Categories: Electronics, In Progress, Programming
| Year: 2022
Objectives
- Detect cars behind cyclist and alert them audibly and visually
- Provide a cheaper alternative to cycling radars like Garmin Varia™
Process
- Tested an ultrasonic rangefinder, but its range was too limited
- Decided to use an ESP32 camera board with a machine learning model to detect cars
- Programmed in C++ using ESP-IDF
- Code based off of TensorflowLite image classification and Espressif SD Card examples
- Initial version of firmware only collects photographs and saves to SD card
- Collected about 1100 images to train ML model
- Case designed in Onshape, 3D printed in PLA
- Velcro used to attach electronics
- Powered by Li-ion battery
Future work
To complete this project, I will need to:
- Add TensorflowLite model to firmware
- Create alert system
- Buzzer, if loud enough, or display mounted to handlebars
- Expand case
- I think a larger battery will be necessary
- Road-test completed device and collect more photos for continued training
