Rapid Progress

To start things off we set out to prove this was possible - automatically detecting vape hits. To do this we experimented with quite a few microcontrollers as well as sensors. We settled on a unique combination of two sensors that could reliably detect a vape hit. Below you can see the progression of our prototypes, with the working prototype on the right.

First to most recent prototype (left-right)

In order to save space we ultimately decided to design a custom PCB, as well as a 3D printed enclosure that we are still currently designing / revising. The goal of the finished prototype (near finished model pictured below) is not to be a consumer product. The device we have created is specifically engineered to gather us the data we need to train / develop an algorithm using predictive AI. The device has our 2 sensors on it as well as a button. It will be attached to participants vapes and they will click the button obi each hit. What this will allow us to do is gather a large amount of data from user confirmed hits to ultimately be able to automatically detect them in the future.

Custom PCB and one of the early enclosure prototypes (also my cat)

First working PCB