In this competition, participants will have an opportunity to experiment, test, or build a sensor fusion project with the AMD Xilinx SP701 Spartan-7 FPGA Kit.
APPLICATION DEADLINE HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO OCTOBER 12th, 2022.
About Competition | Blogging | Example Application | Resources | The Dates | The Prizes | The Kit | The Judges | Terms & Conditions | Summer of Sensors | The Challengers
Sensors are an extension of the five human senses. They allow us to perceive the world and often observe details to a degree that our human senses cannot. However, in some situations, they still fall short of the user requirements, regardless of how well they perform. For example, in an automobile, a LIDAR sensor can determine whether there is an obstacle ahead. But if you want to know the exact nature of the obstacle, you also need an on-board camera. Moreover, if you want to sense the motion state of this object, you'll also need a millimeter-wave (mmWave) radar.
A sensor can only sense features of an object based on its individual capabilities. When multiple pieces of information on the features of the object are integrated, a more complete and accurate picture can be derived for system operation. This method of integrating multiple sensors is called “sensor fusion.”
By definition, sensor fusion is the use of computer technology to automatically analyze and synthesize information and data from multiple sensors or sources under certain criteria to conduct the information processing required for making decisions and estimations. Two common types of sensor fusion are image and motion sensor fusion, used in automotive surround view and navigation applications, respectively.
Sensor fusion is largely dependent on software. The development of efficient algorithms based on actual applications has become the top priority of sensor fusion development. In terms of algorithm optimization, the introduction of artificial intelligence has made an ongoing impact on sensor fusion development.
Although software is critical for sensor fusion, hardware also plays a crucial role. Using a hardware evaluation kit by AMD Xilinx, this competition focuses on experimenting with sensor fusion. Participants will have an opportunity to experiment, test, or build a sensor fusion 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 Sensor Fusion competition?
Log onto the Community and go to the Experimenting with Sensor Fusion enrollment page. Complete all the required information on the form and click submit.
Who is Eligible to Enroll in the Experimenting with Sensor Fusion Competition?
Any element14 member can enroll in the Experimenting with Sensor Fusion competition; however, to receive one of 4 FREE kits, you need to submit an application entry form by the enrollment deadline, October 12, 2022. If you are not a Community member please register here to join.
Because of the cost of the kit, this challenge is limited to only challengers who have been selected to participate. Only challengers who have been selected are eligible to win prizes.
What are the milestones of the competition?
| Enrollment Begins: | August 31, 2022 |
| Enrollment Ends: | October 12, 2022 |
| Applicants Selected: | October 19, 2022 |
| Challenge Begins: | October 20, 2022 |
| First Blog Due: | November 11, 2022 |
| Second Blog Due: | January 6th, 2023 |
| Challenge Ends: | January 6th, 2023 |
| Winners Announced: | January 2023 |
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 November 11, 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 6th, 2023.
Please also tag your blogs with 'Experimenting with Sensor Fusion'.
There will be two big prizes awarded in this competition: a Grand Prize and a Runner Up prize.
iPad Mini + Apple Series 7 Watch Approximate value ($1,000)
Apple Series 7 Watch Approximate value ($400)
element14 is offering 4 kits FREE of charge. To be eligible to receive one of them, you must submit an application by the enrollment deadline (October 12, 2022)
| Sensor Fusion Kit* Buy Kit | |
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The SP701 Evaluation Kit, equipped with the best-in-class performance-per-watt Spartan-7 FPGA, is built for designs requiring sensor fusion such as industrial networking, embedded vision, and automotive applications.
Kit Contains:
|
 Buy Now |
Pcam 5C is an imaging module meant for use with FPGA development boards. The module is designed around the Omnivision OV5640 5 megapixel (MP) colour image sensor. This sensor includes various internal processing functions that can improve image quality including automatic white balance, automatic black level calibration and controls for adjusting saturation, hue, gamma and sharpness. Data is transferred over a dual-lane MIPI CSI-2 interface which provides enough data bandwidth to support common video streaming formats such as 1080p (at 30 frames per second) and 720p (at 60 frames per second). |
 Buy Now |
The 410-326 from Digilent is a Pmod NAV 9-axis IMU plus barometer. The Digilent Pmod NAV uses the LSM9DS1 3-axis accelerometer, 3-axis gyroscope, 3-axis magnetometer, plus the LPS25HB digital barometer to provide users with 10-DOF functionality. The Pmod NAV provides a variety of orientation related data allowing users to easily determine the exact position the module is in and where it is headed. |
*Note price of evaluation kit is over $800.
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Anyone Can Apply to join the Experimenting with Sensor Fusion Competition |
Resources/Technical Documentation
Spartan-7 SP701 FPGA Evaluation Kit:
Manufacturer Info
Quick Start Guide
User Guide
Tutorials
Digilent Pcam 5C Imaging Module: Datasheet
Digilent Pmod NAV 9-axis IMU Plus Barometer: Datasheet
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What kind of experiments can the participants perform with the sensor fusion kit?
- Combining the data from a moisture sensor with a temperature sensor to calculate relative humidity
- Determining the orientation of a system in three-dimensional space
- Healthcare and medical electronics where body-worn systems which monitor the movement of limbs can be helpful for physiotherapy, to ensure exercises are performed correctly
- Wearable activity trackers where their data is fused with data from wearable heart rate monitors, temperature sensors, etc. as part of telehealth services or remote monitoring of patient conditions
Can I still be eligible for the Grand Prize or Runner Up Prizes if I am not selected for one of the 4 kits?
No, this competition is limited to only challengers who have been selected to participate.
What do I need to do to win the Grand or Runner Up Prize?
After the enrollment period is completed and the 4 FREE kits are shipped, you will have 8 weeks to complete your experiment, write the two required blogs, and share what you learned about sensor fusion. You will be judged by the quality of your final blog and what you have learned.
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 Sensor Fusion 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 4 FREE kits, you will need to submit an application no later than October 12, 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 October 12, 2022.
Here are some other suggestions for completing a winning application:
- Please complete all required information (contact information, etc.) Please use the email address that is associated with your element14 profile.
- 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.
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Anyone Can Participate in Experimenting with Sensor Fusion Competition |
The Judges
Top Members of the element14 Community will be our judges. They are:
Top Member DAB
Don spent 35 years in the aerospace industry working on many advanced projects. His range of experience covers nearly every scientific field and most ranges of the electromagnetic spectrum. He has a very broad interest and knowledge in science with extensive analysis in image, multispectral and hyper-spectral analysis. He has also worked on a wide range of embedded computer applications, including integrated search and rescue systems.
Top Member shabaz
Shabaz has studied Electronics Engineering followed by Law, and worked primarily in the fields of radio communications (military), telecommunications (infrastructure used by phone companies), data networks, and information technology. He was originally involved in hardware design, followed by software engineering and technical marketing.
Thank you to our Judges for offering their time and service.
General Questions
For any general questions about the ‘Experimenting with Sensor Fusion’ competition, please post a comment on this page.
To keep up-to-date with this competition, please bookmark it.
Terms & Conditions
