So What's Next?

Though I really wanted to continue pursuing my original idea, working with my Photon proved to be frustrating and seemingly impossible. I even tried switching Photons with others in my class for testing purposes -- but still, no luck. The device would flash Cyan for a few seconds (signaling that it was at least looking for Internet), but each time I connected it to our school's WiFi (I cycled through trying three different networks), it would quickly go back to being "Disconnected."

A few of my peers had mentioned that they were, instead, using the Raspberry Pi 3 for their projects for this reason. Seeing my situation, I considered my options and then decided to make the switch.

In fact, I was actually able to partner up with my friend and peer, Ashley, to combine her idea and mine. The overall new idea was to create a parking lot simulation that would:

1. have a motion-activated entry/exit gate and

2. send a text to let us know if the car that has entered the lot has taken our parking spot

We achieved this by using the following tools:

- a Raspberry Pi with Raspian installed

- Arduino

- the PIR sensor I mentioned from a while before

- a Servos motor
- LCD screen

- the Internet of Things (IOT)

- the Nexmo platform

- a button sensor

- One breadboard

- a few wires