e-Network launches "Gesture Sensor Experiment" design challenge

e-Network launches "Gesture Sensor Experiment" design challenge

The competition invites community members to explore and build gesture sensing projects using evaluation kits from Maxim Integrated

Shanghai, China, August 25, 2022 – Farnell, a global distributor of electronic components products and solutions under Avnet, launched the "Gesture Sensor Experiment" design challenge of the "Sensor Summer Event" through its online community, inviting community members to develop gesture sensing technology projects. The competition will first select 8 finalists based on the design project proposals, and they will receive a free Maxim Integrated evaluation kit for experimentation, testing or building projects.

With gesture recognition control technology, sensors can be used to read gestures and interpret them as corresponding commands. One of the most common use cases is that car drivers and passengers use contactless gesture control to interact with the vehicle in the vehicle, including operating the in-vehicle infotainment system, without touching any buttons or screens.

Dianne Kibbey, Global Head of Community and Social Media at element14, said: “Gesture control is no longer science fiction, it is now commonplace in smart appliances, touchless smart home hubs and thermostats, gaming controllers, virtual reality systems and more. We are delighted to continue our Sensor Summer with this design challenge to provide community members with the opportunity to put the latest sensor technology to the test.”

Contestants You will be required to develop and experiment with the MAX25405 gesture sensing kit in eight weeks . The MAX25405 kit provides a complete demonstration system for evaluating the MAX25405 optical infrared sensor in typical gesture recognition and proximity detection environments. The MAX25405 supports multiple gesture recognitions, including swipe gestures, finger/palm rotation, air click, proximity detection, and dwell click.

The MAX25405 kit application circuit works by illuminating the user's palm with a precisely controllable infrared light source, and then measuring the reflected signal using the MAX25405's 6x10 (60 pixel) infrared sensor array . The infrared light source consisting of four LEDs drives an external FET for PWM dimming control through the MAX25405 onboard FET driver. At the same time, an embedded microcontroller is used to interpret gestures and analyze the reflected signal. The MAX25405 evaluation kit contains the following components:

• MAX32620FTHR microcontroller platform

• Interface shielding plate

• MAX25405 sensor board

• Ribbon cable (connects the sensor board to the shield board)

• 3.3V power supply

• USB 2.0 Type A to Micro B cable

Contestants will also be required to publish at least two blog posts on the element14 website describing their project development process in order to be considered by the judging panel. The first place winner of this challenge will receive an HTC Vive Cosmos Elite VR headset worth $700 and an iPad Pro worth $1,400, while the second place winner will receive a Tap Strap 2 wearable keyboard, mouse and gesture controller worth $250 and an Air Neo (a pocket-sized, ultra-light flying camera) worth $160. All other contestants who follow the requirements to participate in the competition and publish two blog posts describing their design project development process for the MAX25405 evaluation kit will receive a handheld capacitance meter.

Contestants can register now and the registration deadline is August 30, 2022. The competition will announce the finalists on September 6, 2022, and the blog post deadline is October 30, 2022. The final list of winners of the challenge will be announced in October 2022.