A smart refrigerator that recognises its content? A self-driving car? A smart TV? AI increasingly permeates our everyday lives, integrating with an expanding range of devices through the Internet of Things (IoT).
The Internet of Things means connecting physical devices to the Internet so that they can collect and share data independently over the web.
While combining AI and the IoT opens up new opportunities, their realisation requires multiprofessional expertise. An international course at the University of Helsinki enables students to try out in practice how to combine data, code and devices into effective smart solutions. The course is based on the University’s solid AI and IoT research and technological expertise, providing students with the skills needed to create future innovations.
Students build device prototypes
The four-week intensive course combines theory and practical implementation in the hackathon style. On the international course, students of Chiang Mai University, Singapore Management University, the University of Jyväskylä and the University of Helsinki design and build prototypes of devices that make everyday life easier by combining IoT hardware, software and AI algorithms.
“The course allows students to gain experience in implementing AI solutions on IoT development platforms. Prototypes are built using sensors, various actuators, AI libraries and IoT platforms of different levels, including Arduino and Raspberry Pi,” says Professor Petteri Nurmi.
“On the course, students solve problems in international groups. This creates opportunities for understanding global challenges and seeing things from different perspectives.”
The project topics are targeted in accordance with the focus areas of the participating higher education institutions. These topics are related to themes that benefit society, such as environmental monitoring and healthcare, as well as commercially relevant topics, such as urban informatics and extended reality.
“Our project name was LuxAI: Reducing Energy Consumption with Smart Lighting. The idea emerged from a real-world need to optimise energy consumption by reducing the waste on indoor lighting. Therefore, we developed a prototype that uses thermal camera and Raspberry Pi to detect the human presence in a room. Based on phototransistors placed in the environment, we adjust the room LEDs based on the ambient lighting,” says student Amy Sokhna Sidibé.
“Our group created a smart door system using facial recognition. It was a simple prototype, but excellent hands-on experience for learning about efficiency, connectivity, and practical AIoT applications,” says student Atoofa Akhtar.
Involving businesses in the development of smart IoT solutions
The course provides businesses with an effortless approach to testing ideas and new technologies in collaboration with students and researchers. Combining IoT devices, data analytics and AI, student teams develop prototypes for business needs.
“Businesses gain fresh perspectives and bold experiments without having to invest heavily in development,” says Professor Nurmi.
“At the same time, they get to familiarise themselves with students who will become experts and employees of the future.”
The course collaboration model is particularly well suited to businesses that wish to explore new IoT applications, trial AI solutions or develop data utilisation. Potential applications can be found in, for example, production, energy efficiency, the circular economy or customer experience.
Businesses can also support the course by offering equipment and sharing data. This way, they can influence the solutions that students come up with. At their best, solutions developed by student teams can grow into collaborative research projects or pilots conducted with the University of Helsinki, with the potential to advance further to practical business applications.
Niko Mäkitalo, Assistant Professor, Principal Investigator, University of Jyväskylä
Santi Phithakkitnukoon, Associate Professor, Principal Investigator, Chiang Mai University
Archan Misra, Professor, Vice-Provost, Singapore Management University