(4) Learn how students are changing the world one project at a time

"Learn how students are changing the world one project at a time" is a 9-part series from a group of Hong Kong students who are using innovative engineering to improve their community and ultimately the world. Take a look at what these students have created.

Parking+

The current parking system only tells you where you can find an available parking space but it does not say which parking location is the best for you to get to your destination (e.g., cinema, supermarket). Moreover, some parking lots can only find your car through your Octopus card. It ends up not working if you use a credit card or get the ticket from the entrance. Finally, users also do not know if it is close to the next parking hour. This project aims to design a smart parking system (see Figure 4-1). It can select the best parking location for you through your car key. It provides an alert through a mobile app when it is close to the next parking hour for cost savings. It uses sensors and a microcontroller to locate the car, and a PC server with a mobile app, to provide information to users (see Figure 4-2 and 4-3).

Figure 4-1: Prototype

Figure 4-2: Block diagram

Up to now, the hardware to detect a RFID tag has been completed (it is assumed that a car key has a RFID tag and the car parking system can identify a car key by tracking its attached tag - see Figure 4-4). Moreover, the hardware system can communicate via the app to the PC server (see Figure 4-5 to 4-7). Now they are working on how to detect a car registration mark through a camera and integrate all things together.

Figure 4-4: To detect a RFID tag

Figure 4-5: The hardware part

Figure 4-6: The communication between the hardware part, the PC server and the mobile app

Figure 4-7: The PC server and the mobile app

Find out more about what other engineering students are developing

1. Air Cleaner Controller: a prototype to measure the air quality 

2. Tracking Watch: : a hardware device that allows you never to get lost even if you do not have a GPS signal

3. Virtual Paper: a drawing system that needs ot pens or surfaces draw

4. Parking+: a smart parking system that allows you to find the best available parking

5. Ultimate BBQ Helper: a device that allows any beginner to create perfectly cooked BBQ food

6. MyFeeder: a feeding system for pets for busy families

7. Toiletries Manager: the system manages all bathroom products through an inventory system

8. China Wizard Chess: a system that enables anyone to play chess with their voice

9. Smart Plant Watering System:  a designed system that waters plants automatically