Week 3 Update – Prototype Assembled, App Structure Built

Following the arrival of our components last week, Week 3 saw significant progress on two major fronts: hardware prototyping and the foundational development of the MusicBike Android application.

Hardware Prototype Live!

We successfully assembled our core components—the ESP32-S3 development board, MPU9250 IMU, and KY-003 Hall Effect sensor—onto a breadboard. The great news is we have confirmed it’s working and capable of reading the necessary sensor data! This gives us a tangible hardware base to build upon. The next critical step here is to implement the Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) functionality on the ESP32 to begin transmitting this valuable data wirelessly.

Android App Development Begins

Simultaneously, we kicked off the development of the companion Android app. A significant portion of the week was dedicated to establishing a robust and scalable application structure. After working through the initial setup and debugging hurdles, we now have a solid base application that compiles successfully. This groundwork prepares the app to receive Bluetooth communications and integrate with the FMOD audio engine.

FMOD Test Case

We also took initial steps within FMOD Studio, creating a basic test case to explore how sensor data might eventually manipulate the audio. This helps solidify our ideas as we prepare to bridge the gap between the hardware data and the sound engine.

Looking Ahead: Connecting the Pieces

The coming week marks a crucial integration phase. Our primary goals are:

1. Implement BLE Output: Program the ESP32 prototype to broadcast its sensor data over Bluetooth Low Energy.
2. Implement BLE Input: Build the necessary BLE scanning, connecting, and data receiving features into the Android app.
3. FMOD Engine Integration: Begin adding the FMOD audio engine library to the Android app project, preparing it to interact with incoming data.

Getting the hardware and the app communicating via Bluetooth is the key focus now. It feels great to have moved from planning and parts to a working hardware prototype and a structured app ready for its core logic! Stay tuned.