tinkering

resource identifier

ID: 9

Name: Tinkering Resource Identifier

Summary: Identify various tinkering resources in the ATL and learn how to use them.

Need / Challenge

Most electronic components in the ATL such as sensor & actuator devices don't have any name printed on them. This makes it hard for ATL students to identify them. If these components were sorted and stored in cleanly labelled boxes, it would be easier to identify them. However, this is not always the case. Often, tinkering resources are placed in incorrect boxes, are lying on work tables. New students cannot tell one tinkering resource from another. They have to seek help from the ATL in-charge or the Mentor to identify the tinkering resource they need. At times, the ATL in-charge or Mentor is not available to assist them. In such cases, identifying the tinkering resource itself becomes a frustrating experience for students, let alone use them. There is a need to make it easier for ATL students to identify various tinkering resources in the ATL easily.

Solution

Put in place the following techniques for ATL students to easily identify various tinkering resources in the ATL:

Performing a "Reverse Google Image Search" of the tinkering resource in the ATL.
Sticking QR Code or Barcode stickers on tinkering resources.
Sticking Zapcode stickers on tinkering resources
Using Artificial Intelligence based Object Detection tool to identify tinkering resources.

Reverse Image Search: A Reverse Image Search Engine allow us to identify an object using an image of the same. For e.g., an ATL student can take a photo of a Soil Moisture Sensor (a key tinkering resource in the ATL) and upload its image to a Reverse Image Search Engine. Then, the Search Engine identifies the image as "Soil Moisture Sensor" and also shows similar such images found. This way, the student will be able to easily identify one tinkering resource from another.

QR Code: QR Code is a simple tool that can be used to identify various tinkering resources in the ATL. For e.g., let's say we want to identify a Fire sensor in the ATL. We can generate a QR code using any QR Code Generation Tool and associate the name "Fire Sensor" with the QR Code. We can then take a printout of the QR Code and paste it on the Fire sensor device once. Every time an ATL student scans the QR code pasted on the device, it displays the name "Fire Sensor". This way, the student will be able to easily identify one tinkering resource from another.

Zap Code: Zap Code is an augmented-reality based technology tool that can be used to identify various tinkering resources in the ATL. For e.g., let's say we want to identify Temperature sensor in the ATL. We can generate a Zapcode using Zap Code Generation Tool and associate the name "Temperature Sensor" with the Zap Code. We can then take a printout of the Zap Code and paste it on the Temperature sensor device. Every time an ATL student scans the Zap code on the device, it displays the name "Temperature Sensor" as an augmented-reality experience. This way, the student will be able to easily identify one tinkering resource from another.

Object Detection: An artificial intelligence based Object Detection tool can be used to identify various tinkering resources in the ATL with a certain degree of accuracy. For e.g., let's say we want to identify a sensor in the ATL. We can take several photos of the sensor device and associate them with the name of the sensor. We can then feed the photos to the Object Detection application and train it. Once the application is trained, we can start the application and show the sensor device to the application (through a camera). The application then recognizes the sensor by its name. This method works well as long as two tinkering resources are not similar in appearance.

Tools

The following tools can be used for identifying various tinkering resources in the ATL:

Google Reverse Image Search Engine
QR Code Monkey to generate a QR Code
ZapWorks Designer to generate a Zap Code
Teachable Machine for creating an Object detection Application

Example 1: Identify Tinkering Resources using Reverse Image Search Engine

Take a photo of the tinkering resource in the ATL using a Smartphone or Laptop camera. Save the image on your computer.
Visit https://images.google.com on your web-browser. (see top-left image below)
Click on "Search by Image" (camera) icon. (see top-right image below)
Select "Upload File" option and upload the image of the tinkering resource, say, Soil Moisture Sensor. (see bottom-left image below)
Google Reverse Image Search Engine displays the most likely name(s) for the searched image. In this case, the names identified are "Soil Moisture Meter, Soil Humidity Sensor, Water Sensor, Soil Hygrometer Ardunio". (At times, the search doesn't display a name, but displays similar images found. One can then click an image in the search result to identify the device)
Follow the above steps to identify a variety of tinkering resources in the ATL.

See how Google Reverse Image Search Engine can be used to identify a Soil Moisture Sensor device below:

Test:

Download the image shown on the left.
Open Google Reverse Image Search tool.
Upload the image to Google Reverse Image Search tool.
Click on any image in the search results to identify the device.

Example 2: Identify Tinkering Resources using QR Code

Go to https://www.qrcode-monkey.com on your web-browser.
Select "Text" from the list of menus.
Key-in the text as "Fire Sensor" and click "Generate QR Code". (See below-left image)
Download the QR code by clicking "Download as PNG" button. (See below-left image)
Take a small-sized printout of the QR code on paper. Make use of a photo-copier machine to shrink the size of the QR code if necessary.
Cut out the empty space around the QR Code and paste the QR code on a Fire Sensor device.
Use a QR Code Scanner app (such as "Google Lens" or web-based ones) to scan the QR Code pasted on the device.
When the QR Code is correctly scanned, you can see the name "Fire Sensor" displayed (see below-right image).
Follow the above steps to identify a variety of tinkering resources in the ATL.

See how a QR Code can be used to identify a Soil Moisture Sensor device below:

Below is another example of how a QR code can be pasted on a Soldering Station in an ATL. When the QR code on the soldering stand is scanned, it opens a YouTube video that gives tips and suggestions for effective soldering - like the one shown on the right.

Test:

Download QR Code Reader App from Google Play Store.
Scan the QR Code (shown on the left)
View the name of the identified device.

Example 3: Identify Tinkering Resources using Zap Code

Go to https://zap.works on your web-browser
Sign-up and login to the ZapWorks Designer tool.
Create a new Zapcode project and add the text "Temperature Sensor". Add a temperature sensor image and a button. (see the top image below)
Link the button to open a website on DHT11 temperature sensor.
Publish the project and download the Zapcode.
Take a small-sized printout of the Zap code on paper. Make use of a photo-copier machine to shrink the size of the Zap code if necessary.
Cut out the empty space around the Zap Code and paste the Zap code on a DHT11 Temperature Sensor device (see bottom-left image below).
Download "Zappar" App on your Smartphone from Google Play Store (or visit https://web.zappar.com) and scan the Zap Code pasted on the device. (see bottom-center image below)
When the Zap Code is correctly scanned, you can see the name "Temperature Sensor" displayed along with it's image and a button. (see bottom-right image below)
Tap the "View more details" button. It will open a website to display more information on DHT11 sensor.
Follow the above steps to identify a variety of tinkering resources in the ATL.

See how a Zap Code can be used to identify a Temperature & Humidity Sensor device below:

Here is another example of how a Zap Code can be pasted on a 3D Printer in the ATL. When the Zap code on the 3D Printer is scanned, it displays a 3D Printer in Augmented Reality with three menu options: Watch Video, View 3D Printed Objects and Know more. When the button "Watch Video" is tapped, it opens a YouTube video on 3D Printing. When the button "View 3D Printed Objects" is tapped, it shows a slide-show of photos containing 3D printed objects. When the button "Know more" is tapped, it opens a website that provides information on 3D Printing technology and methods. This way, ATL students can learn all about 3D Printing by just scanning the Zapcode on the 3D Printer.

Test:

Download Zappar App from Google Play Store.
Scan the Zapcode (shown on the left)
You will see the identified device name along with a button to view additional information about the identified device.

Example 4: Identifying Tinkering Resources using Object Detection Tech

Go to https://teachablemachine.withgoogle.com on your web-browser.
Create a new "Image project" and select "Standard image model".
Add a new class - "Water Pump".
Hold a Water Pump device in front of your computer's camera and click "Webcam" to take 15-20 photos of the pump (take multiple photos of the device from all sides).
Add another class - "DC Motor".
Hold a DC Motor device in front of your computer's camera and click "Webcam" to take a few photos of the motor (take multiple photos of the device from all sides).
Click "Train Model". Training will take a few minutes. Once training completes, the model is ready for preview.
Click "Preview" to start Object Detection. If asked, give your web-browser permission to access your computer's Camera.
Bring a Water Pump device in front of your computer's camera. The Object detection model recognizes the Water Pump in front of it with a certain level of accuracy (expressed in percentage). The more distinct the object is from other objects, the greater will be the accuracy.
Similarly, bring a DC Motor device in front of your computer's camera. The Object detection model recognizes the DC Motor in front of it with a certain level of accuracy (expressed in percentage). The more distinct the object is from other objects, the greater will be the accuracy.
Follow the above steps to identify a variety of tinkering resources in the ATL.

See how Object Detection Tech can be used to identify a Water Pump and DC Motor below:

Water Pump

DC Motor

Below is another example of how Object Detection technology can be used to identify tinkering resources in an ATL. In the below example developed by ATL student Vijay Subramanian, the Object Detection Model has been integrated with HTML and Java Script code to build a custom Tinkering Resource Identifier application. When the application is started, it turns on the camera. When a tinkering resource such as an Arduino Uno is brought in front of the camera, it correctly identifies the resource with a high percentage of accuracy. In addition, when the link within the webpage is clicked or the Zapcode within the webpage is scanned, it opens a website that provides additional information on using Arduino Uno micro-controller.

Test: Click the button on the right to identify a few tinkering resources in your ATL (such as IR sensor, DHT11 Temperature & Humidity Sensor, Ultrasonic Sensor & Arduino Uno). Make sure to give the web-browser access to the computer's camera when requested.

Open ACOI Tool

Role of Stakeholders

Role of School Management: Encourage usage of technology tools so that students can easily identify various tinkering tools on their own.

Role of Students: Make use of technology tools that will help you easily identify various tinkering resources in the ATL.

Role of Mentor(s): Guide students in setting up the tinkering resource identification tools in the ATL.

Role of ATL In-charge: Encourage students to make use of the tinkering resource identification tools in the ATL.

Submit your Initiative

Put to use any one tinkering resource identifier tool for the benefit of budding tinkerers and innovators at your ATL. Submit the link / screenshot(s) / video-recording of the tinkering resource identifier being used in your ATL.

How-to Videos

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