Hand Gesture Controlled Robot

Gesture is a way to express our ideas using our head or body.To build a hand gesture robot we will build a system using which our robot can recognize any gesture with the help of its camera,afterwards classify this gesture with the help of some algorithm and respond accordingly. To make it simple, You can understand working of this robot in following steps:
1. Send Signals using Remote Device(Your Hand, Face, Body or remote)
2. Robot receive Signals using Cameras on-board.
3. Use Algorithm to decode signal
4. Match that signal with stored signals
5.If match found then follow instructions as specified.

WiiRobot: In this project,students of Brown University build a simple and reproducible gesture based robot controller.It consists ofWii Remote,Asus eeePC,  Ubuntu Eee(as Operating System), USB Webcam,USB Bluetooth Dongle and other components. To recognize gestures, team of wiiRobot used two algorithms:
1.K-Nearest Neighbor and
2.Sum of square differences

Wireless Gesture Controlled Toy
The objective of this project is to build a toy car that can be controlled by gesture wirelessly. User is able to control motions of the car by wearing the controller glove and performing predefined gestures.
This project provides a basic platform for many potential applications such as wireless controlled toys racing games, gesture human-machine interfacing, and etc.

How it works?



More info at Cornell University Page

How to build one ?
Complete details about Gesture Controlled Tank Toy

Useful Link :
Wireless USB Gesture Input System
Related PDF:
Real Time hand gesture Tele robotic system using Fuzzy Logic (pdf)

Related Video:

Hydraulic Disc Brakes

Hydraulic disc brake uses brake fluid ( Ethylene Glycol HO–CH2CH2–OH) to transfer pressure from controlling mechanism to braking mechanism. It was first used in 1914 for racing cars.It is based on the principle of Pascal Law which states that "The pressure exerted anywhere in a mass of confined liquid is transmitted undiminished in all direction throughout the liquid".
It consists of pipeline containing fluid. One end of which is connected to the master cylinder fitted with a piston attached to the brake foot pedal and other end of the pipeline is connected to the wheel cylinder having two pistons attached to the brake shoes.Area of the cross section of the wheel cylinder is greater than the area of the cross section of master cylinder.

Why we need disc brakes?

Though both systems use hydraulic brakes but in drum brakes, braking system started to fade because of servo effect, this problem has been greatly reduced in disc brake.Moreover, their are other problems within the assembly line which cause braking strength weak.

How it works?

It works on the very simple principle, when force applied at one point, it is transmitted to another point using an in-compressible fluid.When the brakes are applied the foot pedal is pushed due to which pressure is exerted on the fluid in the master cylinder.This pressure is transmitted equally and undiminished throughout the fluid and to the pistons of the wheel cylinder, therefore pistons of the engine pushed outwards and the brake shoe get pressed against the rim of the wheel due to which motion retards and vehicle starts to slow down.

Related Projects:
Design of Mountain Bike Hydraulic Disc Brake System (HDBS) Uncertainty Analysis
Optimization of Mountain Bike Hydraulic Disc Brake System

Related Posts:

Hydraulic Projects
Automobile Engineering Projects

Candle Light Powered Fan

Candle light fan use technology which converts heat directly into electricity using a effect called Seebeck. The only problem with these fans is their efficiency which is lesser than 10 %. To use this technology we need thermoelectric materials such as Bismuth Telluride(Bi₂Te₃) or Lead Telluride (PbTe).

Is their any difference ?

Yes, it is very different technology and unlike Dynamo (First Electric Generator, it is most commonly used for bicycle headlight),their is no moving part involved in electricity generation with thermoelectric materials.

What is the use of this project?

It helps you to understand basic concept of thermoelectricity which is used in spacecraft as Radioisotope to convert the heat released by the decay of a suitable radioactive material into electricity and in automobiles where it helps to reuse waste heat from Internal Combustion Engine.

How to Build this?

You can find complete instructions about this fan here.

Physics Projects

Physics is everywhere, from walk to talk , from electronics to robotics and from computer science to aeronautics.From ancient times people use physics in construction, wars, travelling and in many more things.In this post we will discuss some of the projects related to this extraordinary field.

Pedal Powered Water filter: Filter water without using home electricity and filters.

Solar Powered Bicycle: Run your bicycle on solar power

Wind mill water pump: They are not new for us but still it would be interesting for us to build one on our own.

Mini Scooter

Color and Light

College Prep physics on light and color

Human Eye concept based on Color and light :

How Vision Works?
Physics and Human Eyes
Your sense of Sight

Related Project
Bending of Light 

Build Your Own Maglev

Maglev (MAG: is used for magnetic, LEV: is used for Levitation) is a train which use power of magnets instead of fuel with its highest recorded speed is 581 km/hr.
Complete Details about Maglev Project
Compare Strength of Wood using three different Paint's.

Is there any relation between paint and strength? Can we increase the strength of our furniture’s just by painting it? This project would help you finding that out.

Marion Smith :The Effect of Paints on the Strength of Wood







Try to build your own Roller Coaster

Model roller coaster for physics project
Pdf files related to roller Coaster Project :
Mathematica of Roller Coaster
Ppt of roller Coaster from Virginia University in Pdf format

Other related :
What wiki says about Roller Coaster
Incredible Web Roller Coaster
Videos of Roller Coaster

Build your Telescope

How to build telescope

simple Galilean telescope

Simple Galilean Telescope 

simple Galilean telescope

simple Galilean telescope

Engines:

Fabrication of cam-less engine:A camless is a kind of free valve engine uses electromagnetic, hydraulic, or pneumatic actuators to open the poppet valves instead. Actuators can be used to both open and close the valves, or an actuator opens the valve while a spring closes it.

Trebuchet or Catapult: 

What is Trebuchet?
In most simple words, we can say that trebuchet is a machine build to throw object to a distance.In our post Catapult Project we saw how we can build one for us.

Concept:
It is based on simple concept of storing potential energy and when requires convert it into kinetic energy.So, to build good trebuchet we need to store as much energy and use it with bare minimum loses.

How Trebuchet works?

Pelton Wheel:

The Pelton wheel is an impulse turbine which is among the most efficient types of water turbines.The Pelton wheel extracts energy from the impulse (momentum) of moving water, as opposed to its weight like traditional overshot water wheel.Older turbines used water power inefficiently.The shape of Pelton turbine made it more efficient.

Useful links :
Calculations for my Pelton wheel turbine
Pelton Turbine Manual (1.6 MB)




Other Good Websites :

Research Projects in Physics 
Fun Physics / Astronomy Projects
Ocean Physics Laboratory 
Windmill Power Generation system
Internal Combustion engine

Bicycle :
Solar Powered bicycle
Steam Engine Powered Bicycle

Related :
Physics FAQ
Solar Energy Projects
Pedal powered Washing Machine
HydroPower Plants
Magnetic Levitation Train
Solidification into crystalline and amorphous states

Solar Powered Bag

From last few years phones are getting smart, Laptops are becoming Tablets and CD Players are becoming iPods. All these changes make us more dependent on electronic devices than ever. Though these devices keep us connected, but when battery runs out they become liability. That makes battery charging one of the most important needs of today’s world.
In my post mobile charger using bicycle, I discussed how we can charge our battery while riding on a bike. Today we will discuss about Solar powered Bag which is not only useful and handy but uses green technology too. Solar bag consists of skinny film solar cells and batteries. It contains a flexible mono crystalline solar panel, battery, charge controller, plugs, cords and light bulbs. It provides users with power up to 120 watt-hours/day, capable of powering electronic equipment's rated up to 300 W.

What is Monocrystalline solar Panel?
Monocrystalline silicon is the base material of the electronic industry. It consists of silicon in which the crystal lattice of the entire solid is continuous, unbroken (with no grain boundaries) to its edges. It can be prepared intrinsic, i.e. made of exceedingly pure silicon alone, or doped, containing very small quantities of other elements added to change in a controlled manner its semiconducting properties.

How it works?

The solar panels convert sunlight into electricity, which is stored in the batteries and can be used to power portable electronic appliances like mobile phones and mp3 players.

Advantages:

• Solar backpacks are light-weight, hence making it easier to carry. 
• Flexible solar panels also are light and portable, as well as waterproof. 
• Backpack allows patients to carry medical devices with them.

Solar Energy Project Ideas

 

Solar energy is a form of energy which is widely available in abundance and have many different uses. Energy provided by sun in 1 hour, if measured; is equivalent to energy consumed on earth in one whole year. And for this reason, their is ample opportunity to work and use this energy in comparison to any other form.

It is radiant light and heat from the sun, has been harnessed by humans since ancient times from drying clothes to generating electricity using a range of ever-evolving technologies.
Though it has many uses,but we often this energy as solar power, which is the conversion of sunlight into electricity, either directly using photovoltaics (PV), or indirectly using concentrated solar power (CSP) with the help of lenses or mirrors and tracking systems to focus a large area of sunlight into a small beam.

Solar Powered Motor

This project has 12V DC water pump,12V 7ah battery that was charged by my 6.5 watt solar cell and was able to pump water. This system seems to work really well.



Solar Water Heater

We can save large amount of electricity if we start using solar water heater at the place of traditional heaters. If we implement it using cogeneration, it would be really effective.

What wiki says about Solar Water Heater?

Related Pdf :
Parabolic Trough Water Heating System ( pdf )
Complete detail of this project with photos, outline and drawings. 

Sun Tracker Project : devices that orient various payloads toward the sun.

Produce Fuel using Sun Energy: harness energy from the sun to produce synthetic gas consist of water, CO₂ and Water.

Remote Control Plane : Flying Solar RC Plane's Panels, Batteries and Motors. Working on this project is easy, for experiment purpose, you can purchase electrical aircraft and replace it source of charging from batteries to solar.

3D Solar Cells : New form of cells, that capture nearly all of the light that strikes them. When used in the place of traditional cells, efficiency of the cell improves considerably.

LED Lights : Light emitting diodes are very reliable and can works in extreme conditions.When powered by sun, they can be installed at the distant places in minutes.

Stirling Engine Generator 

Solar Cooker
Solar cooker is a device which uses solar energy to heat and cook our food. It is very simple device and works on basic concept of concentration of energy at one point.It takes only 45 minutes to build a simple cooker.

Why it is important?
Energy plays a vital role in human development and welfare.Solar energy is the cheapest, inexhaustible
and can be used for cooking as well as various other activities.

Things you will need:
• shoe box
• aluminum foil
• string
• tape
• straws
• manila folder
• marshmallows (white and
chocolate, or other color)

How to build solar oven?
Pizza Box Solar Cooker (pdf)
Design, Development and Testing of Paraboloidal Solar Cooker
Build Reflective solar cooker(pdf file)

Solar Powered Mobile Charger

Solar Toy Car

 

A solar vehicle is an electric vehicle powered completely or significantly by direct solar energy. Usually, photovoltaic (PV) cells contained in solar panels convert the sun's energy directly into electric energy. The term "solar vehicle" usually implies that solar energy is used to power all or part of a vehicle's propulsion. Solar power may be also used to provide power for communications or controls or other auxiliary functions.

What is Solar Car ?
How can solar panels power a car?

How Solar Car Works ?

Solar car works on a very simple concept. It has solar panels on its top, which charge battery attached to it via wire. This battery is connected with small DC motor installed in the chassis of the car. This motor is connected to the wheels of the car via gears. In simple words, it is basic Remote control cars with only difference is that its battery gets charged via solar panels instead of traditional sources.

How to make Solar Powered Toy Car(Video) :




Solar Powered Refrigerator

Solar Chimney

Beam Circuit Solar Engines

Solar Powered Bird Scarer 

Steam engine powered by sun light

Solar Turbine generator

Solar Powered Path Finding vehicle

Solar Powered Generator 

Solar Powered Bicycle

Solar Powered Bag 

Solar Insect Robot

Solar powered automatic rain operated wiper

Air Conditioner 

Water Pumps

Solar Powered Boat 

Water Purification System : Filter water anywhere, at the place of camping or in a village where electricity is not available easily.

Carbon Solar Cells

Nanowires : New Innovation in solar energy

Other Webpages:

Stanford Solar Car Projects

Bob Solar Project Blogs

Solar Power Demonstration Projects

High Tech Projects

Creative Projects

1.Painting with three colors : Art tips by Nita Leland

2.You can write your autobiography :

Writing Autobiography is one of the best things in the world. It lets us know about ourselves, and we get to know both positives and negatives of our life, who are our true friends and who are not! Sometime in our hectic life, we forget about many important parts and beings related of our lives and this project will help you in doing the same.


How to start?
Writing Biography is not an easy task, even if it's your own. So, start working towards it as soon as you finish reading this post.
To write your biography, you will need help from lot of people and this is a best part of it as you discuss about your life with others and get their point of view.

1. You need to do discussions with your family, friends and even enemies 
2. Carry pencil and paper during these discussions. 
3. Ask as many questions as you can and without getting offended with their replies.
4. Don't try to edit negatives and things you don't like.(This will help you in long term)
5. Arrange all the text chronologically and do write them in your textbook according to your convenience.
6. Read each conversation twice or more, and find a way and right words to write it interesting.
7. Write it in language you are comfortable in.

3.Prepare a poster report on some decade for eg 90's .

4.You can redecorate your room :

It will not only give you satisfaction, but also some freshness in your life. Before doing anything, you need to start with easiest task first, it will stimulate you for bigger task ahead.

Steps for Redecorating:

1. Take paper and write about changes you want to do with your room.
2. Before shifting anything, do care about your comfort, whether it will increase or not.
3. Arrange room in a way, by which you can save your time; for ex. if you like reading books on bed,make necessary arrangements, so you can grab your books right from your bed.
4. Redecorating needs time, try to do it on Saturday evening, where you will get Sunday as an extra day.You can either finish your job or if you will have finished it already, you will get a time for rest.

5.Prepare greeting cards for different occasions

Yes, you can purchase them but still handmade card is more precious gift for its receiver than any card purchased.

As you know, making cards requires creativity and various items, you should not wait for the occasion to start. Whenever you get time , make one or two of them for different occasions and give them to your loving one's when occasion arrives.

Starting early has added benefit of getting enough time to purchase things required for card making such as gum, sheets, colors etc.

6.Project about World War 2

World War 2 is one of the most important event of our history and it still affects our lives in one or other way. You can write about reasons, and long term effects of this war. You should try to find answers of questions such as How it changed the dynamics of world politics? What was the reasons behind it? Was it possible to stop it from happening?

7.Write about world most influential and important leaders