João Lopes studied Electrical and Computer Engineering at Técnico and, throughout his academic journey, took part in a variety of initiatives, ranging from game development to artificial intelligence projects, as well as entrepreneurship programmes such as Lab2Market and the MIT Entrepreneurship Development Program. In an interview with DEEC, the alumnus reflected on his journey, from the origins of his interest in engineering to the experiences and challenges that shaped his time at Técnico.

His curiosity about how physical systems work originated in his family environment, while his interest in Electrical and Computer Engineering emerged somewhat by chance, when his father brought home a few old computers. It was then that he began exploring the internal components of computers and their potential applications in different electronic systems.

When I was around 10 years old, I started watching YouTube videos about how to take computers apart, how to remove magnets from hard drives... and I really enjoyed it, just tinkering with things. Then that evolved into trying to use the computer's own components to make things, such as an LED torch and other projects of that kind.

João Lopes, alumnus of the Master's in Electrical and Computer Engineering

Later, during the transition from primary to secondary education, he decided to build his own computer, further developing his interest in programming and 3D modelling. These interests ultimately influenced his choice of degree. He enrolled in the Bachelor's in Electrical and Computer Engineering (LEEC), motivated both by his desire to deepen his knowledge through academic classes and by his enthusiasm for developing projects through extracurricular activities. In his first year, he joined Gamedev, Técnico's student group dedicated to computer game development, with the aim of working in 3D modelling. His contributions included creating characters, environments and objects in digital settings.

His first project was developed as part of the Black and White Jam, a 48-hour hackathon that challenged students to create a black-and-white game. His team developed Anglership, a game in which players could explore an underwater environment and discover lost artefacts. The project ranked among the top 30 in the artistic category, out of 400 submissions, motivating him to take part in further initiatives in this field. He later participated in Nordic Game Jam, a similar competition held in Copenhagen with the support of LEGO.

At the time, we made a really interesting game, with a whole board built out of LEGO bricks, and it was great fun putting the project together with the LEGO team.

João Lopes, alumnus of the Master's in Electrical and Computer Engineering

The goal of that edition was to integrate physical components related to robotics, provided by LEGO. Participants were given access to a range of materials, including light sensors, cameras and motors, and challenged to establish a connection between the physical and digital worlds. The team developed the project The Final Quackdown, inspired by the classic game Snake. In this version, two players had different roles. The first controlled the main character (a duck) using a physical steering wheel, with the aim of completing a course. The second player controlled the obstacles (crocodiles), using a light sensor to determine the locations on the map where they would be activated. Interaction between the physical components and the digital game was enabled through a Bluetooth connection, which transmitted data in real time to a computer, where it was processed and the corresponding actions were displayed on screen.

His interest in the interaction between the physical and digital worlds remained throughout his time at Técnico. He went on to pursue a Master's degree specialising in electronics, during which he developed a thesis focused on optimising artificial intelligence algorithms for object detection in hyperspectral images*, taking into account the characteristics and limitations of the available hardware.

For example, imagine a mapping company that wants to identify rivers from images, whether RGB or hyperspectral. The aim of the thesis was to develop and optimise an algorithm capable of detecting the "target" — in this case, rivers — and adapt it to run on hardware such as a graphics card, similar to those found in our computers.

João Lopes, alumnus of the Master's in Electrical and Computer Engineering

His interest in artificial intelligence did not end with the completion of his dissertation. João Lopes decided to continue exploring the field as a hobby, seeking to build on the knowledge he had acquired and develop new applications. "I learned a great deal. I had never worked with artificial intelligence before, and I really enjoyed the field and the work I did. I wanted to continue working on something related to it," he explains. With this in mind, he decided to take part in initiatives such as Lab2Market@Técnico, which challenges the academic community to present innovative projects focused on social impact, and the MIT Entrepreneurship Development Program, an intensive entrepreneurship training programme run by the MIT Sloan School of Management in the United States.

The project he presented at Lab2Market involved adapting artificial intelligence algorithms to microcontrollers, such as Arduino, with the aim of developing predictive maintenance solutions. One of the applications explored involved integrating an electronic chip into equipment to analyse vibration patterns and identify potential signs of malfunction. This would make it possible to anticipate failures through local monitoring, without requiring an internet connection or external servers. Other possibilities were also explored, including the use of drones to capture images and identify damage to equipment.

I learned a lot about the difference between having an idea and bringing that idea to market. Lab2Market was a great experience, firstly because it allowed us to connect with mentors and people who have been doing this for a long time, and secondly because it was a gradual learning process. Having a hobby is one thing; having a project and actually developing it by talking to people is something completely different.

João Lopes, alumnus of the Master's in Electrical and Computer Engineering

Although his time at Técnico was marked by many positive experiences, João Lopes also highlights some of the difficulties he faced as a student. "At the end of my second year, I had failed six courses, which meant I was basically one semester behind. It was a moment of personal reflection," he recalls. The alumnus acknowledges that, at the time, he had made some poorly considered decisions and struggled to find a balance between his academic and social life. Becoming aware of the effort and investment his family had made in his academic journey led him to reassess his priorities. "I started working harder, completing all my courses, both those from the third year and the ones I had failed in the second year, and making more sensible decisions. That was the most difficult moment, but I managed to overcome it," he stresses.

He emphasises that, although the process was not easy, he learned how to manage his priorities, balancing academic responsibilities with extracurricular activities and his social life. "I continued going out at night, working on other projects, pursuing hobbies, attending classes and working, including during the period when I was developing my thesis," he explains. He adds that he was able to overcome these challenges thanks to the support of both his course lecturers and fellow students. For this reason, when asked what message he would like to share with younger students, João Lopes highlights the importance of not giving up when faced with obstacles:

It was thanks to this support network that I was also able to bounce back, so don't feel discouraged [...]. You can do it. Don't lose motivation just because something went wrong or because you're not enjoying something.

João Lopes, alumnus of the Master's in Electrical and Computer Engineering

In conclusion, the alumnus also highlights the benefits of getting involved in extracurricular initiatives: "Técnico can sometimes be quite intense, but there is time for everything. If there is something you really enjoy or if you simply want to discover [the opportunities beyond your degree], join one of the student groups. We have so many. I think that's one of the best things about the School. It's extremely rewarding; you learn a lot by working alongside other people, and when you enter the professional world, it's also something you can talk about."

*A photograph is made up of RGB pixels, meaning that it stores just three colour components (red, green and blue). A hyperspectral image, on the other hand, contains information across multiple spectral bands, extending beyond the visible spectrum to include wavelengths such as ultraviolet and infrared radiation.