Active Projects
Project Title: Smart Parking System 2.0: An AI-Enhanced Vision and Cloud-Integrated Parking Management System with On-Site Guidance
Project Timeline: January 2026 - December 2026
Project Homepage: Smart Parking System 2.0: An AI-Enhanced Vision and Cloud-Integrated Parking Management System with On-Site Guidance
Project Demo:
Team Members: James Rodgers, Jonathan Perez, Gavin Johnston, Mykhail Sokolov, Pablo Leguizamo, Raghav Kaashyap, Tian Jun Teoh
Project Overview: Smart Parking System 2.0 is a campus-oriented intelligent parking platform designed to improve parking availability awareness, reduce search time, and minimize internal traffic congestion through AI-enhanced vision, cloud integration, and real-time user guidance. Building on the success of Phase I, which demonstrated a low-cost vision-based IoT parking system with embedded cameras, edge AI inference, cloud-hosted services, and a mobile app for parking availability monitoring, this Phase II project advances the concept toward a more deployable and scalable campus-ready prototype. The system integrates AI-based vehicle and occupancy detection, IoT sensing, edge processing, cloud services, on-site visual display units, and an enhanced mobile application to provide drivers with real-time parking information and directional guidance across parking blocks. In addition to user-facing features, the platform includes an administrative dashboard to support parking operations personnel in monitoring lot usage, analyzing parking trends, and managing parking zones and policies. A major focus of the project is to extend beyond simple occupancy reporting by improving AI capability, enhancing usability, and introducing active guidance mechanisms that support real-world campus deployment scenarios. The expected outcome is a fully functional prototype that demonstrates reduced parking search time, improved traffic flow, and the feasibility of scalable smart parking infrastructure for university environments. This project offers students valuable experience in embedded systems, computer vision, artificial intelligence, cloud-connected IoT design, mobile application development, and interdisciplinary system integration, while also creating a strong foundation for future conference publication in smart infrastructure and intelligent transportation systems.
Project Title: Servo Position Calibration Jig
Project Timeline: January 2026 - December 2026
Project Homepage: Servo Position Calibration Jig
Project Demo:
Team Members: Ranvitha Muramreddy, Veda Vegiraju, Andrey Dalaliants, Rafat Momin, Zachary Merwin
Project Overview: The Servo Position Calibration Jig project aims to improve the manufacturing and assembly process of a vibration-monitoring device by automating the calibration of its servo motor positions. In the current workflow, assemblers manually adjust pulse width modulation (PWM) values through a DOS-based program and visually inspect servo rotation until the desired stopping points are achieved. This trial-and-error approach consumes more than 30% of the manufacturing time and introduces inconsistency due to human error. The proposed project seeks to replace this manual method with an automated calibration jig and supporting software system that can detect default servo positions, calculate the required PWM correction values, program the device accordingly, and verify the final alignment. The system will include a Windows-installable software application with a simple graphical user interface so that assembly operators can perform calibration with minimal training. The project requires evaluation and selection of an effective position measurement technique, such as optical or magnetic encoders, Hall effect sensors, or other sensing methods, followed by hardware integration, software development, and validation testing. By combining embedded calibration hardware, measurement sensing, and user-friendly software, this project is expected to reduce calibration time, improve repeatability, and enhance manufacturing efficiency and product consistency.
Project Title: Socialdeck: A Mobile Card Game Powered by Your Photos
Project Timeline: January 2026 - December 2026
Project Homepage: Socialdeck: A Mobile Card Game Powered by Your Photos
Project Demo:
Team Members: Thabang Pila, Phuong Tran, Ibrahim Aldulaimi, Nathan Ervin, Joshua Reynolds, Laura Lopez-De la Cruz
Project Overview: Socialdeck is a cross-platform mobile multiplayer game that transforms users’ personal photos into interactive gameplay content. The project aims to develop a beta-ready minimum viable product for iOS and Android that allows players to create reusable photo decks from their camera roll and use them in a social card game environment. The first complete game mode, Prompt’d, enables up to eight players to join a lobby through an invite code, select decks, respond to AI-generated prompts with photo submissions, and vote anonymously on the best match. Points accumulate across rounds, followed by leaderboard-based results and a round-by-round reveal of submitted photos. The system is designed using Flutter and Dart, with Firebase-based cloud services for authentication, real-time session management, and multiplayer coordination. A key engineering focus of the project is maintaining reliable synchronization across players while supporting low-friction gameplay and lightweight storage requirements. The design also emphasizes a privacy-first approach to photo handling by minimizing the amount of user photo data retained and cleaning temporary session content after gameplay ends. Additional technical objectives include AI-assisted prompt generation with fallback support, robust failure handling for disconnects and inconsistent game states, and structured beta testing with existing waitlist users. The final deliverable will be a functional prototype supported by playtesting results, system documentation, and architecture handoff materials, providing a strong foundation for future expansion of the Socialdeck platform.
Project Title: A Smart Aquatic Ecosystem: AI-Enabled Fish Health, Water Quality Monitoring, and Automated Control
Project Timeline: August 2025 - May 2026
Project Homepage: A Smart Aquatic Ecosystem: AI-Enabled Fish Health, Water Quality Monitoring, and Automated Control
Project Demo: https://sdmay26-21.sd.ece.iastate.edu/
Team Members: Urban, Griffin L; Mannan, Marina; Holden, Ryan L; Koziol, Aden P; Pender, Daniel T; Purvis, Max W; Irving, Carson
Project Overview: Aquarium maintenance is a delicate process that requires continuous attention to ensure the health and longevity of aquatic life. Fish are highly sensitive to changes in water quality, temperature, and feeding schedules, making it challenging for owners to maintain optimal living conditions manually. Traditional aquarium setups often rely on periodic manual checks and interventions, which can result in inconsistent care, unnoticed issues, and unnecessary stress for the fish.
This project proposes the development of a self-monitoring AI-powered aquarium system designed to automate and optimize aquarium management. By integrating smart sensors, actuators, and artificial intelligence, the system will monitor critical water parameters such as temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, and turbidity in real time. Automated controls will regulate heating, water flow, feeding schedules, and even initiate water exchange when required. Additionally, AI-driven computer vision will be used to estimate fish population and growth patterns, providing owners with insights beyond basic maintenance. Through a user-friendly web-based application, the system will visualize water quality trends, issue alerts, and recommend interventions, ensuring a healthier environment for aquatic life with minimal manual effort.
Project Title: AI-Integrated Autonomous Drone System for Smart Crop Health and Harvest Monitoring
Project Timeline: August 2025 - May 2026
Project Homepage:AI-Integrated Autonomous Drone System for Smart Crop Health and Harvest Monitoring
Project Demo: https://sdmay26-20.sd.ece.iastate.edu/
Team Members: Kopunovic, Srdan; Harvey, Zachary D; Lee, Jongmin; Lopez, Andres O; Pallan, Alex; Senneff, Camden J; Zea, Caleb C
Project Overview: Modern agriculture faces significant challenges in ensuring high crop yields while minimizing resource use and labor costs. Traditional crop monitoring methods rely heavily on manual inspections, which are time-consuming, labor-intensive, and prone to error. This project proposes the development of an AI-integrated autonomous drone system designed to transform crop monitoring into a smart, efficient, and data-driven process. The system will utilize drones equipped with cameras and sensors to autonomously navigate fields, capture real-time images, and analyze crop conditions using artificial intelligence.
Through advanced AI algorithms, the system will track crop growth week by week, detect the presence of insects and pests, and assess harvest readiness based on maturity indicators such as color, size, and density. By automating these tasks, the system reduces dependence on manual labor and enables farmers to make informed decisions quickly. Ultimately, the project aims to demonstrate how AI-powered autonomous drones can improve crop health monitoring, optimize harvest timing, and contribute to the future of precision agriculture.
Project Title: Ames After Dark — Your Guide to Safe & Fun Nights in Ames
Project Timeline: August 2025 - May 2026
Project Homepage: Ames After Dark — Your Guide to Safe & Fun Nights in Ames
Project Demo: https://sdmay26-42.sd.ece.iastate.edu/
Team Members: Krieger, Nathan J; Seeman, Analyn L; Couture, Nathan; Sullivan, Maggie; Williams, Geni A; Anderson, Chase D; Davis, Jaylin E
Project Overview: Ames After Dark is a mobile-first app that centralizes nightlife info for Ames students and residents. It brings together live events & specials, an interactive map of bars and mutual friends, and a weekly photo gallery from local photographers. The goal is to help people make quick, safe decisions about where to go tonight.
- Cross-platform prototype (iOS + Android) with a cloud backend
- Bar owner portal to post deals, events, menus, and photos
- Privacy-first friend features (opt-in, mutual connections only).
Project Title: Renova-The AI-Powered Interior Design Web Application
Project Timeline: August 2025 - May 2026
Project Homepage: Renova: The AI-Powered Interior Design Web Application
Project Demo: https://sdmay26-16.sd.ece.iastate.edu/
Project Prototype-User Testing Renova: Renova — Design your dream room
Team Members: Onal, Onur; Barker, Erroll; Yavuz, Kemal; Regunath; Prakeerth; Meh, Bae; Sanghvi, Om
Project Overview: Renova is a web-based platform that combines user creativity with the power of artificial intelligence. The core problem we address is the high cost, time commitment, and expertise required for professional interior design services. Many homeowners and renters struggle to visualize renovation ideas before committing financially, which can lead to dissatisfaction and wasted resources. Renova makes this process accessible, intuitive, and risk-free. Our key design requirements are to create a user-friendly moodboard editor for arranging room items, a robust backend to manage user data and AI job orchestration, and seamless integration with Seedream 4.0 to generate photorealistic interior previews based on user designs. The platform must generate high-quality, realistic previews of renovated spaces based on the user's unique design choices.
Previous Projects
Project Title : Smart Home Control Unit for Energy Optimization
Project Timeline: January 2025 - December 2025
Project Homepage:Smart Home Control Unit for Energy Optimization Homepage
Project Demo: https://sddec25-08.sd.ece.iastate.edu/
Team Members: Seth Proctor; Jacob Carnesi; Alexander Ryan; Binula Karunaratne; Arie Kraayenbrink; Erik Schmidt
Project Overview: The primary objective of this project is to develop an innovative smart home control unit designed to optimize energy consumption and temperature management through energy-efficient lighting and environmental controls. This system will dynamically adjust lighting and temperature settings based on various parameters, such as ambient light levels, room occupancy, and user-defined schedules or preferences. Additionally, it will monitor and regulate indoor temperature to enhance comfort while minimizing energy usage. The project prioritizes cost-efficient solutions, aiming to make smart home technology accessible to a broader audience.
The smart control unit will integrate multiple sensors, including motion detectors, ambient light sensors, and temperature sensors, to collect real-time data. These sensors will enable the system to make intelligent decisions, such as dimming lights when natural light is sufficient, turning off lights in unoccupied areas, and adjusting heating or cooling settings based on occupancy and time of day. The system will feature a mobile application to provide users with full control and insights. This app will allow users to remotely monitor and control lighting and temperature settings and view detailed energy consumption and cost-saving statistics in real-time.
Project Title : Creating an Automated Parking System Enabled by IoT Technology
Project Timeline: January 2025 - December 2025
Project Homepage: Creating an Automated Parking System Enabled by IoT Technology Homepage
Project Demo: https://sddec25-09.sd.ece.iastate.edu/
Team Members: Thomas Olson; Joseph Schmidt; Sullivan Hart; Daniel Rosenthal; Harley
Peacher
Project Overview: The primary objective of this project is to develop a cutting-edge smart parking management system, designed to efficiently identify and direct drivers to available parking spaces in real time. This system will leverage video camera technology, replacing traditional ultrasonic or infrared sensors, to continuously monitor the occupancy of each parking space. High-resolution video cameras will be strategically deployed within parking lots to detect vehicle presence and provide live updates on space availability through advanced image processing algorithms.
The data gathered from these video cameras will be processed in real time using a central server equipped with machine learning capabilities. This ensures accurate and timely information about parking space status, enhancing system reliability and scalability. A pivotal element of this initiative is the creation of an intuitive mobile application. This app will present real-time parking space occupancy to users, allowing them to quickly locate and reserve open spots directly from their smartphones. Additionally, the app will integrate payment functionalities for a seamless parking experience.
This innovative system aims to reduce the time drivers spend searching for parking, alleviate traffic congestion caused by parking searches, and optimize the overall utilization of parking facilities. By utilizing video camera technology, this project demonstrates an advanced application of IoT, computer vision, and mobile app development. It offers a scalable, efficient solution to a prevalent urban challenge, paving the way for smarter and more connected cities.
Project Title : SmartClass: Transforming Engagement in Large Classrooms with Interactive Learning
Project Timeline: January 2025 - December 2025
Project Homepage: SmartClass: Transforming Engagement in Large Classrooms with Interactive Learning Homepage
Project Demo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRGLApviVtw&t=2s
Team Members: Josh Dwight; Logan Pfantz; Matthew Gudenkauf; Michael Becker; Michael Geltz; Ryan Lin
Project Overview: Every instructor aims to enhance student engagement and participation to ensure a successful class. Question-and-answer sessions or instant quizzes during lectures can be an excellent way to engage students. However, in large classrooms, it is challenging for students to ask questions, especially if they are seated far away (e.g., in the middle or at the back of a large auditorium). In this project, students will design an interactive learning platform (i.e., a web-based application) that will enable students to participate in class activities (e.g., quizzes, polls, etc.) or post questions at any time (e.g., during or outside lecture hours). Instructors will provide feedback through the platform. Additionally, instructors can use the platform to post questions for immediate answers, conduct quizzes, or initiate discussions to test knowledge. This learning platform will also generate student participation statistics, which can be used for grading purposes.
Project Title : Global Butterfly Longevity Tracker
Project Timeline: August 2024 - May 2025
Award: Best Senior Design Project, Spring 2025
Project Homepage: Global Butterfly Longevity Tracker Homepage
Iowa State University Butterfly Longevity Tracker: tracker.flutr.org
Team Members: Alex Herting; Andrew Ahrenkiel; Carter Awbrey; Charles Dougherty; Jaret Van Zee
Project Overview: The Global Butterfly Longevity Tracker is a project proposed by the Reiman Gardens to help mainstream the data collection on butterfly sightings. The goal of the project is to create a user-friendly web application for guests and volunteers to input data on butterfly sightings. This data will then be entered and stored into a database for administrators to analyze and use to make informed decisions on the environment of their current butterfly exhibit.
The project is aimed not only to benefit the Reiman Gardens, but also at any other butterfly exhibit facility that may want to use the application. The application will be designed to be easily integrated into any exhibit and will be able to be customized to fit the needs of the exhibit. Data can then be compared between exhibits to help understand the differences in environments for different butterfly species.
A large feature of this web application is providing reporting data quickly and reliably. The application will be able to generate reports on the data collected and display it in a way that is easy to understand and relative to the administrative user. Although the end goal is to help facilities understand their butterfly populations, the application will also be interesting and educational for any people visiting the exhibit for entertainment or educational purposes.
The project is currently in the design phase and is being developed by a team of five software engineers. The team is working closely with the Reiman Gardens to ensure the application meets their needs and is easy to use for their guests and volunteers. The application is being built with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript for the front end and Spring for the back end. The team is using MongoDB for the database and is using GitLab for version control and project management.
Project Title : Designing a Smart Plant Nurturing System Enabled by IoT Technology
Project Timeline: January 2024 - December 2024
Designing a Smart Plant Nurturing System Enabled by IoT Technology Homepage
Team Members: Cameron Jones; Chase O'Connell; Holden Brown; Blake Hardy; Cayden Kelley; Tejal Devshetwar
Project Overview: This project's primary objective is to develop an intelligent plant care system by integrating a series of sensors with a microcontroller. These sensors will continuously monitor crucial soil nutrients, including Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium, and Sulfur. The gathered data will be relayed to a central IoT platform for analysis through sophisticated algorithms, determining the specific requirements of the plants. Accordingly, the system will automate various actions, such as irrigation and fertilization, via actuators and control systems.
Furthermore, the project includes the development of an intuitive application that offers users real-time updates on their plants' soil conditions and permits manual intervention if needed. The app will also send alerts and tailored care recommendations, ensuring optimal plant health.
This endeavor bridges IoT, sensor technology, and automation, providing a comprehensive learning experience. It also aims to address contemporary challenges in plant care, offering a sustainable approach. By delivering precise and adaptive care, this system aims to enhance plant vitality, conserve resources, and simplify gardening for users at all skill levels.
Project Title : Creating an Automated Parking System Enabled by IoT Technology
Project Timeline: January 2024 - December 2024
Creating an Automated Parking System Enabled by IoT Technology Homepage
Creating an Automated Parking System Enabled by IoT Technology Demo
Team Members: Kennedey Reiling; Mubassir S Sudipto; Ethan Haberer; Brian Witherspoon; William Clemmons; Zachary Sears
Project Overview: The primary objective of this project is to develop a cutting-edge smart parking management system, designed to efficiently identify and direct drivers to available parking spaces in real time. This system is grounded in the strategic deployment of IoT sensors (e.g., ultrasonic, infrared, etc.) within parking lots, tasked with continuously monitoring the occupancy of each space. These sensors are adept at detecting vehicle presence, thereby providing live updates on space availability. The gathered data is relayed to a central server for real-time processing, ensuring accurate information regarding parking space status.
A pivotal element of this initiative is the creation of an intuitive mobile application. This app is designed to present real-time parking space occupancy to users, facilitating the quick location and reservation of open spots directly from their smartphones. Additionally, the app is integrated with payment functionalities, offering a streamlined parking experience from start to finish.
This innovative system is geared towards minimizing the time drivers spend in search of parking, alleviating traffic congestion attributed to parking searches, and enhancing the overall efficiency in the utilization of parking facilities. Beyond its practical implications in IoT and mobile application development, this project presents a scalable and effective solution to a prevalent urban challenge.
Project Title : Design an Interactive Learning Platform to Engage Large-Size Classroom – Phase II
Project Timeline: August 2022 - May 2023
Design an Interactive Learning Platform to Engage Large-Size Classroom - Phase II Homepage
Design an Interactive Platform to Engage Large-Size Classroom - Phase II Demo
Team Members: Tyler Miller; Alex Swenson; Guan Lin; Adam Walters; Jaden Ciesielski; Brandon Burt
Project Overview: While large lectures are efficient settings for delivering material to students from professors, they struggle to allow for effective communication. Many, if not all of us, have been a part of lectures where the professor will lecture for 50 minutes and occasionally stop and ask if there are any questions, only to be met with silence. Many students feel as though they can’t ask questions for fear of being perceived as “dumb” or “stupid”. Additionally, some lecture halls are so large that it is extremely difficult to hear a conversation between the back of the room and the front of the room where the professor is. These sorts of issues occur in all large-size lecture halls across campus. This is an important problem because effective student-professor communication is vital to student success. Not only does communication allow the professor to know what students are struggling with, it also allows for meaningful discussions and clarification on important topics.
Our solution to this problem is building an interactive learning tool to bridge the gap between students and professors. Our application will have chat rooms (or “live lectures”) for different lectures led by a professor. In these chat rooms, the students will be able to send messages to the class and professor, virtually raise their hand, anonymously ask questions, and answer in-class polls created by the professor. By allowing students to raise their hand virtually, the professor has a much easier time detecting questions as opposed to scanning a lecture hall of 300+ for a physical hand. To combat the shyness of some students, the anonymous chat feature will allow students to anonymously ask questions and allow them to feel more comfortable in the classroom. The poll feature will allow the professor to get feedback on students’ learning and evaluate student participation. The chat rooms will be open 24/7, enabling students and professors to communicate during class as well as outside of class. With these features, our application aims to finally bridge the communication gap in large lectures.
Project Title : Electronic Program of Study (POS) Form - Phase II
Project Timeline: January 2022 - December 2022
Electronic Program of Study (POS) Form - Phase II Homepage
Team Members: Saljooq Altaf; Nathan Marquardt; William Hunt; Carson Campbell; Noah Nickel
Project Overview: Many students at Iowa State University struggle with knowing what classes to take at what times. So, first-year students typically create a Program of Study to help them plan out certain classes to take during each semester. However, the current creation of a Program of Study is complex and visually hard to understand for both students and advisors. There was a need for a tool to help students efficiently create a Program of Study that was easy to read and make. A previous senior design team(sddec21-04) was tasked with the creation of a website to help students create a Program of Study.
The task for our team is to build off of the previous team's interation of their webiste design and create more features that will help students. We also plan to create an improved User Interface that will be easy to read for both students creating their Programs of Study as well as advisors who will be reading these Programs of Study. The current iteration of the Program of Study Website. For more information, stay up to date with our team's progress via Team Reports and Design Documents below.
Project Title : Electronic Program of Study (POS) Form - Phase I
Project Timeline: January 202 - December 2021
Electronic Program of Study (POS) Form - Phase I Homepage
Team Members: Andrew Goluch; Lucas Bell-Steckel; William Peng; Elisabeth Bair; Cavin Leeds; Thomas Hotard
Project Overview: Every year, first-year students and transfer students in ECpE have to take the orientation course SE/EE/CPRE 166. A part of this course involves creating a four-year plan in the form of a Program of Study. In the past, this has been accomplished with Excel spreadsheets are a hassle to grade and create.
This project aims to create a Web Application designed to make, modify, and grade a Program of Study. The web application will be designed with features for all types of students, giving them multiple ways to view and create a POS. Students will have the ability to share the POS with their academic advisor for assistance on changes and decisions like adding a minor, graduating early, double major, or even getting a Master's degree.
Project Title : Creating the New Face of Buildertrend
Project Timeline: August 2020 - May 2021
Creating the New Face of Buildertrend Homepage
Team Members: Aashray Mehta; Catherine Samatas; Hana Franck; Kyle Weinert; Mohamed AlMansoori; Saoud Alkaabi
Project Overview: Buildertrend recently discovered the need to transition from ASP.NET WebForms to React in order to improve stability and reliability. Our team has was tasked with migrating three application features; Report List, Report Details, and Leads Map. The team was responsible for developing the React components used in each feature. These components have been added to Buildertrend's style guide book, Storybook. Buildertrend's engineers are know working to release our features to their customers.
The Client: Buildertrend is a company headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, that develops construction project management software. The software is designed to help builders, contractors, and their clients manage complex project processes.
Project Title : Laptop Lending Status System
Project Timeline: January 2020 - December 2020
Laptop Lending Status System Homepage
Team Members: Zoe Sanders; Ryan Ray; Aaron Thune; Farouk Al-Obaidi; Camden Thomas; John Wagner
Project Overview: Parks Library lends over 200 individual laptops and tablets to ISU's student body through its Tech Lending office. The status of each individual machine, such as Available, Checked Out, Overdue, No Longer Lending, etc, is kept in the booking software LibCal, and also maintained on printed out sheets that are placed in each vacant slot in the charging rack. This current system makes maintaining at-a-glance information about the devices tedious as one must replace the sheets of paper with updated ones.
This project aims to replace the printed sheets of paper with RGB LEDs. Each RGB LED will display a color that will correlate to the status of each laptop. To do this, a Raspberry Pi will be used to communicate with the booking system API and pull the current status of each machine. This will allow for a quick and easy way to identify the status of various devices at a glance.
The final implemented system will be located in the Technology Lending office in Park’s Library. The system is not expected to be exposed to any extreme temperatures or weather. The Technology Lending office was kept clean by the Iowa State University cleaning staff, and the room the implemented system will reside in is air conditioned.
Once implemented, this project is intended to help the Park’s Library staff, and student employees working in the Tech Lending office quickly and reliably determine the status of any device available for loaning. It is expected that the primary form of interaction between the intended users and the system implemented will be purely visual, as the color status of the LEDs will be automated. However, if new devices are acquired by the Tech Lending office, a member of the Park’s Library staff will be required to register the device in the system.
