A spectre is haunting the world of architecture—the spectre of the divide between imperial and metric measurement systems.
Where is the architecture firm that hasn’t faced the wrath of these conflicting measurements? Where is the building design that hasn’t been critiqued for using the “wrong” system, whether by rivals, clients, or critics?
Two things arise from this fact:
I. The battle between imperial and metric measurements is acknowledged by architects worldwide as a fundamental challenge to the profession.
II. It is high time for architects, innovators, and designers to openly present a solution, confront this age-old conflict, and unite with a tool that allows us to measure, one centimeter at a time.
Bill of Materials
- Arduino
- Servo Motor
- Ultrasonic Sensor (HC-SR04)
- Wires and Jumper Cables
- Breadboard
- 4×4 Matrix Keypad
#include <Keypad.h>
#include <NewPing.h>
#include <Servo.h>
#define TRIGGER_PIN 12
#define ECHO_PIN 11
#define MAX_DISTANCE 200
// Keypad settings
const byte ROWS = 4;
const byte COLS = 4;
char keys[ROWS][COLS] = {
{‘1’, ‘2’, ‘3’, ‘A’},
{‘4’, ‘5’, ‘6’, ‘B’},
{‘7’, ‘8’, ‘9’, ‘C’},
{‘*’, ‘0’, ‘#’, ‘D’}
};
byte rowPins[ROWS] = {9, 8, 7, 6};
byte colPins[COLS] = {5, 4, 3, 2};
Keypad keypad = Keypad(makeKeymap(keys), rowPins, colPins, ROWS, COLS);
NewPing sonar(TRIGGER_PIN, ECHO_PIN, MAX_DISTANCE);
Servo myServo;
String inputNumber = “”;
bool readyToMeasure = false;
void setup() {
Serial.begin(9600);
Serial.println(“Enter a target distance (in cm):”);
myServo.attach(10);
myServo.write(0);
}
void loop() {
char key = keypad.getKey();
if (key) {
if (key == ‘#’) {
if (inputNumber != “”) {
Serial.print(“Target distance set to: “);
Serial.print(inputNumber);
Serial.println(” cm”);
readyToMeasure = true;
} else {
Serial.println(“No input detected. Please try again.”);
}
} else if (key == ‘*’) {
inputNumber = “”;
readyToMeasure = false;
Serial.println(“Input cleared. Enter a new target distance:”);
} else {
inputNumber += key;
Serial.print(“Current input: “);
Serial.println(inputNumber);
}
}
if (readyToMeasure) {
delay(500);
int distance = sonar.ping_cm();
Serial.print(“Measured distance: “);
Serial.print(distance);
Serial.println(” cm”);
int targetDistance = inputNumber.toInt();
int difference = abs(targetDistance – distance);
Serial.print(“Difference: “);
Serial.print(difference);
Serial.println(” cm”);
float percentage = 100.0 * (1.0 – (float)difference / (float)targetDistance);
percentage = constrain(percentage, 0, 100);
Serial.print(“Percentage: “);
Serial.print(percentage);
Serial.println(“%”);
sweepServo();
// below 80, 45°.
if (percentage < 80) {
myServo.write(45); // Move servo to 45 degrees for scores below 80%
Serial.println(“Servo at 45° (score below 80%)”);
}
// between 80 and 100, between 90° and 180°.
else {
int targetAngle = map(percentage, 80, 100, 90, 180); // Map 80%-100% to 90°-180°
targetAngle = constrain(targetAngle, 90, 180); // Ensure the angle stays between 90° and 180°
myServo.write(targetAngle);
Serial.print(“Servo at “);
Serial.print(targetAngle);
Serial.println(“°”);
}
Serial.print(“Final Score: “);
Serial.print(percentage);
Serial.println(“%”);
inputNumber = “”;
readyToMeasure = false;
Serial.println(“Enter a new target distance:”);
}
}
void sweepServo() {
for (int angle = 0; angle <= 180; angle++) {
myServo.write(angle);
delay(15);
}
for (int angle = 180; angle >= 0; angle–) {
myServo.write(angle);
delay(15);
}
}
