Ultimate NERDcave - ECE443-Sp26

Spring 2026

Ultimate NERDcave is a smart, customizable lab workstation designed to improve comfort, accessibility, and productivity within engineering lab environments. The system is intended to give students a more personalized workspace experience by allowing them to instantly configure desk settings through RFID login or a touchscreen interface. With a single card scan or touchscreen interaction, users can automatically adjust desk height, control ambient LED lighting, and manage powered accessories connected to the station. The goal of the project is to create a more ergonomic and interactive lab environment that supports focus, usability, and day-to-day student workflow. The system integrates several hardware and software technologies to achieve this functionality. A central STM32 microcontroller coordinates communication between the RFID reader, touchscreen user interface, LED controller, and relay-controlled power outputs. RFID technology is used to identify users and load personalized presets, while UART, SPI, and I2C communication protocols allow reliable communication between subsystems. Custom PCBs, relay control systems, and a touchscreen “Lab Deck” interface were developed to provide users with intuitive controls and responsive system feedback. The project also includes a custom 3D-printed enclosure designed for safety, durability, and ease of installation in a shared lab environment. One of the team’s most notable accomplishments was successfully integrating multiple independent subsystems into a unified smart workstation platform capable of personalized automation and real-time user interaction. Designing reliable communication between the RFID system, microcontroller, touchscreen, and external desk controls was one of the project’s primary technical challenges. Additional challenges included managing power distribution safely, balancing advanced features with usability, and ensuring the enclosure met safety and accessibility requirements. Future improvements include expanding profile storage capabilities, improving long-term scalability between multiple stations, and adding additional customization features for users.

2 Lifts 

Artifacts

Name Description
Executive Summary A one page summary of our project   Download
Project Poster Poster created for the project to summarize and show off our project.   Download
Project Document Documentation on our Project. Includes an overview, explanation of each block, future recommendations, etc.   Download
Project Summary Video Video summarizing our project. This includes achievements, challenges, takeaways, and pictures showing our final product.   Link
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