Creative Project / Curatorial Project / More
Auto Door Holder
Sec 2024
Collaborate with Zongze Chen
Tools & Skills
Product Design, Tangenble Interaction Design, Arduino, Electronic, 3D Modling, 3D Printing
Auto Door Holder is a portable device with a remote-controlled “foot” that prevents doors from closing. Inspired by the instinctive act of using one’s foot to hold a door open, it humorously transforms this everyday gesture into a functional device.
Design
The project was designed to rethink a simple, everyday interaction, holding a door open or closed. Have you ever realized you forgot your keys just as the door closed, but it was already too late to stop it? Forgetting your keys when leaving home is a common everyday problem, and designers have explored various solutions to address it. Our approach features a "foot" that can be attached behind any door, controlled by a remote. If you ever forget your keys, there’s no need to worry, simply toggle the switch on the remote, and our “foot” will hold the door open for you just in time!
We wanted to create something portable and adaptable, so it uses a suction cup base that can stick firmly to most doors. A small LED display shows the on/off and Bluetooth connection status at a glance, and the device can be controlled wirelessly through a remote. It’s practical, a little bit over-engineered, but also strangely satisfying to use.
Design
The project was designed to rethink a simple, everyday interaction, holding a door open or closed. Have you ever realized you forgot your keys just as the door closed, but it was already too late to stop it? Forgetting your keys when leaving home is a common everyday problem, and designers have explored various solutions to address it. Our approach features a "foot" that can be attached behind any door, controlled by a remote. If you ever forget your keys, there’s no need to worry, simply toggle the switch on the remote, and our “foot” will hold the door open for you just in time!
We wanted to create something portable and adaptable, so it uses a suction cup base that can stick firmly to most doors. A small LED display shows the on/off and Bluetooth connection status at a glance, and the device can be controlled wirelessly through a remote. It’s practical, a little bit over-engineered, but also strangely satisfying to use.
Technology
We used two Arduino Nanos and connected them via Bluetooth to enable wireless communication. The “foot” mechanism is driven by a servo motor, which moves at a small angle each time the controller is toggled.
Inside the remote controller, we managed to fit an Arduino Nano, a 12V battery, a toggle switch, an on/off switch, and an LED indicator. The slots in the upper and lower casing allow the two parts to align and lock together smoothly and securely.
Porcess
We wanted a general representation of a “foot,” so we designed the main body with an iconic, cartoonish foot shape. To create the leg, we measured the average lower leg length and constructed it using a paper roller. The top part is connected to a servo motor. We minimised the infill of the "foot" to make it lighter, ensuring that the large suction cup remains stable while the bottom part moves back and forth. We also decreased the moving angle for better control.
We developed multiple iterations of controller and tested prototypes using cardboard and 3D printing. Our goal was to design a user-friendly, intuitive controller that connected with the main device in terms of shape, color, and material. So we ended up chose a rounded controller that shares the same rounded angles the cartoonish style as the "foot". We also added a touch of green to both the device and the controller to create a sense of friendliness and helpfulness, as well as liveliness and engagement.
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