We succeeded in the AMAVET scientific competition

 About a year ago, I stumbled upon an opportunity to participate in the ISEF (International Science and Engineering Fair) scientific competition. I suggested to my friends that we could create something "cool." To my delight, they immediately agreed. Inspired by ideas from the book Livewired (by David Eagleman), we decided to develop an ultrasonic distance sensor that could one day help visually impaired people. The device can detect nearby objects and convert their distance into vibrations that the user feels on their wrist, enabling them to "perceive" the world around them through touch.

I took charge of the software and electronics, while Lukáš Hnilička worked on 3D modeling and printing parts such as motor mounts and sensor covers. Our classmate Klára Burelli, who is interested in psychology and the third member of our team, played a key role in providing valuable insights — helping us focus on how the device feels and functions for users. Testing wasn’t always smooth: the sensors were sometimes blocked by hair, and the motors initially vibrated too strongly. With every problem, however, we improved the design to make it more comfortable and user-friendly.

To qualify for ISEF, we registered through Expo Science AMAVET—a competition for scientific and technical projects by high school students. With Klára's help, we wrote the content of our project and created a presentation board together. The presentation received great feedback, and we advanced to the national round after succeeding in the regional round. Progressing from the regional round to the national finals in Brno was a huge achievement for us! In July 2024, we finished in sixth place nationwide and received the Gena Award from the Czech Association of Scientific and Technical Societies.

Looking back on our journey, I’m proud of what we achieved together. We are motivated to continue improving the device, hoping that it will one day truly help the visually impaired.


A.Popov