MCMatthew CoolahanStudent
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Computer Engineering • Electronics • 3D Design

Matthew Coolahan Portfolio

Computer Engineering student at TUS Athlone with hands-on experience in Raspberry Pi, micro:bit and 3D printing.

Explore Projects →Read Background
Leaving Cert Computer ScienceAutomatic watering system, Website
micro:bitCoding & Manipulating physical devices to specific purposes
3D PrintingI own a Bambu Lab A1 3D Printer, which I use to print a variety of items both self modelled and sourced online.
TroubleshootingI love researching and learning from problems.

About me

A practical learner who likes to understand how things work by building them.

I’m studying Computer Engineering at TUS Athlone. I learn best by building and fixing real things, from setting up hardware and troubleshooting problems to designing and printing my own parts.

I’m interested in computers, electronics, mathematics and physics. I also play the concertina, which has taught me patience and attention to detail.

  • Practical problem solverComfortable with hardware troubleshooting and networking.
  • Self-directed learnerBuilds personal projects on Raspberry Pi, micro:bit and 3D printing.
  • Customer-facing experienceWork experience in a garden centre.

Projects

Personal projects and research that show how I approach hardware and computing.

3D design and printing

Ongoing

Designing parts and models and printing them on a Bambu Lab A1.

3D designBambu Lab A1

Automatic watering system

Leaving Cert CS

A micro:bit system that reads soil moisture and runs a small water pump through a relay. Full write-up below.

micro:bitSensorsRelayOLED

Leaving Cert Computer Science project

An automatic plant watering system built around a micro:bit.

What it does

The system measures how wet the soil is, shows the reading on an OLED display, and switches a small water pump through a relay module. A battery pack powers the micro:bit so it can run away from a computer.

Parts used

  • BBC micro:bit
  • Soil moisture sensor
  • OLED display
  • Relay module
  • Small water pump and tubing
  • Battery pack
The finished watering system laid out on a desk: micro:bit, OLED display, soil sensor, relay, pump and tubing
The full setupSensor, display, relay and pump connected to the micro:bit.
Demo videoTesting the sensor and pump.
Kitronik Air Quality board with a micro:bit showing the time and temperature on its display
Kitronik Air Quality boardA micro:bit on a Kitronik board, showing the time and temperature on its OLED screen.

Skills

What I work with and enjoy learning more about.

Hardware and electronics

  • Raspberry Pi
  • micro:bit
  • Electronics
  • Custom PC building

Computing and networking

  • Networking
  • Hardware troubleshooting
  • Computer Engineering
  • Mathematics and physics

Design and making

  • 3D design
  • 3D printing
  • Technical documentation
  • ABC notation

Education and experience

  1. Computer Engineering

    TUS Athlone

    Currently studying how computers, hardware and networks fit together.

  2. Garden centre

    Work experience

    Practical, customer-facing work experience.

Let’s talk

Email me