Project
| # | Title | Team Members | TA | Documents | Sponsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 51 | Self-Logging Backpack |
Harry Arakkal Suhaas Yerapathi |
Amr Martini | appendix1.zip design_document1.pdf final_paper1.pdf presentation2.pdf proposal1.pdf |
|
| A backpack with NFC/RFID sensors embedded in each pocket. The sensors will be used to scan items when they are placed into and removed from the backpack. There will be tags on certain items, such as books, notebooks, textbooks, laptops, etc., but not on smaller items like pens or pencils. As the tagged items go into the backpack, the scanner will recognize the tag and will log it to the mobile app. Taking things in and out of the backpack are the only times the sensor will need to pick up on the item, so there will be no need for the scanner to be able to distinguish items in close proximity, as they will already be in the backpack. For the untagged items, the user can choose to manually log them in the mobile app if they want. As it gets close to an event on the user’s calendar, the backpack will tell you if there are items for the event that are missing, so as to remind you to be prepared. It will also keep track of the items on per-pocket basis, because as things are added to backpacks, the messier and more difficult it is to find things. This information will be presented in a mobile app. The app will also be used to designate what items are needed for each calendar event and for other features like valuable item monitoring. Whenever the user moves from their current location, the app will verify that the item is in the backpack, so uses will not forget important items like a laptop. This backpack would be a standard backpack (smaller than a hiking backpack, similar to the ones that students use). As a result, the battery would ideally need to last a day at most. The only power necessary for the backpack is with the scanner, so the battery would not be too heavy for a user when added to the backpack. Additionally, the scanner would only scan if enough light is detected, because the scanner should only be scanning when the backpack is open (the scanner should be doing nothing if the backpack is closed, all the items should already be logged in the app). For the mobile app, the user will need to match the tags for the sensor to an item before hand. This project is good for senior design as it incorporates both circuits and software engineering. The sensor array will require orchestration and communication with the mobile app, and the app will effectively present its information to the user. As far as we have seen, there are no products that exist with these capabilities. Most “smart” backpacks focus on battery packs or laptop security. |
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