Abaye Yirga

To launch the project, our team organized a meeting with our advisor to lay a solid foundation. We introduced ourselves, discussed our individual skill sets, and clarified our roles and responsibilities. Additionally, we outlined the project's goals, identified key requirements, and explored strategies for effectively managing the tasks. With our advisor’s valuable input, we gained a clearer understanding of the project’s scope, potential challenges, and expectations for each phase. This meeting encouraged collaboration, aligned our efforts, and gave us the confidence to move forward with a clear sense of purpose.

In the second phase, we led a brainstorming session to generate creative ideas related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We began by introducing ourselves and showcasing our unique skill sets, sharing insights on how each team member could contribute to the project. The session promoted open discussion, allowing us to assess and evaluate ideas based on their feasibility, potential impact, and alignment with our objectives. This collaborative effort helped us select a project that inspired and resonated with the entire team.

During this phase, we focused on selecting ideas that resonated with most of the team members. After thorough discussion, we narrowed our options down to three potential projects: Smart Lock, Portable Shelter Relief, and Smart Parking System.

Following discussions with the team, we decided to pursue the Smart Parking System project, as it addresses issues like parking availability, traffic congestion, and inefficient space utilization.

As we prepared to begin the Smart Parking System project, we realized it had already been implemented by the previous year’s group. Consequently, we shifted focus and revisited ideas from our brainstorming session, ultimately selecting the development of a bike rack system.

In the sixth week, we began assigning tasks according to each team member's expertise. I took responsibility for building the bike rack arm, conducting material analysis, and performing location assessments.

After receiving our project funding, we prioritized purchasing essential components such as a microcontroller, sensor cables, wooden materials, and other necessary supplies. I started working on the housing component of the bike rack system, focusing on selecting suitable materials. We ultimately chose refurbished wood, as it was both aesthetically pleasing and cost-effective.

This week, we worked together with our teammates to develop a design for the body that is space-efficient, cost-effective, and capable of protecting circuits and other components. 

At this point, we began focusing on the body and arm, starting with measurements, analysis, and deciding the placement of each part, while also developing a functional sample.

After discussing the product with the rest of the team, we chose to move forward with our sample. We then concentrated on developing a functional body and arm, using the sample as a reference for the design.

In this week, we shared the completed prototype with our advisor. The advisor's encouraging feedback and helpful suggestions allowed us to identify areas for enhancement. This session provided valuable insights and inspired us to continue improving our work.

In the final week, we finished all remaining tasks, fine-tuned the prototype, and got ready for the final presentation. The project was successfully completed, showcasing a fully operational smart bike rack system, ready for implementation.