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The Autonomous Flying Vehicle Contest ::
The AFVC is a competition that challenges hobbyists and professionals to make a flying vehicle that can - on it's own - fly though a maze made of cardboard buildings. The buildings are only five feet tall and the flying area is the size of a baseball field. Our primary focus is what are called "micro aircraft", which are small and affordable flying machines. We are now making plans, building relationships, and evaluating the best path to creating this DIY competition.
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The RFID Exhibition ::
At a conventional exhibition of art in a gallery, guests are asked to wear an invite badge. Yet, the badge also includes an RFID tag. The name of the guest is typed into the RFID programmer when entering. When guests walk up to a painting, their name is stated by a computer, along with their fake SS number, their last purchase, where they live, their annual income, their marital status, and their location in the room. At the end of the room, there is a large projection display of all the people at the reception with their essential data graphically associated with them, including where they are.
“Hello. Your name is Christine. Your annual income is $28,000. Your last purchase, in March, was from Victoria Secrets. You are standing next to Justin. Please introduce yourself to Justin. His annual income is $58,000. His last purchase was … .”
What will viewers experience? The arbitrary invasiveness and ease of RFID technology that reveals detailed information about people, without their being aware that their identity is constantly being edited by others. Viewers may feel excited about this technology, or they may feel threatened by its inappropriate invasiveness. It’s a good time that Christine and Justin talk about it.
What will the developers experience? Emerging engineers and experienced engineers will learn about all technical aspects of RFID devices, including commercially available products and security. These devices are now the size of a grain of rice and cost only pennies; They could end up anywhere. Developers of this project will learn the limits of the devices and how they interact with RFID listening devices. In addition, digital encryption, RF electronics, and the mechanical implementation of tiny devices will be learned.