On June 26th, 2024, I collaborated with IEEE Circuits and Systems in Nairobi, Kenya, to organize a community project showcase at Kenyatta University, Nairobi. Participants were required to present various solutions they had developed on Arm platforms, targeting problems and needs within their communities. Project submissions were made two weeks before the event, resulting in 12 teams, each using Arm platforms to address societal challenges in unique ways. The event attracted 67 attendees.
The projects were evaluated by a panel of 3 judges: me, Mrs. Rupal Jian, a leading IEEE volunteer and former Micron Semiconductor engineer, and Dr. Lenin Raja, an entrepreneur and semiconductor engineer.
Before the showcase, we held a brief session where I introduced the Arm Developer Program to the attendees, highlighting the benefits of joining and providing guidance on how to get involved. Dr. Lenin discussed the importance of adhering to standards and testing products thoroughly before releasing them to consumers. Mrs. Rupal focused on entrepreneurship opportunities for hardware developers and shared insights on how to identify them.
Out of the 12 projects presented, the top 3 were awarded prizes, including IEEE merchandize, a Raspberry Pi RP2040 Arm-based board, and a $50 gift voucher. Notable projects included:Automatic Attendance Monitoring System: This was the top project, addressing the growing security concerns among primary school children. The system enabled parents and school authorities to track when students checked in and out of school. It was an end-to-end solution integrating biometrics and IoT to achieve this functionality.
This project was built on a Raspberry Pi Pico (Arm-based) and interacted with an online database platform to authenticate users’ biometrics. Push notifications were then sent to all authorized parties. The developer also plans to implement a facial recognition machine learning algorithm in the next version of the product. The project has already been piloted in 5 schools around Nairobi, Kenya.
Intelligent Panic Attack Predictor and Mitigator: This was the second-best project. The device used sensors and AI/ML algorithms to predict panic attacks and provided suggestions for prevention and treatment. The initial prototype was developed on a Raspberry Pi Pico (Arm-based) and is planned to be integrated into a smartwatch in the future.The developers also plan to include a "cuckoo" box that opens during mild panic attacks to reassure the individual that they are doing well. After learning about Kleidi AI by Arm, they expressed interest in exploring how to integrate it into their solution.Smart Automotive Security: This was the third-best project. The device prevents car thefts by allowing only the owner (or those with permission) to start the vehicle. It uses biometrics on a mobile device to send a signal to an embedded device in the car for authentication.
The project has been piloted on several cars in Nairobi and has proven to be effective. The team also proposed integrating facial recognition technology into the system. I suggested that they explore using the Kleidi AI framework to enhance their model's performance when transitioning to facial recognition.Smart Animal Feeder: This project used machine learning to learn feeding patterns and automatically feed domestic animals, eliminating the need for manual feeding. It also reduced feed wastage, helping farmers save on costs. The system employed a Raspberry Pi Pico board to read sensor data and run an ML algorithm to predict feeding patterns based on that data. The farmer was required to configure certain parameters for the system to optimize, for example the amount of animal feed that is needed per day.
The event was a great success and had a significant impact on the developer community in Kenya. Many new developers joined the community, and some even expressed interest in joining the Arm Ambassador Program. We extend our sincere gratitude to Arm for sponsoring the event.
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