Goal of your project
With NDL we want you to learn to work with hardware and software in a way that you can create a project that is both innovative and somehow useful. For many this is the first time working with hardware so we give you a lot of freedom in what you want to do. The goal of the project is for you the acquire new skills and thus really challenge yourself. The course will provide you with the tools, the hardware and assistance all you have to do is show up and do the work.
Originality
The product you will deliver for this course should be based on your original code. You are allowed to use internet tutorials and other projects in your approach (as long as they are properly cited). All resources utilized this way, however, do not count as “contribution made to your project”. In order words, your project may not be other people’s work, but it may build on other people’s work.
Is my idea suitable?
Even though there have been many wonderful project ideas the last few years, not all projects were completed. When thinking of a project try to design a project that has intermediate steps. Instead of focusing on a set result (waterfall approach), write down multiple goals within a timeline (iterative approach). This way, when your project shows to be more challenging than expected, you will still have other results to show. Make sure to write down both short-term goals and long-term goals. This includes goals that advance on your original project idea.
Project categories
Internet of Things
We have a number of home automation (Dutch: “domotica”) devices available at the lab. Many of these have their own API’s you could utilize for a new application. Or you can create a new device that can be used in a smart home.
For example:
- Create a “smart” robot the can navigate through a room and turn off devices when everyone has left the room.
- A devices that can monitor the air quality in a room and has the ability to improve it.
- Turn lights on or off based on the user’s physical location and their calendar. By using multiple presence sensors you can determine who is in the room and what their schedule is.
- Turn every bike into a VanMoof bike by creating a smart lock and GPS tracking system.
- Make a smart devices that keep grow plants in your house. It can monitor the soil moisture, light and temperature and water the plants when needed.
Games
There are many classic board games that we can play in a new way by adding technology. For example:
- Create a chess board that can detect the pieces on it and show the possible moves on the board
- Create a game of connect four that can be played against a machine or opponent over the internet
- Program a robot arm to play jenga, or to just build the tower for you
- Recreate mario kart in real life by using a robot car and a track with obstacles and upgrades.1
User Interfaces
We are moving away from traditional desktop computers with mouse and keyboard towards more restricted user intefaces for specific scenarios. When designing something new, we should ask ourselves what’s the most appropriate medium to interact with the user. What opportunities do you see for better integrating technology with the way we work?
- Build the beginner programming tool scratch in real life. By using a set of blocks that can be connected to each other you can create a program that can control a robot.
- Create light shows with your hands using the Leap Motion
- Using flex sensors to control a robot arm
- Combine skeletal tracking data from the kinect with accurate hand tracking data from the Leap Motion for more complete body tracking
- Control devices in a room by pointing at them with your finger and making a gesture to turn them on or off.
- Create a virtual drum set using the kinect. The user can play the drums by hitting the air in front of them.
Security
Most of the home automation/Internet of Things devices in our lab are not designed with security in mind. For example: you could take over a large number of devices with a one-time physical pairing procedure and no one would even notice. How would you change this so you can invite Eve over for dinner at your smart home?
- Currently almost all devices require some sort of pairing when you use them for the first time. Study these set up procedures and come up with a safe and intuitive method of connecting devices to a network.
- As a proof of concept, show that data gathered from smart home devices reveals sensitive information (for example: use data mining techniques to guess the net income of a residence to help burglars find interesting targets)
- Bluetooth devices have many pairing modes that are not always secure. Build an interactive challenge to show how easy it is to break into a bluetooth device.