Each member introduced themselves, highlighting their strengths, technical expertise, and areas of interest. This session was about understanding the diverse skills within the group, as members came from various engineering disciplines, including software, electrical, civil, and electro-mechanical engineering. Following the introductions, we assigned roles based on individual competencies, ensuring that every aspect of the project—from design and coding to prototyping and documentation—was covered efficiently. By the end of the week, we had established a clear structure for communication and collaboration, laying the foundation for productive teamwork.
Our team focused on brainstorming ideas that align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) while staying within our budget constraints. The team carefully considered the feasibility of each idea, balancing the potential benefits with the resources available. We aimed to find a solution that would address a specific SDG, be cost-effective, and be achievable within our current limits.
We held multiple brainstorming sessions where team members presented potential concepts. Each idea was critically assessed for its practicality, scalability, and alignment with our overarching theme of energy efficiency and sustainability. Discussions revolved around technological requirements, cost implications, and the impact of each concept. We also considered how the ideas could address specific challenges in our local context, such as rising electricity costs and limited energy infrastructure. By the end of the week, we had shortlisted three potential ideas that we believed had strong potential to meet both the technical and societal demands of the project.
We submitted the three shortlisted ideas to our advisor, who reviewed them and provided constructive feedback. After careful deliberation, we selected the idea of developing an automatic light switch system using motion sensors. This concept was chosen for its innovative potential, practical application in reducing energy wastage, and alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). With the project finalized, we began outlining the proposal, defining its objectives, and detailing its significance.
The team worked collaboratively to create a detailed document that captured the essence of the project. We divided the proposal into sections, covering the background, problem statement, objectives, methodology, expected outcomes, and alignment with SDGs. Each member contributed based on their area of expertise, ensuring that the proposal was comprehensive and technically sound. This process involved extensive discussions, multiple drafts, and internal reviews to ensure clarity and precision. By the end of the week, we had a complete draft ready for submission.
We submitted our proposal to the advisor for review. The feedback received was both detailed and constructive, highlighting areas that needed improvement, such as refining the problem statement and adding more technical details to the methodology. We spent the week revising the proposal, incorporating the suggestions, and enhancing its structure and clarity. This iterative process helped us produce a polished and well-structured document that accurately reflected our project’s scope and objectives.
Here is our final Proposal
The team researched and procured essential components, including motion sensors, an Arduino microcontroller, solar panels, LEDs, and other electronic parts. We prioritized finding cost-effective yet high-quality components to stay within budget while ensuring reliability. This stage also involved verifying the compatibility of components to ensure seamless integration during the prototyping phase. By the end of the week, we had gathered all necessary materials and were ready to begin assembly.
We started assembling the prototype, focusing on integrating the motion sensors with the Arduino microcontroller and the lighting system. Each team member contributed to the assembly process, whether in hardware setup, programming, or testing. Simultaneously, we began designing a poster to visually present our project’s objectives, methodology, and significance. The poster served as an essential tool for communicating our work during the final presentation. Progress on the prototype was steady, with initial tests showing promising results, and the poster design effectively captured the essence of our project.
This week was dedicated to finalizing both the prototype and the project documentation. We conducted extensive testing of the prototype to ensure its reliability and accuracy. This involved calibrating the motion sensors, fine-tuning the Arduino code, and troubleshooting any issues. Concurrently, we completed the project report, ensuring that all sections were well-detailed and aligned with the advisor’s guidelines. We also prepared for the final presentation, rehearsing how to effectively demonstrate the prototype’s functionality and explain its significance.