This month we'd like you to meet element14 Community's  Member of the Month for July: ravi butani

element14: First of all, congrats on being names element14 Community’s Member of the Month for July.

ravi_butani: Thanks you very much... Its big surprise for me to be a member of the month for element14 community.

element14: What originally brought you to the Community?

ravi_butani: When I have started working on Arduino and Raspberry-Pi in year 2011-12, I first came across this amazing place.. I have learned a lot from this community mainly but not only about Raspberry-Pi and Arduino. I actively involved in element14 community since year 2013.

element14: Tell me a little bit about how you got interested in electronics?

ravi_butani: Electronics is in my blood as my father is electronics hobbyist... From age of 10 years I have started to play with Op-amp, Timers, Transistors, diodes,LEDs, capacitors and resistors. In age of 14 I have started to play with computer Programming and embedded systems with C programming and 8051 circuits... I admit to say that, I am addicted to electronics... well, I have completed my masters in Electronics Engineering and now my hobby of electronics have become my profession.

element14: What do you do professionally?

ravi_butani: Currently I am educator in one of the known engineering university in western India. I likes to teach embedded system design, Analog Electronics, Microprocessors, DSP and object oriented programming.  I have also worked as design engineer in DSP division at well known Industrial UPS and Drive manufacturer company in India. I believe that only In education profession, I have freedom to enhance my electronics hobby and get a chance to came across fresh minds (my students) from whom one can expect eurekas...

element14: Walk me through your involvement in the Sudden Impact Design Challenge. Can you talk a little bit about why you applied and how you arrived at your final project submission? 

ravi_butani: Well, I have applied for Sudden Impact design challenge because I want test my skills in designing something that really useful in medical and sport application, as I believe that, this is the toughest design challenge in all design challenges in element14 community. Also the third party evaluation of this design challenge will add lot of learning to me by seeing how the project delivers in actual application scenario.

When I have started my project “Real time player monitoring system”, I have very limited knowledge of android application designing and dealing with networking protocols for WiFi Communications. But help of community members have made it possible. This project involves lots of planning followed by implementation and testing of each module than finally integrating all modules to serve the main purpose.

I have eagerly followed blogs of all challengers, mainly blogs of  Cosmin Iorga, Douglas Wong and Md. Kamrul Hussain.

element14: What was the most challenging part of the Design Challenge?

ravi_butani: Well, All my journey through this design challenge was mix of challenges and fun.. But most challenging part was to take this project to conclusion with working prototype including all the proposed functionality.. As I have not been able to do this in my previous Design Challenge involvement (“Forget me not” and “In the Air “ Design Challenge).

element14: I see you were awarded a CEL-Robox 3d Printer! What do you have planned for the new gear?

ravi_butani: Currently, I am eagerly waiting for my 3D-Printer. I planned to first design enclosure for my “Sudden Impact Design Challenge” Project. I have just missed the grand prize with very narrow margin because I have not access to the 3D-Printer to design durable enclosure and this is one of weak point in my project. Further, I have planned to design and print 3D stuffs that will be used in AeroModelling (my another addiction) and crazy toys for my one and half year old daughter. Also I am waiting for future design challenge where I can use this 3D-Printer to design cool enclosures for projects.

element14: Walk me through your routine on the site, what spaces do you check? Who do you follow?

ravi_butani: Browsing Arduino and Raspberry-Pi community is my routine on element14 community site. I likes to read road-test reviews and watch every episode of Ben Heck Show. I also likes to read blogs in design challenge space. It was difficult to attend webinars due to limited Internet connectivity here, but I never missed any recorded webinars. There is long list of community members, I personally follows in element14 and shabaz is on first place of this list.

element14: What advice would you give someone new to the element14 Community?

ravi_butani: For new members, I would like to say that element14 community is a best place for learning emerging technologies for hobby purpose or even one can take this learning to their professional activities. Start with group of your interest, Ask questions and help others to solve their problems.

element14: Thanks for taking the time to answer some questions, any parting words?

ravi_butani: Thanks a lot to element14 for this nomination and providing this amazing platform to share the knowledge.

element14: Thanks!