chipKIT challenge projects

Product's Main Requirements:

* the device shall at least drive the 220VAC incandescent light bulb (at least 5W) by just using 1 piece of a 9V alkaline battery

* the battery must not be drained significantly (can consider a rechargeable battery for future upgrade of the project)

* the development cost must be within a small scale project budget

* all the materials to be used must be easily available and affordable (at least for a student or electronic hobbyist)

* the final packaging must be very small and portable (for demonstration purposes)

* full documentation and operation manual must be made for the device

* safe, no hazards!

Goal is to save energy by switching off not used devices.
The energy saver is conected to an internal network. It sends a ping each minute to defined computers in the network. if there is no reply of no computer, the energy saver turns off all device witch were not used. E.g. a printer, a network hub (no automatik restart) or lights. If there is a computer present in the network, the devices restarts.
Between every ping the controller turns in sleepmode to save energy. The controller is supplyed by an accumolator or battery.

Motor-cycle riding has become a cult in most parts of the world. Automobile enthusiasts are ecstatic when new bikes are introduced with great features and style. Fuel Consumption efficiency is phenomenal as is the riding comfort. Safety features against skidding are incorporated. Disk breaks provide effective control. While the automobile is becoming better by the day, the most important accessory for the rider, the HELMET is far behind. It is like using an I-phone, Galxy SII or a latest blackberry with a last century Bluetooth earpiece. Helmets, of course , have been improved in terms of material, strength , looks, etc. They come in different colors, styles and footprints. They conform to various safety standards and assure to keep your head intact (!!) during difficult situations. They claim to provide the best security to your head should the untoward event occur. In India, as per a NIMHANS* study, close to around 100,000 deaths and 500,000 injuries are estimated to have been happening in a year, where the rider or the pillion-rider is not wearing a helmet. Wearing helmet is mandatory under law and offenders are punished or levied fines. Helmet is safe, looks good on you and governed under local law. Still, many people avoid wearing it and , even if they do, they do not do it willingly, why? The answer to this lies in the fact that tropical countries are blessed with heat and humidity and your stunning looking helmet can fry your head and brains if worn at 12 pm during May. What if the temperature of the helmet can be controlled without compromising on the safety aspect? The project/product exactly attempts to do that. A compact module fitted in the bike controls the air-temperature. chipKit is the prime controller of the module which does the following functions. 1. Temperature Monitoring. 2. Blowing air into the helmet. 3. Controlling the temperature. This project provides a number of challenges 1. Must be a energy conservative design to operate on a Bike battery. 2. Necessitates a cooling mechanism that is effective and easy to be controlled 3. Needs easy pneumatic interface with any helmet. 4. Must work in an automotive environment. It is worth an effort as it opens a bundle of opportunities/applications 1. Less number of cars on the road and hence less traffic congestion 2. Less stress and fatigue for the driver as exposure to dust, heat and pollution is avoided and hence more productivity. 3. Parking area is available as more bikes can be parked. 4. Policemen and armed forces personnel can use it effectively. 5. Your friendly postman and pizza delivery boy deliver at the right time. *Reference : http://www.nimhans.kar.nic.in/epidemiology/doc/ep_ft24.pdf

URP platform is a scalable, task-specific system consisting of standard units (chassis units - [a pair of wheels, and servos, combined into a single carrying structure], controllers [Max32 ™ chipKIT ™], the control-computers [assigned by Rover or on the side of the remote user], energy units [solar batteries and accumulators]) that can be combined in to a platform, to obtain the desired power, weight, load and terrain. The platform is able to move independently, according to pre-load algorithms or by commands from a remote user. The platform can be installed optional equipment (customer), which also can work in automatic or autonomous, pre-load algorithm or by commands from a remote user. A distinctive feature of the system is to organize communication between controllers, the control-computers and additional equipment via TCP / IP, which increases the scalability of the system and its reliability, by simplifying the creation of back-up systems. As well as easy to obtain and process data (streaming HD audio-video), including from additional equipment installed on the Rover. Depending on the distance from the remote user and Rover, the connection between the control-computers can also be provided through wired and wireless technologies (LAN, WiFi, etc.), with the use of amplifiers and signal repeaters, including optical technologies. Universal Explanation Rover Platform is designed as a commercial product that can be rented (by research groups, institutions, etc.) to conduct explore with additional customer equipment installed on the Rover. The system can also be used for educational purposes by different institutions.

Using the basis downtime glockenspiel, I plan to create a beautiful gift. As the hammers will be used solenoids. Plus, the box of Plexiglas RGB LEDs will shine in the music, depicting the Ambilight and colorful bursts of music.

Intelligent buildings are very common now a days and also the Internet-Of-Things is each day nearer to a reality. One of the problems on big buildings and facilities is to maintain temperature stable and constant on big spaces. A thermal mapping of the controlled spaces will be very valuable for climatic control on intelligent buildings. This information can be provided by an robotic vehicle included on the Internet-of-Things. The system will include a robotic roomba-like platform, a measurement unit for climatic variables (temperature, humidity, etc.. ) and a WIFI transceiver (MRF24WB0MA). The system will systematically measure temperature and humidity on several parts of a building or facility and transmit that information to a computer. Positioning will be provided through landmarks and wifi signal strength measurements triangulation. The system will provide temperature, humidity and signal strength maps.

The aim of this project is to create a DC/AC converter for photovoltaic cells providing Direct Current and connect it to a main power supply (60Hz-120V USA/50Hz 230V EU). This project includes both hardware and software knowledges: Hardware: - Creation of a Boost converter (convert low photovoltaic cell voltage to higher and controllable voltage) - Creation of a DC/AC (50Hz-60Hz) converter for connection to main power (120V USA - 230V EU). - Impedance adaptation to retrieve an optimal power supply provided by photovoltaic cells Software: - Creation of "chopper" signal for the boost converter and voltage controlled - Creation of Pulse Width Modulation signal for DC to AC (50Hz-60Hz) converter -Implementation of a Pertub & Observ algorithm for impedance adaptation

The project that I want to achieve a 5 * 5 * 5 LED cube. That solar energy would work. I'm programming in Arduino this cube. The solar panel I attach a cable to the LED cube so that solar power is. We have already tested and the solar panel provides enough voltage and current.

I would like to make a RFID door lock with a solar panel. It's an automatic door lock. It will open with a RFID tag.

Design for an ultra-low power sensor network that is rapidly deployable and can be used for data collection. Uses could involve gathering environmental data in disaster areas, optimizing water use in agriculture, and notification of hazardous conditions in wildfire or toxic release situations. Design would utilize low-power sleep and wake only long enough to perform intended measurement and communication. Network would be self-discovering, self-augmenting and self healing.

The U.S. Rail System is made up of large and small railroads. The small railroads (500+ exist) are seeking ways of making their older General Electric and General Motors Locomotives more efficient; something that the large railroads can afford. The objective is to develop a drop-in motor controller for the locomotive traction motors. The controller would detect when to lower the diesel engines output when there is no demand. This is accomplished by the human locomotive engineer currently, which is subject to human error and thus the locomotive remains wasteful.

My project is to produce electricity by adding an a turbines coupled to a dynamo in home water system. The ChipKIT will manage the producted current and battery charging.