Project
| # | Title | Team Members | TA | Documents | Sponsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60 | FadeX: Automated Nicotine Tapering Device |
Ian Zentner Justin Leith Malik Kelly |
Jiaming Xu | design_document1.pdf design_document2.pdf proposal1.pdf |
FadeX |
| **Team Members:** * Malik Kelly (mkelly61) * Justin Leith (jleit3) * Ian Zentner (iwz2) **Problem:** Electronic cigarettes were originally marketed as cessation tools, yet they have become a primary source of addiction. Current cessation methods like gum or patches fail to address the "oral fixation" habit, leading to high relapse rates. Alternatively, "manual tapering" (buying bottles with progressively lower nicotine) is logistically difficult and prone to user error; users often relapse when they cannot find the specific lower concentration they need or struggle with the "cold turkey" steps between available concentrations (e.g., jumping from 5% down to 3%). There is currently no device that automates the tapering process while maintaining the user's behavioral routine. **Solution:** FadeX is a Bluetooth-enabled vaporization device that automates nicotine reduction. Unlike standard devices, FadeX utilizes a dual-reservoir system: one pod containing high-concentration nicotine and another containing zero-nicotine dilutant. The device features an active mixing system using micro-peristaltic pumps driven by an ESP32 microcontroller. Based on a schedule set in the companion mobile app, the device calculates and delivers a specific ratio of liquids to the heating element in real-time. This allows for a continuous reduction in nicotine that is harder for the user to perceive (e.g., 5.0% to 4.9% to 4.8%) rather than distinct steps. The system includes pod authentication to ensure safe liquid usage and strict software fail-safes to limit dosage per hour. It would also implement safety protocols in regards to temperature, and have a charge-capability similar to that of current e-cigarettes. **Solution Components:** **Subsystem 1: Power & Energy Management** * **Goal:** Get power in safely, regulate it, and budget it. * **Power Source:** Samsung SDI INR18650-20S (1-cell Li-ion). * **Charging:** TP5100 charging module. Premade circuit that powers Microcontroller. * **User Wake/Enable:** Button to toggle vape back on after idle using watchdog timer. * **Status/Low-Power Feedback:** RGB LEDs (Battery Low, Puffs Remaining, Error). **Subsystem 2: Fluid, Mixture, and Sensing (The “Process Plant”)** * **Goal:** Move liquid, know what’s happening, and control the blend. * **Liquid Transport:** The Bartels Pump | BP7 × 2. Used to extract liquid from capsules and move into the central chamber to be atomized; isolates the liquid from mechanical parts. * **Inhalation Detection:** BMP280 barometric pressure sensor or differential pressure sensor for airflow/puff detection. * **Pump Drive / Ratio Control:** Dual H-Bridge driver (L9110S) used with PWM control to set relative pump rate. **Subsystem 3: Thermal & Aerosol Generation** * **Goal:** Turn the commanded dose into vapor consistently and safely. * **Atomizer:** Standard resistance coil (Kanthal A1, ~1.0 Ω) wrapped in organic cotton. * **Coil Switching/Drive:** N-channel MOSFET (IRLB3034) to fire the coil. * **Overheat Protection:** NTC thermistor near coil/atomizer to monitor temperature and prevent overheating. **Subsystem 4: Tapering Control, Display, and Connectivity Unit** * **Central Control & Safety Logic:** Handles system state, permissions, and interlocks. * **Microcontroller:** ESP32 (Wi-Fi/BLE for app connectivity). * **Waveshare 2inch LCD Display Module:** To display analytics and options to user * **Buttons:** user control of display and microcontroller logic **Criterion For Success:** * **Mixing Accuracy:** The device must produce a target nicotine concentration with a margin of error less than ±20%. * **Autonomous Tapering:** The system must successfully alter the concentration of nicotine over a specified amount of time, and use smaller or larger increments of stepping down based on the user’s settings (starting concentration value, time period of cessation) over a simulated timeframe without user intervention. * **Safety & Limits:** The firmware must enforce a "lockout" if the user exceeds a set nicotine limit (e.g., >2mg in 1 hour) or if the coil temperature exceeds safe limits (>250°C). * **Pod Security:** The device must refuse to fire if the pods are swapped (e.g., Nicotine pod inserted into the Dilutant slot) or if an unauthorized pod is detected. * **Power conservation:** despite using power in more ways than the usual e-cigarette, the device should last for around 100 puffs, aiming for close to a full day on one charge. |
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