my favorite build so far — smart indoor parking
Parkit is a full-stack smart indoor parking system that lets users find and reserve parking spots in real time. It combines IoT hardware, a secure cloud backend, and a user-friendly mobile app to reduce driver frustration and boost parking lot efficiency. The app was in closed testing on the Google Play Store.
> Real-time parking availability tracking
> Google Maps navigation & place search
> Google Sign-In for secure authentication
> Instant booking with Stripe payment integration
> Multi-currency support & user feedback system
> Admin dashboard for lot owners
> IoT NFC-based gate control
> Custom PCB (KiCad) with I²C expanders & Qwiic connectors
> BME680 for air quality, VL53L1X for precise distance sensing
> NFC access via PN532 RFID module
> Interactive OLED display and 12-key keypad
> Laser-cut acrylic enclosure for airflow and visibility
Led a cross-functional team through a 16-week Agile cycle, overseeing hardware engineering and mobile app development to deliver a scalable smart parking solution.
> Directed design, prototyping, and testing of the custom PCB in KiCad
> Managed sensor integration and hardware assembly workflows
> Led Android app development with Maps, Firebase, and Stripe integration
> Oversaw firmware for secure Raspberry Pi to cloud communication
> Designed the laser-cut enclosure for sensor placement and usability
> Ran the project in 2-week Agile sprints with planning and iterative delivery
How the hardware interacts with the cloud and mobile app:
flowchart LR
RaspberryPi["RaspberryPi4"] <--> Firebase["Firebase"]
Firebase <--> Android["Android 10+"]
RaspberryPi ---> Oled["Zio Qwiic OLED Display (1.5 in)"]
Distance["Distance sensor (VL53L1X)"] --> RaspberryPi
Keypad["12-button keypad"] ---> RaspberryPi
RaspberryPi --> Alpha["Alphanumeric display"]
RFID["RFID Reader (PN532)"] --> RaspberryPi
Air["Air sensor (BME680)"] --> RaspberryPi
Closed testing on Google Play ✓