The invention competition “Kreative Köpfe” (Creative Minds) once again entered a new round this year. This time, Pepperl+Fuchs Assamstadt supported a student named Lucas. As part of his project, he developed a floor nozzle for a vacuum cleaner equipped with a camera and lighting. The purpose of the nozzle is to check whether an area is clean without having to bend down.
Among the projects of students participating in this year’s “Kreative Köpfe” competition, Pepperl+Fuchs Assamstadt chose a particularly practical theme. “Lucas’ project is a great example of how technology can make our daily lives easier and more efficient,” says Mehmet, electrical engineer at Pepperl+Fuchs Assamstadt. The solution is especially helpful when vacuuming under furniture, for example under a sofa, where you otherwise often have to bend down to check whether the area is really clean. With a video stream on a smartphone, this step is no longer necessary.
Step by step to the goal
Lucas initially described his idea for the floor nozzle and how he wanted to implement it. Using a mind map, he broke the project down into its essential elements and derived specific tasks. This provided a basis for discussing different solutions and making decisions, e.g., about whether the components should be manufactured in-house or purchased. “For example, we considered whether we should adapt an existing floor nozzle or design our own floor nozzle using 3D printing,” says Mehmet. “In the end, we opted for our own design. The same decision was made for the camera. We also considered the power supply and considered whether it should operate with batteries or a rechargeable battery system.”
The technical implementation
/ Copyright: Stiftung „Junge Kreative Köpfe“
Since the power and voltage requirements depended on the camera module, Lukas and Mehmet first researched suitable modules. Ultimately, they opted for an ESP32-CAM developer board (microcontroller with camera module). This board is widely used and ideal for the application, as it provides a direct Wi-Fi connection for the video stream. For the power supply, they decided on a battery solution, consisting of a DIY board for power banks and a round cell, as this supplies the voltage required to operate the module and can be conveniently charged via a USB power supply (smartphone charging cable). After installing the software and configuring it, they set up the power supply from the DIY power bank board to the module using soldered wire connections. The electronics were then ready for use and only needed to be placed in the housing.
The housing was developed step by step, starting with the design on paper. They then modeled it on the computer in 3D and printed the prototype using a 3D printer. Of course, there were also challenges, but creative solutions were found. True to the motto “What doesn’t fit is made to fit.” “The radio performance for the video stream was not sufficient at first,” Mehmet explains. “We were able to solve this by bending the Wi-Fi antenna by hand. And yes, superglue was also a good friend from time to time!”
The award ceremony
On April 12 and 13, 2024, the Kreative Köpfe (Creative Minds) participants presented their results. At the subsequent award ceremony on May 7, the project by Lucas and Mehmet received first place in the category “ Technical Implementation.”
Invention Competition “Kreative Köpfe”
Launched in 2002, the “Creative Minds” inventor competition aims to get schoolchildren interested in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) subjects. With the support of numerous companies, it also establishes a network of industry and skilled crafts for schools and communities. The competition is organized in collaboration with companies and schools in the four participating regions of Bad Mergentheim, Tauberbischofsheim, Wertheim, and Neckarsulm.
