Week 5 - Fine-Tuning Tech & Founding a Legacy

This week’s session led by Sir Roshan focused on prototyping techniques and their role in project development. We explored different approaches, ranging from low-fidelity (Lo-Fi) prototypes, such as pen-paper sketches and cardboard models, to high-fidelity (Hi-Fi) prototypes, which include digital mockups, coded prototypes, 3D models, and simulations.

One of the key takeaways was that the choice of prototyping technique depends on multiple factors, including time, resources, testability, and realism. The session also introduced various prototyping tools, such as Figma, TinkerCAD, and FreeCAD, which can be used for different types of projects, whether they involve mobile applications, websites, augmented reality, or electronics.

For my project, iCue, a combination of digital modelling and physical 3D printing is the most suitable approach. The device’s mount needs precise design and structural integrity, making 3D modelling and high-fidelity prototyping essential to ensure that the device is securely positioned and functions correctly.

A Special Milestone: Celebrating 10 Years of MDX Computing Society & SLEJ

This week wasn’t just about technical progress, it was also a memorable moment for the MDX Computing Society and the university’s tech community.

During our lab hours, the class attended the MDX Computing Society and SLEJ’s 10-year anniversary celebration, an event I had the honour of leading and hosting. The celebration reflected on the milestones and achievements of MCS and SLEJ over the years and included an award ceremony for the 2024/2025 SLEJ winners.

One of the biggest announcements at the event was the formation of the Middlesex University Dubai BCS Student Chapter, which I have the great honour of being the Founder and Chair of. This marks a significant step in connecting students with professional development opportunities, industry networking, and global BCS initiatives, something that projects like iCue can greatly benefit from.

Project Progress: Optimizing Data Collection

This week, I made significant progress on the hardware side of iCue. After troubleshooting and refining my implementation, I successfully:

• Fixed the MPU-6050 sensor issues, ensuring it now captures and displays all six values correctly.

• Established stable Bluetooth connectivity with the ESP32 and verified that sensor data is transmitted when powered via a LiPo battery connected to a TP4056 module.

• Optimized data collection to ensure values are recorded only when a spike is detected, indicating that a player is taking a shot.

• Refined the shot analysis approach, focusing on measuring how straight a player's stroke is and comparing it to a professional shot for personalized recommendations.

With these improvements, my next task is to design and 3D-print a mount that will securely attach the sensors at the end of the cue stick, ensuring precise motion capture and stability.

Reflection & Looking Ahead

This week was the ideal combination of technical progress, strategic learning, and leadership milestones. Refining the hardware setup for iCue was a significant accomplishment, paving the path for accurate motion tracking and meaningful gameplay analysis. Understanding various prototype techniques also assisted me in determining how to construct the mount efficiently while keeping testing and usability in mind. Moreover, my plan is to utilize one of the prototyping tools discussed in class for modelling my mount next week.

Beyond project development, leading the MDX Computing Society & SLEJ anniversary event and launching the Middlesex University BCS Student Chapter was a proud moment. It reinforced my passion for tech leadership, entrepreneurship and community-building, and I’m excited about the impact these initiatives will have on students and their ideas in the future.

For next week, my focus will be on finalizing the 3D model for the device mount and beginning testing with the optimized data collection process. With steady progress, iCue is shaping up to be an exciting and impactful project!