On February 15, 2022, University of Florida students, faculty, staff and alumni gathered at the Florida Capitol in Tallahassee for Gator Day.
The annual event provides an opportunity for UF faculty and students to present their research and engage in conversations with legislators and esteemed leaders from throughout the state of Florida. The event included presentations by distinguished speakers, a reception in the Capitol, and table displays with representatives from all 16 of UF’s colleges.
Faculty and students from the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering showcased various research projects. Among them were three exciting IoT projects from the Warren B. Nelms Institute for the Connected World: UF Smart Campus, Remote Chess, and Medicine and Illegal Substance Detection in Mail Packaging Using NQR Spectroscopy.
UF Smart Campus
Presented by Larry Rentz and Quadri Abiru
UF Smart Campus demonstrates IoT (Internet of Things) features on a scaled version of a university campus. The project implements two smart features: remote monitoring and controlling of street lights; and remote monitoring of parking lots and availability of parking spaces. These smart features would address common problems such as vehicular and pedestrian safety and parking management on campus. Smart features that allow real-time monitoring would enable us to respond quickly to outages or emergencies.
Remote Chess
Presented by Dylan Ferris and Austin Welch
Inspired by their desire to connect with friends across great distances, Dylan Ferris and Austin Welch developed a pair of connected chessboards that create a seamless online multiplayer experience. The IoT (Internet of Things) Connected Chessboards help people share the classic pastime of chess from anywhere, while still preserving the look and gameplay of a real chess game. The boards are also a great learning tool to help learn the rules of chess or sharpen skills against an AI.
Medicine and Illegal Substance Detection in Mail Packaging Using NQR Spectroscopy
Presented by Kelsey Horace-Herron
Counterfeit medicine is becoming a growing problem in developing countries and a danger to others worldwide. This device aims to detect fake medicine before it is distributed to consumers by using Nuclear Quadrupole Resonance (NQR). NQR is a noninvasive technique that can be used to detect drugs even in opaque packaging. In the future, the team hopes to develop a low-cost, handheld version of the device for consumer use at home.