Top 20 MATLAB Project Ideas

MATLAB (short for Matrix Laboratory) is a powerful software tool used for technical computing and visualization. It is widely used in a variety of fields, including engineering, science, finance, and more.

As such, there are many potential project ideas that can be implemented using MATLAB. We have selected the best MATLAB projects for you.

List of MATLAB Projects

1) Vehicle Number Plate Detection Using MATLAB
2) Automatic Certificate Generation Using MATLAB
3) Logging Sensor Data in MS EXCEL through MATLAB GUI
4) MATLAB-based Light Animations Using Arduino
5) Audio Compression using Wavelets in MATLAB
6) Equipment Controller Using MATLAB-Based GUI
7) Image Processing using MATLAB
8) Lossless Image Compression
9) Huffman Encoding and Decoding
10) Artificial Neural Network Simulation
11) MATLAB-based Circuit Design Calculator
12) Antenna Analysis and Design
13) Analog Clock using MATLAB
14) Real-Time Face Detection
15) Face Counter using MATLAB
16) Color-Sensing Robot
17) Gain and Noise Calculations of Cascaded Systems
18) Plotting with MATLAB
19) Implementation of Fast Fourier Transform
20) Digital FIR Filters

1. Vehicle Number Plate Detection Using MATLAB

The project presented here can be used to detect a vehicle’s number plate from the images stored in a database. That is, it aims at detecting a vehicle’s license plate and then extracting the information regarding that vehicle using MATLAB software.

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This MATLAB project is available at Vehicle Number Plate Detection Using MATLAB

2. Automatic Certificate Generation Using MATLAB

Presented here is a MATLAB code to generate certificates for workshops, conferences, symposiums, etc. This MATLAB code can be extended to generate analysis reports for large data sets as well.

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This project is available at Automatic Certificate Generation Using MATLAB

3. Logging Sensor Data in MS EXCEL through MATLAB GUI

This project presents a MATLAB graphical user interface-based approach to save real-time process data obtained from a temperature sensor. The GUI allows the user to graphically view the temperature variation at the end of sensor data acquisition.

This project is available at Logging Sensor Data in MS EXCEL through MATLAB GUI

4. Light Animations Using Arduino and MATLAB

In this project, a MATLAB-based GUI approach to control the glowing pattern of a number of LEDs is constructed. The use of GUI is advantageous since the user can control the lighting patterns while performing other tasks on the PC.

This project is available at Light Animations Using Arduino and MATLAB

5. Audio Compression using Wavelets in MATLAB

Audio frequencies range from 20Hz to 20kHz but these frequencies are not heard in the same way. Frequencies below 20Hz and above 20kHz are very difficult to hear. We often need to process these audio signals for various applications.

MATLAB is one of the best signal analysis and signal processing tools. Audio compression is a very good example of speech and signal processing.

We use the Internet for various purposes including entertainment. Audio is common in all entertainment applications. If the audio file size is large, it takes more space to store.

Audio/video compression frees up space substantially, which can then be utilized for other purposes. This article describes some important audio compression techniques.

This project is available at Audio Compression using Wavelets in MATLAB

6. Equipment Controller Using MATLAB-Based GUI

In this project, a MATLAB platform to control up to four electrical equipment is presented.

This project is available at Equipment Controller Using MATLAB-Based GUI

7. Image processing using MATLAB

In this series of four articles, fundamentals, as well as advanced topics of image processing using MATLAB, are discussed. The articles cover basic to advanced functions of MATLAB’s image processing toolbox (IPT) and their effects on different images.

This project is available on Image processing using MATLAB

8. Lossless Image Compression

Cameras are nowadays being provided with more and more megapixels to improve the quality of captured images. With improvement in image quality, the size of the image file also increases.

One of the applications of image compression with MATLAB using a graphical user interface is described in this project. This project proposes a technique to compress the captured image to reduce its size while maintaining its quality.

This project is available at Lossless Image Compression

9. Huffman Encoding and Decoding

Encoding the information before transmission is necessary to ensure data security and efficient delivery of the information. The Huffman algorithm is a popular encoding method used in electronic communication systems.

It is widely used in all the mainstream compression formats that you might encounter. The project here encodes & decodes the information and outputs the values of entropy, efficiency & frequency probabilities of characters.

This project is available at Huffman Encoding and Decoding

10. Artificial Neural Network Simulation

An artificial neural network, in essence, is an attempt to simulate the brain. When the user input and expected output, the program trains the system to give a final weight. The final weight is computed to get the final expected output.

This program helps us to understand the basics of artificial neural networks and how one can use them for further applications.

This project is available at Artificial Neural Network Simulation

11. Circuit Design Calculator

While designing electronic circuits, component values are calculated using formulae from the circuit’s theory. These calculations waste a lot of time.

This circuit design calculator software developed in MATLAB helps you solve, analyze and determine circuit design. The software can provide answers to many complex analogs and digital circuit design problems.

This project is available at Circuit Design Calculator

12. Antenna Analysis and Design

Today, almost all applications are expected to be wireless, consume very little power, and have high data retention capability. A good antenna design can result in a high degree of efficiency, better directivity, and more beamwidth for long-distance transmission. This program written in MATLAB helps in designing antenna arrays.

This project is available at Antenna Analysis and Design

13. Analogue Clock

NASA might get a fancy digital display & retire the analog clock from the Apollo era, but the passion for the analog clock remains.

Using this in MATLAB, you could design an analog clock for yourself.

This project is available at Analogue Clock

14. Real-Time Face Detection

Object detection and tracking are important in many computer vision applications, including activity recognition, automotive safety, and surveillance.

Presented here is an object detection system that can detect a human face, eyes, and upper body. This program can be used to detect pressing corresponding buttons.

This project is available at Real-Time Face Detection

15. Face Counter

This next project helps count the number of people present in a meeting hall or classroom at a time. The program logic is also applicable in other applications including automatic temperature control. The video camera plays a very important role in this project.

This project is available at Face Counter

16. Colour-Sensing Robot

MATLAB is a very powerful tool and plays a vital role in image processing. Most image processing techniques involve treating the image as a 2D signal and applying standard signal processing techniques to it.

This MATLAB-based project processes images taken by the camera and extracts the position of a red-colored object.

This project is available at Colour-Sensing Robot

17. Gain and Noise Calculations of Cascaded Systems

Parameters like noise, signal-to-noise ratio, and gain play an important role in the performance of communication systems. In this project, MATLAB software is used to design a calculator for the calculation of noise factors.

Such types of calculators can be created by playing with the array and matrix properties of MATLAB. It can be used for any cascade system with any number of stages.

This project is available at Gain and Noise Calculations of Cascaded Systems

18. Plotting with MATLAB

This project deals with 2D and 3D graphics plotting in MATLAB. It also explains the audio signal manipulation using plotting in MATLAB. To use the ‘plot’ function in MATLAB, you should ensure that the matrices and vectors are of equal dimensions.

Familiarity with basic MATLAB objects like vectors and matrices will help in understanding the subject better before delving into details.

This project is available at Plotting with MATLAB

19. Implementation of Fast Fourier Transform

FFTs are of great importance to various applications, including digital signal processing and solving partial differential equations.

This project shows an example to explain what it means to look at a signal in two domains.

This project is available at Implementation of Fast Fourier Transform

20. Digital FIR Filters

In order to understand the depth of designing an FIR filter using window functions, coding in C++ is a must. Described here is a C++ implementation of the finite impulse response (FIR) filters using the Blackman window method.

This project is available at Digital FIR Filters

There are many other potential project ideas that could be implemented using MATLAB. Do you have any ideas in your mind?

This article was first published on 5 October 2017 and recently updated on August 2023.