Every year, TI’s summer interns are challenged to test their technical know-how and creativity. This year, they were asked to create a solution based on a TI MCU LaunchPad or the new BeagleBone Black and enter it into one of two categories – People’s Choice or Best Technical Design.
The life of a pet is a pretty glamorous one – constantly being petted, walks in the park and long naps during the day. But when there is more than one pet in the house, the competition for food can leave someone hungry.
TI interns David Whitfield, Nathan Hogg and Tahsin Alim have solved the food sharing dilemma using TI technology and an ingenious design, winning the 2013 Intern Design Challenge MCU LaunchPad People’s Choice award for the RFABulous Puppy Food Bowl.
“The dog food bowl uses an ultrasonic sensor which opens the lid when any dog walks to it. The bowl will stay open if the right dog (with an RFID chip on its collar) is in front of the bowl. Otherwise, the bowl lid will snap shut,” said Nathan.
The winners of the 2013 Intern Design Challenge MCU LaunchPad Best Technical Design award really had to flex their muscles for it. The TI FlexPack, created by TI interns Chris Chiarella, Brian Frantz, Mark Garrett and Benjamin Moore, uses electromyography (EMG) muscle sensors that you put on your arm to measure the voltage across your arm whenever you flex. The FlexPack amplifies and filters the signal that is then used in a variety of applications.
“We can control a remote control car where we are able to drive it forward with one arm and then drive it left and right with the other arm. We recreated the classic video game Pong and a muscle race where the more you flex the faster your rocket will go. There is also a voltage challenge for who can flex the most,” said Brian.
Both designs are something you absolutely have to see in action. Watch the video below to view these amazing projects.
