hardware and software for optimal user comfort.

Arduino 3D Printing Circuit Design RF Communication Mechanical Design

Prop Pillow Demonstration: Real-time Firmness Adjustment

Adaptive Support

Real-time inflation and deflation for customizable comfort

Quiet Operation

Low noise air pump with vibration dampening

Long Battery Life

8-10 hours of intermittent use on a single charge

Wireless Control

RF remote for easy firmness adjustment

Development Process

Research & Ideation

December 2021 - January 2022

Finalized core concept
Conducted preliminary tests
Selected key components

Initial Prototyping

February 2022

Created first breadboard circuit
Developed 3D-printed casing
Tested component integration

Iteration & Testing

March - April 2022

Added RF remote control
Improved noise reduction
Conducted user trials

Final Refinements

May - June 2022

Enhanced solenoid design
Optimized battery life
Finalized production design

Technical Implementation

graph TB subgraph Power BAT[12V Battery Pack] CHG[Charging Module] end subgraph Control RF[RF Receiver] MCU[Microcontroller] end subgraph Actuation PUMP[Air Pump] SOL[Solenoid Valve] end BAT --> CHG CHG --> MCU RF --> MCU MCU --> PUMP MCU --> SOL

Power System

12V Li-ion Battery Pack (3S)
8-10 Hour Battery Life
Integrated Charging Circuit

Control System

433MHz RF Remote Control
Arduino-based Logic
PWM Motor Control

Air System

12V DC Air Pump
Normally Closed Solenoid
Check Valve Protection

Prototyping & Iterations

Mechanical Design

3D-printed housing (12cm × 8cm × 6cm)
Rubber dampeners for noise reduction
TPU/PVC air bladder design

Noise Reduction

15-20 dB noise reduction
Sound-dampening foam
Vibration isolation mounts

User Interface

Intuitive RF remote
LED status indicators
Backup manual controls

Team Structure & Roles

Developed as part of a five-person team at Indiana University, this project exemplifies collaborative engineering at its best. Our diverse team brought together complementary skills in hardware, software, and mechanical engineering, with each member taking ownership of critical aspects of the project.

Lead Hardware Engineer

My Role: Circuit Design & Integration

Power management system design
RF communication integration
Battery performance optimization

Software Lead

Control Systems & Programming

Core control algorithms
RF protocol development
System integration

Mechanical Design

Physical Implementation

3D modeling & printing
Acoustic optimization
Assembly design

Project Coordination

Management & Planning

Sprint planning
Resource management
Documentation

Quality Assurance

Testing & Validation

Test protocol design
User experience research
Performance validation

Each team member brought unique perspectives and skills to the project, fostering an environment of collaborative innovation. Regular team meetings and agile development practices ensured effective communication and rapid iteration on design improvements.