Advice needed on designing an electronic car finder

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around designing an electronic car finder as part of an electrical engineering design project. Participants explore concepts related to radio wave transmission and reception, as well as the technical aspects of implementing such a system within a limited timeframe.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests a car finder project, expressing a preference for this idea over others like an audio delay system and a prank call handler.
  • Another participant inquires about concepts related to radio wave transmission and reception, questioning if it falls under RF electronics and seeking resources for designing a radio wave transmitter.
  • A participant references the LoJack system as a potential model for the car finder, implying a similarity in function.
  • Questions are raised regarding the participants' backgrounds in analog design, microcontrollers, and digital signal processing, with one participant detailing their coursework and experience.
  • Concerns are expressed about posting multiple threads on similar topics, with a reminder about forum etiquette and the importance of clarity in discussions.
  • One participant acknowledges their inexperience in electrical engineering design and expresses anxiety about the project.
  • There is a mention of potentially using a radio antenna for broadcasting signals, with considerations about not emitting signals constantly.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the best approach for the car finder project, and multiple competing views and ideas remain present throughout the discussion.

Contextual Notes

Participants express uncertainty about the scope and technical requirements of the project, including the need for further research into radio wave technology and design methodologies.

Who May Find This Useful

Students and professionals interested in electrical engineering design projects, particularly those focusing on RF electronics and practical applications of signal transmission.

trickae
Messages
82
Reaction score
0
ideas for EE design project

Me and my partner are currently looking for ideas we can implement in a 10-12 week period.

Some ideas we chose from our lecturers list are

* car finder - when you can't find your car in the parking lot.

* audio delay system - for movies that may have a certain phrase that was said that wasn't heard clearly - maybe the actor was using an accent or its a foreign film you're trying to understand, or maybe the language being spoken isn't your first - create a ckt that will locate the phrase, slow it down on playback and then resume normal viewing.

* prank call handler: when a prank call is detected form a known number or its someone you don't want to talk to, use the prank call handler to let them know their call is unwanted.


- at the moment I'm more keen on the car finder, while my partner is more keen on the audio delay system. Does anyone have any further ideas we can implement? I have to stress that this project focuses on electronic design (analog and solid state)

thanks in advance.
 
Last edited:
Engineering news on Phys.org
what concepts should i look into for radio wave transmission and reception? Does it fall under RF electronics?

Also where can i find resources for designing a radio wave transmitter - that transmits a signal - such as a code - and when the receiver receives the signal - relays a code back (say a HIGH) when its found?

i frankly don't know where to start researching this.
 
You mean like a LoJack? Or something like it to find your car in a parking lot?

Btw, it served no purpose starting so many threads on the subject - it just clutters up the forum.
 
What year is this project for? How much analog design have you studied? Do you have experience with uCs? DSP?
 
Re: Berkeman
Hi berkeman - this is a design course we take just before we start our thesis. I have to a couple of 3rd/4th year professional electives to take before i can worry about that.
i've done control, currently doing analog electronics. I'm a dual degree that's why i have some courses left for my EE side. However my partner has the following courses behind him:
*analog electronics
*solid state electronics
*microelectronic design

I have a strong background in programming/ software design.

what scope could we be looking at?

Re:russ_watters
- i'll look into a lojack
- had no idea such questions aren't warranted here or a public access forum.
- just started EE design this semester - kinda freaking out, i apologies.Edit:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LoJack

i believe i'd be using a similar method - however it won't be that large scale. Most likely to help someone find their car if they forgot where they parked it. I'm thinking of ways of not having it constantly emit a signal - only as needed maybe.
I could have it broadcast through the radio antenna.
 
Last edited:
trickae said:
Re:russ_watters

- had no idea such questions aren't warranted here or a public access forum.
- just started EE design this semester - kinda freaking out, i apologies.
[/B]

trickae, what russ_watters was referring to was the way that you started three different threads simultaneously to ask basically the same question. Your questions were fine, but it is wrong in a carefully moderated technical forums like the PF to post the same question in multiple ways in multiple threads. The clutter and confusion that results slows everybody else down, as they try to figure out why there are multiple threads like that. And it makes us Mentors waste time trying to figure out what is going on, and whether we should try to merge some of the threads to clean things up.

Just ask a good question in a thread, and let the discussion progress. Posting the same question multiple times/ways in different threads is not allowed on the PF.
 
oh sorry about that.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
  • · Replies 14 ·
Replies
14
Views
2K
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
3K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
14K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
4K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
3K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
5K
Replies
24
Views
7K
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
7K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
6K