We used Arduino and C++ to create the functional aspects of the bear’s features. This took months of self-teaching, trial and error, and feedback sessions with professionals. Our goal was to create a functional internal structure that would not interfere with the comfort of the bear. We used small devices with flexible structures and made sure the wires were protected and insulated for safety. We worked out all the bugs and overcame the obstacles that presented themselves throughout the engineering process to create the final, functional components. Our initial idea contained a song feature, however through further user research we realized noises and lights could add more stress for children with autism and we then pivoted. Focusing on calming techniques and practices, we built out the warmth, pulsing, and weighted features. We chose intentional design with less distractions.

We went through several rounds of user research and testing, from interviewing parents, teachers, and kids with autism to trying out non-irritating furs and the pulsing of the vibration parts implanted in the bear. When synthesizing these findings and ideas, we used design thinking techniques and cycled through the design thinking process to create the minimum viable prototype. We brainstormed using post-it notes and I sketched out our ideas and different forms before we started to build and continued to iterate. We created our website and pitch and presented during demo day where we won the $1000 Google Award and later on built our website. After this experience, I worked with Project Invent as a panelist and gave feedback to other teams that were started after me and was also featured for my story and reflections by Project Invent. DREW was later a finalist in the T-mobile Ashoka Competition.