Experimenting with Gesture Sensors

In this competition, participants will have an opportunity to experiment, test, or build a project with the MAX25405 Optical IR Sensor Evaluation Kit.

Experimenting with Gesture Sensors

About Competition | Blogging | Example Application | Resources | The Dates | The Prizes | The Kit | The Judges | Terms & Conditions | Summer of Sensors | The Challengers

For many years, computers have been controlled by “touched” devices such as mouses, keyboards, and touchscreen displays. But today there is a growing trend for using touch-free gesture control. A good example of touch-free gesture control is in the automotive cockpit, where gesture recognition technology can enable the control of infotainment systems, thereby ensuring safety by allowing the driver to keep his eyes on the road. While gesture control seems like something out of the distant future (i.e., Star Trek), it is now being successfully integrated into smart appliances, touch-free smart home hubs and thermostats, gaming controllers, virtual reality systems, and more. To that end, let's take a closer look at the use of gesture sensing.

Using a gesture sensing evaluation kit by Maxim Integrated, this competition focuses on experimenting with gesture sensing. Participants will have an opportunity to experiment, test, or build a gesture sensor project. Before we talk about what the participants will receive in the Challenger's kit, and the great prizes they are competing for, let's talk about how to enter this competition, the timeline, and some FAQs.

How do you enter the Experimenting with Gesture Sensors competition?

Log into the Community and go to the Experimenting with Gesture Sensors enrollment page. Complete all the required information from the application form and click submit.

Who is Eligible to Enroll in the Experimenting with Gesture Sensors Competition?

Any element14 member can enroll in the Experimenting with Gesture Sensors competition; however, to receive one of 8 FREE kits, you need to submit an application entry form by the enrollment deadline, August 30, 2022.  If you are not a Community member please register here to join.

What are the milestones of the competition?

Blogging Requirements: Only 2 Blogs!

In order to successfully finish this competition, you are required to blog twice during the competition period. You can blog more than twice, if you wish. The due dates for the blogs are described below:

• Write Blog 1: Introduce yourself in the blog and explain what experiments you plan to perform. The due date for publishing the first blog on element14 is October 31, 2022.

• Write Blog 2: Write up the results of your experiments, using images, screen captures, videos, tables, charts, etc. Then tell us what you learned about gesture sensors. The due date for publishing the second blog on element14 is January 3, 2023.

Please also tag your blogs with 'Experimenting with Gesture Sensors'.

The Prizes

There will be two big prizes awarded in this competition: a Grand Prize and a Runner Up prize. We also offer a complimentary finisher prize to those who have met the requirements for finishing the competition, but have not been chosen for the Grand and Runner Prizes. (Note: The Grand and Runner Up Prize winners will not receive a finisher prize.)

The Grand Prize

iPad Pro + VIVE Cosmos VR System Approximate value ($2,098)

The Runner Up

Tap Strap 2 - Wearable Keyboard, Mouse & Air Gesture Controller + Air Neo Approximate value ($408)

The Finisher Prize

Handheld Capacitance Meter Approximate value ($33)

The Kit

element14 is offering 8 kits FREE of charge. To be eligible to receive one of them, you must submit an application by the enrollment deadline (August 30, 2022)

MAX25405 Optical IR Sensor Evaluation Kit

Buy Now

The MAX25405 Optical IR Sensor Evaluation Kit (EV kit) is a complete system for demonstrating the MAX25405 optical IR sensor in a typical gesture and proximity-sensing application. The MAX25405 enables recognition of the following gestures: Hand Swipe Left, Right, Up, and Down Finger/Hand Rotation Clockwise and Counter-Clockwise Air Click Proximity Detection and Linger-to-Click The application circuit operates by illuminating the user’s hand with a precision-controlled IR light source and measuring the reflected signal with the MAX25405’s 6x10 (60 pixel) IR sensor array. The four-LED IR light source is PWM controlled with external FETs from the MAX25405’s onboard FET driver. The return signal is analyzed with an embedded microcontroller that interprets the gestures. Kit Contents: MAX32620FTHR Microcontroller Platform Interface Shield Board MAX25405 Sensor Board Ribbon Cable (Connects Sensor Board toShield Board) 3.3V Power Supply USB 2.0 Type A to Micro B Cable Note: Plastic stand shown not included with EV kit. Check product website for CAD files.

Resources/Technical Documentation

Maxim Integrated
MAX25405 EV Kit Datasheet
Software for MAX25405 EV Kit

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What kind of experiments can the participants perform with the gesture sensors kit?

How you experiment with them depends on your interests and what stirs your curiosity about gesture sensors. The MAX25405 enables recognition of the following gestures:

• Hand Swipe Left, Right, Up, and Down
• Finger/Hand Rotation Clockwise and Counter-Clockwise
• Air Click
• Proximity Detection and Linger-to-Click

The application circuit operates by illuminating the user’s hand with a precision-controlled IR light source and measuring the reflected signal with the MAX25405’s 6x10 (60 pixel) IR sensor array. The four-LED IR light source is PWM controlled with external FETs from the MAX25405’s onboard FET driver. The return signal is analyzed with an embedded microcontroller that interprets the gestures.

What do I need to do to win the Grand or Runner Up Prize?

After the enrollment period is completed and the 8 FREE kits are shipped, you will have 8 weeks to complete your experiments, write the two required blogs, and share what you learned about gesture sensors. You will be judged by the quality of your final blog and what you learned.

Can I still be eligible for the Grand Prize or Runner Up Prizes if I am not selected for one of the 8 kits?

Yes, on the condition that you obtain the MAX25405 Optical IR Sensor Evaluation Kit and perform experiments with it, and post your blogs in the Experimenting with Gesture Sensors Group. You must write and post two blogs before the deadline. Also, please notify rscasny@newark.com with links to your two blogs.

What do I get if I don't win the Grand Prize, but I wrote the two blogs?

If you write two blogs and post them in the Experimenting with Gesture Sensors Group by the deadline on October 31, 2022, you have successfully completed your entry in the competition. If our judges do not select you for the Grand or Runner-Up prizes, you will be eligible to receive the finisher prize, as a thank you for participating. But remember, you have to write two blogs by the deadline to be considered a finisher!

Can I write more than two blogs?

Yes. To finish the competition, you have to write and post a minimum of two blogs to the Experimenting with Gesture Sensors group. Sometimes the participants will write more than two blogs. You do not get extra points for writing more blogs, but writing more blogs will provide the judges with more information to help determine the best experimenters. Two blogs meet the basic requirements of participation in this activity.

Tips on Writing Your Application

If you want a chance to receive one of the 8 FREE Kits, you will need to submit an application no later than August 30, 2022. The key to writing a winning application is to provide as much meaningful information about your proposed experiments as possible.

The application entry form should be detailed enough to give a good idea of what you plan to do and how you plan to pull it off. But you don't have to write a book! By answering each of the following questions in your application, you will provide enough information:

(a) Describe your technical background.

(b) Why are you interested in this competition?

(c) What kind of experiment(s) do you plan to perform? (Be as specific as you can)

(d) Have you participated in the element14 Community? If so, please provide some links to what you've done. If you are a new member, answer "New Member."

All interested element14 members must submit an application entry form before the end of enrollment on August 30, 2022.

Here are some other suggestions for completing a winning application:

1. Please complete all required information (contact information, etc.) Please use the email address that is associated with your element14 profile.

2. Answer all of the application questions. Tell us why you want to be selected. Before deciding what you want to write, think about the following things: You are entering a competition. The most persuasive applications are the ones that attract the eye of the judges.

A single sentence application will never be selected. This competition is not a game of chance.

Be as detailed as possible, but don't write a book.

The Judges

Members of the element14 Community will be our judges. They are:

javagoza

Enrique has been a member of the element14 community since Jan 2019. He's a frequent contributor with over 1,000 posts. Professionally, he is a Spanish self-taught programmer. He studied Industrial Electrical Engineering specialized in Robotics, Electronics and Automatic Control in the 80's, but has have never worked as an Electrical Engineer; rather, his career focus is on programming. He currently works as a software developer for payment solutions in the payment card industry, specialized in PCI and EMV compliance. He has done projects, as a maker, for platforms like: Arduino, Raspberry Pi, TI MSP430, TI TIVA C MCUs, Nordic Thingy:91 and recently the Xilinx Spartan-7.

robogary

Gary has been a member of the element14 community since April 2018. He's a frequent contributor with over 1,300 posts. Professionally, he is an EE experienced in industrial and power control systems. He does E14 projects and challenges to share learning examples for the robotics club I champion at the local library.

Thank you to our Judges for offering their time and service.

General Questions

For any general questions about the ‘Experimenting with Gesture Sensors’ competition, please post a comment on this page.

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