One of the most significant aspects of Lafayette’s Embedded Systems course is the comprehensive final project, which takes place over the final 7 weeks of the semester. This capstone project allows students to apply their knowledge of microcontrollers, sensor integration, motor control, and communication protocols to design, build, and implement a complete embedded system from the ground up.

Working in teams, students tackle a wide array of real-world challenges, moving through the full engineering design process—from initial concept and system architecture to prototyping, rigorous testing, and final implementation. This journey hones their problem-solving abilities, fosters collaboration, and provides invaluable hands-on experience in bringing a complex technical idea to life.

This website showcases the innovative results of that process. Each project page details the team’s objectives, technical approach, and the unique solutions they developed. Explore the links below to see their full project reports, demonstrations, and reflections on the challenges they overcame.

Fall 2024 Student Projects

  • Autonomous Surveillance Robot for Search and Rescue
    An autonomous robot that navigates using proximity sensors, detects humans with PIR motion sensors, and was designed to relay coordinates via LoRa communication.

  • StudySense – Smart Study Room Management System
    An IoT system that uses RFID authentication and PIR motion sensors to intelligently manage campus study room occupancy, automatically freeing up no-show reservations.

  • Tilt Control Car – A Gesture-Controlled Vehicle
    A car controlled entirely by the tilt of a handheld glove, using an accelerometer/gyroscope for input and Bluetooth LE for wireless communication.

  • Wearable Health Monitor Device – A Secure, Multi-Sensor Health Tracker
    A secure wearable device that tracks heart rate, temperature, humidity, UV index, and motion, featuring RFID user authentication and a real-time LCD display.

  • Mechanical Lid Opener – An Automated Jar and Bottle Opening System
    An ambitious mechatronic system featuring a 3D-printed frame and multiple motors designed to automatically grip and open jar lids, demonstrating complex mechanical design.

  • Embedded Synthesizer – A Custom Digital Musical Instrument
    A professional-grade, polyphonic synthesizer built around a vintage Yamaha sound chip, featuring a custom touch-sensitive keyboard made from force-sensitive resistors and real-time sound shaping controls.

  • Quadcopter Flight Controller – An Accessible Drone Platform
    A custom-built drone featuring a 3D-printed frame, brushless motors, and a flight control system integrating an IMU and PID control for stabilization, with environmental sensors for data collection.

  • Modular Drone Platform
    This project aimed to design and build a customizable, modular drone platform to address the limitations of commercial and educational drones.