Monday, August 27, 2012

Mind-Blowing Projects by College Kids


College graduates may still have a tough time finding a decent job in this economy, but some students are trying to make the best use of their time in the classroom. We've rounded up five mind-blowing projects by college kids for your viewing enjoyment. Continue reading to see more.

5. Arcade Game Washing Machine

File this under: top 10 student inventions. If you thought washing your clothes with a machine was too arduous of a task, Lee Wei Chen, a student from the Kingston University in London - originally from Taiwan - has just the invention for you. Called the "Amusement Washing Machine", this contraption is completely dependent on the user's gaming skills. In other words, if you play poorly, you'll be asked to insert more coins before the washing cycle can be completed.

4. JediBot

Called the JediBot, this innovative Kinect-controlled robot, developed by Stanford University students, "can wield a foam sword (light saber, if you will) and duel a human combatant for command of the empire." The robot strikes using a set of predefined attack motions. When it detects a hit (when its foam light saber comes in contact with its opponent's foam light saber and puts torque on the robotic arm's joints), it recoils and moves on to the next motion.

3. WalkSafe

Students from Dartmouth College and the University of Bologna have developed WalkSafe, an innovative app that's designed to alert smartphone users when a car is near. The app uses the outward facing camera on a smartphone to help a pedestrian look both ways. Using vision algorithms built into the app, the system determines which way cars on the roadway are facing and whether or not they are moving, taking into account the tilt of the phone and varying light conditions to establish an accurate picture of the roadway. It then figures out if any approaching vehicle is a threat to the user.

2. Spray-On Clothing

Believe it or not, particle engineer Paul Luckham and fashion designer Manel Torres from Imperial College London combined cotton fibers, polymers and a solvent to form a liquid that becomes a fabric when sprayed. Scientists think the fabric, created through careful use of an aerosol, could have applications not only in high fashion but in medicine and industry.

1. Automated Dorm Room

YouTube user "dereklmy" who is also a freshman at UC Berkley, decided to create an automated dorm room. Three months and hundreds of dollars later, this is what he came up with, "Romantic Mode" and all. Other features include: motion detection, wireless remote, and even a mobile application.

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