Project by Técnico students that assists people with reduced mobility awarded by Critical TechWorks
SCARM Project uses wireless technology to identify pedestrians with special needs and automatically adjusts the crossing light timings.
The SCARM project (Smart Crossing Assistance for Reduced Mobility), developed by four students from Instituto Superior Técnico, was the winner of the second edition of the Joy in Motion Merit Award, promoted by the company Critical TechWorks, a joint venture of the BMW Group. The award annually recognises the best projects developed within the Vehicular Networks course unit, from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (DEEC). The award ceremony took place on June 3rd, in the Meeting Room of the Central Pavilion at the Alameda campus.
The winning team, made up of Master’s students in Telecommunications and Informatics Engineering: André Melão, Diogo Correia, Joana Costa and Ricardo Santos, developed the SCARM project with the aim of making pedestrian crossings safer and more inclusive for people with reduced mobility. Inspired by a real-life situation experienced by millions, the system integrates RFID wireless technology to identify pedestrians with special needs, automatically adjusting traffic light timings, thus ensuring comfort and autonomy during crossing.
The ceremony featured two finalist teams: SCARM and Biko. Both teams presented their projects to the jury, composed of Teresa Vazão (course coordinator), Luís Caldas de Oliveira (professor at Técnico), and Luís Mendes (Chief Technical Titan at Critical TechWorks).
The Biko project, presented by Master’s students in Electrical and Computer Engineering: Arttu Antikainen, Jack Trimmer, Mafalda Brito, Pedro Pinheiro, and Ricardo Martins, addressed concerns related to urban cycling, such as theft or vandalism. The team proposed a mobile application with safety features, including a real-time camera to boost user confidence.
Miguel Teixeira, President of Técnico’s Pedagogical Council, congratulated the students and emphasised the importance of awards as a “source of motivation in project development.” “We want you to be engineers who know how to work,” he stressed, underlining the value of practice-oriented course units.
Christine Marconcin, Chief Operations Officer at Critical TechWorks, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to investing in education, highlighting the high quality of the projects presented. Regarding the company, part of the BMW Group, she noted that “most of the technology is developed in Portugal,” positioning the country as a source of innovation. She also encouraged the audience to spread the word and expressed her hope to receive their applications in the future.
At the end of the session, participation certificates were awarded to all finalist students, and the SCARM project team received a cash prize totalling €7000. The company also donated €1160 to the DEEC, with the aim of supporting the continuous improvement of the Vehicular Networks course unit. The department head, Nuno Horta, thanked the company and congratulated the students.