12 Electrical Engineering Projects for High School Students
If you're a high school student interested in electrical engineering, hands-on projects are a great way to build skills and gain practical experience. Whether you're into robotics, sustainability, or working with microcontrollers, there are plenty of projects to try.
Electrical engineering projects let you design, build, and test electrical systems. They will help you use what you’ve learned in class on real things, like turning on an LED or making a robot that responds to its surroundings. Plus, you'll pick up hands-on skills like using test tools, programming microcontrollers, and troubleshooting problems.
You might work on improving power grids or developing renewable energy and smart technologies, applying your skills to real-world, sustainable solutions. In this blog, we’ll discuss 12 electrical engineering project ideas for high school students at different skill levels.
Here are some top electrical engineering project ideas for high school students you can explore:
1. Smart Home Automation System
If you enjoy learning and applying new technologies or are interested in enhancing convenience, energy efficiency, and security, you can create a simple smart home system that enables you to control appliances and devices remotely using your phone. You can work with microcontrollers (like the Arduino UNO), Bluetooth (HC-05 module), and sensors to automate devices such as lights, fans, or even curtains. You can incorporate features like motion detection, temperature control, and voice or app-based commands. Additionally, you can utilize tools like the Arduino IDE, Proteus for simulations, and an Android app to manage everything.
It’s a hands-on way to learn how electronics and code come together to make everyday tasks more convenient. You’ll also gain experience with wireless control, remote switching, and possibly some basic cloud features to monitor devices.
Subject/Field: Electrical Engineering, Control Systems, AI, and Robotics
Experience Level: Beginner
Prior Knowledge Required: Basic knowledge of electronics, programming, networking, and cloud computing
Limitations: Data security, latency, compatibility issues, and reliance on a strong internet connection
2. Heart rate monitor
If you’re interested in electronics, programming, or health science, this project is for you! In this project, you can create a basic heart rate sensor using an LED and a photodiode. The concept involves shining light into your skin and measuring how much is reflected back to monitor your pulse. You can employ a microcontroller (like an Arduino or ESP32) to read the signal, filter out noise, and calculate your heart rate.
You can display the BPM (Beats Per Minute) on an OLED screen or send it to a phone app using Bluetooth. It’s a hands-on way to learn how simple sensors and code can work together in a wearable device.
Subject/Field: Sensor Technology
Experience Level: Beginner
Prior Knowledge Required: Some experience with electronics, programming, and basic medical concepts
Limitations: The project may be affected by sensor accuracy, environment, and the user's physical condition.
3. Battery Charge Tester
If you're interested in electronics, DIY, and understanding battery health, you can build a simple device that checks how much charge is left in different types of batteries. You can make a circuit that measures the battery voltage and uses that to estimate the remaining charge. It’s a great way to get familiar with basic electronics, voltage measurement, and how different batteries work.
You can use tools like LabVIEW, TestStand, and NI SystemLink to run tests automatically, track data, and check results. You can even configure it to test several batteries simultaneously, which is beneficial for understanding how batteries function and evolve over time. This project will enable you to explore electricity, circuit design, and the software tools utilized in real-world testing setups.
Subject/Field: Electrical Engineering, Materials Science, and Energy Storage
Experience Level: Beginner
Prior Knowledge Required: Basic understanding of battery types, voltage, current, and how they affect battery health
Limitations: Fixed measurement errors, need for expert knowledge to interpret results, and risk of damage if misused
4. Wireless Power Transfer System
In this project, you can create a simple wireless charging system that uses magnetic fields to transfer power between two coils (transmitter and receiver), so no wires or plugs are needed. It’s a cool project if you're into learning about new tech.
You’ll learn how to set up coils, use basic power electronics, and write simple code (like with Arduino) to control the system. You can also test its performance with tools like simulations or thermal testing. This project is a hands-on way to explore wireless charging, similar to what’s used in phones or electric toothbrushes, and get experience with electronics and energy transfer. It’s a great project for students interested in electronics, electrical engineering, or physics.
Subject/Field: Power Electronics and Electromagnetic Fields
Experience Level: Advanced
Prior Knowledge Required: Basic knowledge of electronics, electromagnetism, and power electronics
Limitations: Lower efficiency than wired charging, limited range, slower speeds, possible compatibility issues, and higher costs
5. DIY Quadcopter
Building a quadcopter is a fun and hands-on project that will help you learn how drones work. To make it fly, you can assemble parts like motors, propellers, and a flight controller. Along the way, you’ll learn about flight basics, how to connect and control electronic parts, and how to program the drone to respond to your remote commands.
This project is an excellent way for beginners to explore topics like electronics, coding, and robotics, while also getting creative with design and problem-solving. Plus, you’ll see how drones are used in real life, like in farming, filming, or emergencies.
Subject/Field: Robotics, Electronics, Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering
Experience Level: Beginner
Prior Knowledge Required: Basic knowledge of electronics, soldering, and how quadcopters work — like motors, propellers, and flight controllers — is helpful.
Limitations: Short flight time, risk of damaging parts, and difficulty maintaining stability and balance
6. Solar-Powered Wireless EV Charging System
Using solar power, you can build a system to charge electric vehicles (EVs) wirelessly. The goal is to use sunlight to generate electricity and send it wirelessly to charge an EV.
You'll need a solar panel, battery, and charge controller to manage the power. A wireless charging module and an Arduino or ESP32 can help you control the system. You can also explore remote system monitoring using GSM (Global System for Mobile Communication), allowing you to track energy use and control the charging process.
This project is a hands-on way to learn about solar panels, wireless power transfer, mobile communication, and energy management. It's ideal for students interested in combining green energy and smart tech for real-world applications like EV charging.
Subject/Field: Electromagnetics, Power Electronics, Control Systems, and Renewable Energy
Experience Level: Beginner or Intermediate
Prior Knowledge Required: Knowledge of electrical engineering, physics, renewable energy, and microcontroller programming, including induction, AC/DC conversion, and solar panels
Limitations: Long charging times, misalignment issues, and high installation costs
7. Automatic Smoke Detection and Alarm System
This project is about creating a simple smoke detection and alarm system to alert people when smoke is present. It uses a smoke sensor to detect harmful gases or smoke in the air and then sounds a buzzer or turns on an LED as a warning.
You’ll learn how to connect and use basic components like sensors and buzzers with a microcontroller (like Arduino), making it a great introduction to safety systems and automation. This kind of system is useful in homes, schools, and buildings to help improve fire safety in a basic, hands-on way. This project idea is great for students interested in electronics, sensors, safety systems, and STEM fields.
Subject/Field: Electronics, Control Systems, and Cybersecurity for Connected Systems
Experience Level: Beginner
Prior Knowledge Required: Basic understanding of electronics, programming, and some familiarity with fire safety concepts
Limitations: False alarms from environmental factors, system failures from poor maintenance, and missed detection if the smoke doesn't reach the sensors
8. Plant Moisture Monitoring System
You can build a simple system that checks how much moisture is in the soil and helps you know when to water your plant. You can use a soil moisture sensor connected to a microcontroller like an Arduino. If the soil is too dry, the system can turn on a light, buzzer, or even a small water pump to alert you or automatically water the plant.
You’ll learn about sensors, automation, and how technology can help save water in gardening or small-scale farming. This is a great project idea for students interested in electronics, programming, and environmental science.
Subject/Field: Sensor Technology, Data Analysis, Automation, Control Systems
Experience Level: Beginner
Prior Knowledge Required: Basic knowledge of electronics, programming, and possibly networking if connecting to a cloud or app
Limitations: High initial cost, need for regular calibration, sensor variability, soil condition effects, and challenges with accurate installation
9. Infrared (IR) Security System
If you're interested in electronics, physics, and computer science, you can build a project creating a simple security system using infrared (IR) sensors. It works by placing an IR transmitter and receiver in a straight line — when something blocks the beam, like someone walking past, it triggers an alarm.
You can use an Arduino to connect and control the sensors and simulate or test the circuit using tools like Tinkercad, Proteus, or the Arduino IDE. This project is a great way to learn how basic electronic security systems work and how to use sensors with microcontrollers.
Subject/Field: Physics, Electronics, and Computer Science
Experience Level: Beginner
Prior Knowledge Required: Basic understanding of electronics, especially how IR sensors work and how to connect them to a circuit to trigger an alarm when motion is detected.
Limitations: Short range, needs line of sight, and can be affected by weather or obstacles like walls
10. E-Bicycle Speed Controller System
This project involves building a simple speed controller for an electric bicycle. You can use basic components like a speed sensor (such as a Hall effect sensor), motor driver, and microcontroller (like an Arduino) to measure the bike's speed and adjust the motor power accordingly.
It’s a beginner-friendly way to understand how e-bikes work and how their speed can be managed safely and efficiently. You’ll also learn about electric motors, sensors, and basic electronics used in eco-friendly transport systems. This project is a great idea for students interested in electrical engineering, electronics, robotics, and sustainable transportation technologies.
Subject/Field: Power Electronics, Control Systems, and Embedded Systems
Experience Level: Beginner
Prior Knowledge Required: Helpful to have some understanding of electronics, microcontrollers, and basic motor control.
Limitations: Balancing performance, safety, and cost can be tricky. Advanced features add complexity, and tools and time may limit progress.
11. Bluetooth-Controlled Lamp Dimmer Using Android Phone
This project is about building a simple lamp dimmer that you can control using your Android phone through Bluetooth. You can use a Bluetooth module (like HC-05), a microcontroller (such as Arduino), and a basic dimming circuit to adjust the brightness of a lamp. The Android app sends commands to the Arduino, which then changes the lamp’s brightness in real-time.
You will learn about wireless communication, mobile control, and working with light control circuits. This project is a good fit for students interested in electronics, programming, and mobile app development.
Subject/Field: Electronics, Computer Science, and App Development—especially Microcontroller Programming, Bluetooth, Embedded Systems, and Android apps
Experience Level: Beginner or Intermediate
Prior Knowledge Required: Basic programming (C/C++ for microcontrollers, Java/Kotlin for Android), electronics (circuits, power), and Bluetooth communication
Limitations: Short range, possible interference with other devices, and the need for a microcontroller like Arduino to control the lamp
12. Smart Power Demand Prediction Using Machine Learning
If you're interested in energy management, smart grids, and predictive analytics, AI can help forecast future electricity demand. By analyzing past data and weather patterns, you can train a machine learning model to forecast energy demand, which helps manage power usage more efficiently. You can work with tools like Python and Jupyter Notebook, and use algorithms like ARIMA and VAR for time series forecasting.
This project is a great way to learn how data science and machine learning can be applied in energy systems and real-world problem solving.
Subject/Field: Power Systems, Load Characteristics, Smart Grid Technologies, Computer Science, Data Science
Experience Level: Intermediate
Prior Knowledge Required: Knowledge of machine learning, data analysis, and possibly electrical grids or energy management
Limitations: Data quality, need for domain expertise, risk of overfitting, and difficulty adapting to changing environments
If you’re looking to build unique projects in the field of AI/ML, consider applying to Veritas AI!
Veritas AI was founded by Harvard graduate students, and through the programs, you get a chance to learn the fundamentals of AI and computer science while collaborating on real-world projects. You can also work 1-1 with mentors from universities like Harvard, Stanford, MIT, and more to create unique, personalized projects. In the past year, we had over 1000 students learn data science and AI with us. You can apply here!
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