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Week 1 - Final Project Idea

My final project idea (Smart Anti-Theft Side Mirror and Cars Part Alert and Tracking System)

Introduction In my city Addis Ababa and some city of Ethiopia, vehicle side mirror theft is a common and recurring problem, causing financial loss and inconvenience to car owners. Side mirrors are easy to remove quickly, making them a frequent target for theft, especially in public parking areas and residential streets.

This project proposes the design and development of a smart anti-theft device integrated into a car’s side mirror system and some easily detachable parts, for my current project just for side mirrors. The device will detect unauthorized removal or tampering, immediately alert the car owner, and track the mirror’s location once it has been stolen. The alert system may use sound, mobile notification, or both, while the tracking functionality will enable the owner to locate and potentially recover the stolen mirror.

The solution focuses on low-cost electronics, compact design, and ease of installation, making it suitable for widespread use in cities environments like Addis Ababa. By combining sensing, communication, and tracking technologies, the project aims to reduce side mirror theft and improve vehicle security through a practical, locally relevant innovation.

Theft on side mirror snach

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Project Description

This project aims to design a smart system that detects unauthorized removal of a car side mirror, alerts the car owner immediately, and tracks the mirror’s location to enable recovery.

Project Objectives

  • Detect mirror removal
  • Alert the owner in real time
  • Track mirror location
  • Enable retrieval
  • Create a compact and affordable solution

How It Works

  1. Sensors detect mirror movement or removal
  2. Microcontroller processes the event
  3. Alert is sent to the owner
  4. Location tracking is activated

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Sketch Concept

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Planned Components

  • Sensors (motion / magnetic)
  • Microcontroller
  • Communication module
  • GPS
  • Power source

Expected Outcome

A working prototype demonstrating detection, alerting (Noisy sound), and tracking (Premium concept) functionality for side mirror theft prevention.

Refernce

  • Theft on side mirror snach sketch AI Generated and I redraw with Prompt “Provide me with Someone theft on the cars side mirror sketch”
  • Introduction part is edited with Chat GPT with Prompt “Correct the following paragraph or any grammar error without modify my Ideas”

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Reflection

This project addresses a real local problem in Ethiopia by using digital fabrication and embedded systems, aligning with FabAcademy’s learning goals.