TileMate | Devpost

Inspiration

Every step we take generates untapped kinetic energy, yet it goes to waste. We were inspired by the potential to harness this energy and repurpose it for real-world applications. From improving household energy efficiency to enhancing safety and urban planning, we saw an opportunity to create a smart, self-sustaining system that benefits both individuals and communities.

What it does

TileMate is a multi-functional smart flooring system that:

Generates energy from footsteps using electromagnetic induction.
Tracks movement in real time, allowing for activity monitoring.
Detects falls instantly, sending alerts to caregivers or emergency responders.
Enhances energy efficiency, repurposing generated electricity for household use.
Improves traffic prediction models by analyzing pedestrian and vehicle movement patterns.

By combining energy harvesting, real-time tracking, and intelligent detection, TileMate creates smarter homes and cities.

How we built it

We combined physics, engineering, and software to develop TileMate:

Physics & Circuitry: Using Faraday’s Law of Electromagnetic Induction, we optimized power generation by adjusting the number of coil loops, magnet speed, and coil area.
Hardware & Electronics: We designed a system where voltage generated by coils is read by a microcontroller, using a rectifier circuit to convert AC to DC for storage.
Software Implementation: We developed tracking algorithms that analyze which tiles are activated in sequence, allowing us to track movement and detect falls.

Our prototype showcases real-time energy harvesting and motion tracking, demonstrating TileMate’s potential for large-scale implementation.

Challenges we ran into

Maximizing energy output: Optimizing coil and magnet configurations for efficient power generation was complex.
Ensuring accurate movement tracking: Differentiating between normal steps and falls required precise data analysis and filtering.
Scalability: Expanding the system for large-scale environments like roads and public spaces posed design and cost challenges.

Each of these obstacles pushed us to refine our design and improve our implementation.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

Successfully designed and prototyped a system that harvests energy from footsteps.
Developed a real-time tracking and fall detection system that can alert caregivers instantly.
Engineered an efficient circuitry system to convert and store generated energy.
Explored applications beyond homes, such as smart roads, fitness tracking, and disaster response.

Seeing our idea come to life as a working prototype was a major milestone!

What we learned

The importance of optimization in energy harvesting—small changes in coil design can greatly impact efficiency.
Data analysis is key in movement tracking—filtering out false positives ensures reliable fall detection.
Real-world applications extend beyond our initial vision—TileMate has potential for urban planning, emergency response, and even entertainment venues.

This project reinforced our belief in the power of interdisciplinary innovation.

What's next for TileMate

Improving efficiency: Further optimizing our electromagnetic system to generate more power per step.
Expanding applications: Testing TileMate in high-traffic areas like concert venues, malls, and sidewalks.
Smart city integration: Partnering with urban planners to use TileMate for real-time traffic analysis and energy-efficient public infrastructure.
Refining fall detection: Enhancing AI-based tracking for faster and more accurate emergency alerts.
Scalability: Developing cost-effective materials and manufacturing methods for widespread adoption.

With continued development, TileMate could redefine how we interact with the spaces we walk on—making them smarter, safer, and more energy-efficient.