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Each year in the Computer Engineering Design course CMPE 411, senior computer engineers are presented with the difficult task of inventing an interesting, original idea and creating an extensive business plan for a startup company. Requirements throughout the semester include daily logs of the continuing work on the project, and biweekly meetings with the professor, Brother Henry Chaya.
The four startup companies and new ideas were as follows: Quality
Advancements Incorporated, Wayne Skala, Joshua Ramkissoon, & Jason
Yeung "Digital Tape Mate"; PCMD Incorporated, Daywon Choi, Paul
Papitto, Matthew Rodriguez, & Charles Stella "RoboArm VRG"; JJEE
Incorporated, John Exantus, Emmanuel Gasquez, Eugene Finnegan, &
Jennifer Fowler "QuickScanner"; Kermit Incorporated Michael Gong,
Katherine Isom, Robert Marino, & Terrie-Ann Palmer "DestructoBot."
Each idea was presented with a complete report containing a full marketing solution, analysis of hardware and software involved, and design and test specifications.
Quality Advancements Incorporated's invention, the Digital Tape Mate, was suggested by group member Joshua Ramkissoon. It is a digital tape measurer which uses a Kevlar cord and an LED to display the length being measured. The cord is pulled out of the device to the desired length, and the results are displayed on two seven-segment LED's in real time. Conversely, as the cord is retracting, the display counts down in real time also, accurate up to a tenth of an inch.
The Digital Tape Mate design was split into hardware and software components, with group members Wayne Skala and Jason Yeung responsible for the software, and Joshua Ramkissoon responsible for the hardware. Wayne Skala recollects the hardest part of the software component being the utilization of a PIC microcontroller they hadn't previously worked with. Wayne states, "...we were forced to spend valuable time learning a new language. Luckily, it was similar to the 8051 microcontroller, and we were able to complete our project within its deadline."
As far as the hardware was concerned, this piece of the puzzle was no simpler. When the cord is retracted from its casing, it rotates two wheels, which in turn are connected to an optical encoder sending out a certain number of pulses for each turn of the wheel, all which had to be calculated by the student responsible for the hardware, Joshua Ramkissoon. The microcontroller used then determines the length of the string and displays the result on the two seven-segment displays.
PCMD Incorporated's new idea, the RoboArm VRG, was suggested by member Daywon Choi. The RoboArm VRG was created with the goal of developing a control system for a robotic arm. The robotic arm used in this case was creatively constructed by the group using the Lego Mindstorms NXT robotics kit. PCMD Incorporated had to implement many different components together to make their invention possible. As for the hardware component, they had to use the Lego Mindstorms NXT robot and a P5 glove. The P5 glove is a cost efficient virtual reality glove which includes five sensors to detect finger bending, four buttons atop the fingers, and eight infrared LEDs which are used to track and follow the glove's movement. The software which had to be programmed for use with these hardware components were the GlovePIE and OnBrick. GlovePIE is a programmable input simulator which can receive input from the P5 glove. OnBrick is a programmable remote for the Mindstorms NXT and it was used to program the robot and interpret Bluetooth signals.
PCMD Inc., nicknamed "The Computer Doctor", chose to target the waste disposal market. They realized their design would help ensure customer safety, improve the efficiency of their work, and reduce insurance rates for the customer. It is also an easy to use robot which requires little training as it simulates the movements of your own hand.
The way PCMD Inc. set up their design is the glove is worn by the user and any movements they make are recorded and sent to the GlovePIE, which is used as an interface between the P5 and the computer. The GlovePIE is then utilized to assign a certain function to each of the movements read into the program. Once the movements are recorded, the GlovePIE sends the function associated with the motion to the Lego NXT Brick, which in turn moves the robot arm via Bluetooth technology. The grab and release functions for the robot is implemented through the five sensors under the fingers of the user. The group built in an emergency stop function by pressing the "A" button on the P5 glove.
One of the main difficulties PCMD Inc. had with this design was the software was sensitive to the slightest movement of the P5 glove, resulting in unwanted movements. The group decided the best course of action to remedy this was to create a "dead zone" for the glove revolving around the starting point, so the program would only register movements outside of the circular zone, enabling them to be more precise with sending motions to the Lego
Mindstorms NXT.
JJEE Inc's project, the QuickScanner, utilizes radio frequency identification technology (RFID) to allow customers to purchase items without the need to stand on the typical long check out line. The QuickScanner also has the ability to scan each item that enters the store and automatically add it to the store's inventory list. These were the two main goals of JJEE Inc's venture; eliminate wait times and increase inventory control efficiency.
The QuickScanner consists of three main parts: a scanner, a purchase confirmer, and a database link to add items to the store's inventory. When the customer arrives at the register, they scan in the items and a program developed by JJEE Inc. will run through a store log file and display the name and price of the product being scanned. The group found they needed to use the Texas Instruments 7960 Evaluation Module (EVM) in order to meet their design goals. The EVM allows the user to read from and write to the tags on the products (known as an ISO - 15693 tag), and comes with its own software so JJEE was able to test scans and writes. The group chose to keep scanning distances to a maximum of a 25cm radius so reduce the chances of ringing up an item accidentally (via someone else's merchandise or an item already scanned still in close proximity).
As for the programming aspect of their design, JJEE Inc. wanted to ensure three things. First, they wanted to make sure hackers could not change the prices of an item they were scanning to allow them to purchase the item at little or no cost. Next, they had to write code to read and verify the authenticity of the ISO - 15693 tags. The group decided the best way to code their design was to split up the work into modules and distribute the work evenly. Team members Jennifer Fowler and John Exantus split up the coding between them, and Emmanuel Gasquez and Eugene Finnegan acted as the testers.
The main problem run into by JJEE Inc. was the correct running of the TI software. They decided to call Texas Instruments and researching more about the log file and the TI functions and how they could implement them into their program. Once this was understood, they worked around the glitches encountered and were able to successfully demonstrate the QuickScanner prototype.
Kermit Incorporated decided to go along the lines of Industrial Automation. They developed the DestructoBot which, at first, was going to be used as a land demining device which would detect unexploded land mines. The members of Kermit Inc. then decided to take a look at the warehouse robotics industry, and decided the DestructoBot would be well suited for the task. The group felt a solar powered design would make their design much more efficient, as well as provide a tax credit for businesses in certain states.
The programming was implemented in the NXC (Not Exactly C) programming language. They were also able to use the Lego Mindstorms NXT robot as well as a different version of the OnBrick interface, known as BricxCC, to communicate with the robot. The main difficulty in developing this was that the robot had to navigate through unknown territory. As a result of this, there were two main sections to the program.
The robot begins by moving forward in the direction it currently faces and uses sensors to detect any objects in its path. Once it encounters an obstacle, the robot stops and scans left and right for any open paths. If, lets say, the right is open and the left is blocked, the robot will check to make sure that the obstacle to the left will not hinder a right-handed turn. If it finds that the object on the left is too close, the robot will back away first before turning right.
The second section of the program deals with a low battery signal. The robot uses light sensors to detect a line on the floor which it can follow to a charging station, which is built under a 40 watt incandescent light bulb eight inches above the solar panel on the robot. To test this, the programmers used a white line of tape leading back to the charging station, which the robot followed flawlessly.
Many of the students cited the help of Brother Chaya, Dr. Mauro, Computer Science 1 and 2, Electrical Engineering Lab 1 and 2, and Dr.. Borrmann's 8051 Microcontroller course as the most useful sources of information in developing their ideas.
Each idea was presented with a complete report containing a full marketing solution, analysis of hardware and software involved, and design and test specifications.
Quality Advancements Incorporated's invention, the Digital Tape Mate, was suggested by group member Joshua Ramkissoon. It is a digital tape measurer which uses a Kevlar cord and an LED to display the length being measured. The cord is pulled out of the device to the desired length, and the results are displayed on two seven-segment LED's in real time. Conversely, as the cord is retracting, the display counts down in real time also, accurate up to a tenth of an inch.
The Digital Tape Mate design was split into hardware and software components, with group members Wayne Skala and Jason Yeung responsible for the software, and Joshua Ramkissoon responsible for the hardware. Wayne Skala recollects the hardest part of the software component being the utilization of a PIC microcontroller they hadn't previously worked with. Wayne states, "...we were forced to spend valuable time learning a new language. Luckily, it was similar to the 8051 microcontroller, and we were able to complete our project within its deadline."
As far as the hardware was concerned, this piece of the puzzle was no simpler. When the cord is retracted from its casing, it rotates two wheels, which in turn are connected to an optical encoder sending out a certain number of pulses for each turn of the wheel, all which had to be calculated by the student responsible for the hardware, Joshua Ramkissoon. The microcontroller used then determines the length of the string and displays the result on the two seven-segment displays.
PCMD Incorporated's new idea, the RoboArm VRG, was suggested by member Daywon Choi. The RoboArm VRG was created with the goal of developing a control system for a robotic arm. The robotic arm used in this case was creatively constructed by the group using the Lego Mindstorms NXT robotics kit. PCMD Incorporated had to implement many different components together to make their invention possible. As for the hardware component, they had to use the Lego Mindstorms NXT robot and a P5 glove. The P5 glove is a cost efficient virtual reality glove which includes five sensors to detect finger bending, four buttons atop the fingers, and eight infrared LEDs which are used to track and follow the glove's movement. The software which had to be programmed for use with these hardware components were the GlovePIE and OnBrick. GlovePIE is a programmable input simulator which can receive input from the P5 glove. OnBrick is a programmable remote for the Mindstorms NXT and it was used to program the robot and interpret Bluetooth signals.
PCMD Inc., nicknamed "The Computer Doctor", chose to target the waste disposal market. They realized their design would help ensure customer safety, improve the efficiency of their work, and reduce insurance rates for the customer. It is also an easy to use robot which requires little training as it simulates the movements of your own hand.
The way PCMD Inc. set up their design is the glove is worn by the user and any movements they make are recorded and sent to the GlovePIE, which is used as an interface between the P5 and the computer. The GlovePIE is then utilized to assign a certain function to each of the movements read into the program. Once the movements are recorded, the GlovePIE sends the function associated with the motion to the Lego NXT Brick, which in turn moves the robot arm via Bluetooth technology. The grab and release functions for the robot is implemented through the five sensors under the fingers of the user. The group built in an emergency stop function by pressing the "A" button on the P5 glove.
One of the main difficulties PCMD Inc. had with this design was the software was sensitive to the slightest movement of the P5 glove, resulting in unwanted movements. The group decided the best course of action to remedy this was to create a "dead zone" for the glove revolving around the starting point, so the program would only register movements outside of the circular zone, enabling them to be more precise with sending motions to the Lego
Mindstorms NXT.
JJEE Inc's project, the QuickScanner, utilizes radio frequency identification technology (RFID) to allow customers to purchase items without the need to stand on the typical long check out line. The QuickScanner also has the ability to scan each item that enters the store and automatically add it to the store's inventory list. These were the two main goals of JJEE Inc's venture; eliminate wait times and increase inventory control efficiency.
The QuickScanner consists of three main parts: a scanner, a purchase confirmer, and a database link to add items to the store's inventory. When the customer arrives at the register, they scan in the items and a program developed by JJEE Inc. will run through a store log file and display the name and price of the product being scanned. The group found they needed to use the Texas Instruments 7960 Evaluation Module (EVM) in order to meet their design goals. The EVM allows the user to read from and write to the tags on the products (known as an ISO - 15693 tag), and comes with its own software so JJEE was able to test scans and writes. The group chose to keep scanning distances to a maximum of a 25cm radius so reduce the chances of ringing up an item accidentally (via someone else's merchandise or an item already scanned still in close proximity).
As for the programming aspect of their design, JJEE Inc. wanted to ensure three things. First, they wanted to make sure hackers could not change the prices of an item they were scanning to allow them to purchase the item at little or no cost. Next, they had to write code to read and verify the authenticity of the ISO - 15693 tags. The group decided the best way to code their design was to split up the work into modules and distribute the work evenly. Team members Jennifer Fowler and John Exantus split up the coding between them, and Emmanuel Gasquez and Eugene Finnegan acted as the testers.
The main problem run into by JJEE Inc. was the correct running of the TI software. They decided to call Texas Instruments and researching more about the log file and the TI functions and how they could implement them into their program. Once this was understood, they worked around the glitches encountered and were able to successfully demonstrate the QuickScanner prototype.
Kermit Incorporated decided to go along the lines of Industrial Automation. They developed the DestructoBot which, at first, was going to be used as a land demining device which would detect unexploded land mines. The members of Kermit Inc. then decided to take a look at the warehouse robotics industry, and decided the DestructoBot would be well suited for the task. The group felt a solar powered design would make their design much more efficient, as well as provide a tax credit for businesses in certain states.
The programming was implemented in the NXC (Not Exactly C) programming language. They were also able to use the Lego Mindstorms NXT robot as well as a different version of the OnBrick interface, known as BricxCC, to communicate with the robot. The main difficulty in developing this was that the robot had to navigate through unknown territory. As a result of this, there were two main sections to the program.
The robot begins by moving forward in the direction it currently faces and uses sensors to detect any objects in its path. Once it encounters an obstacle, the robot stops and scans left and right for any open paths. If, lets say, the right is open and the left is blocked, the robot will check to make sure that the obstacle to the left will not hinder a right-handed turn. If it finds that the object on the left is too close, the robot will back away first before turning right.
The second section of the program deals with a low battery signal. The robot uses light sensors to detect a line on the floor which it can follow to a charging station, which is built under a 40 watt incandescent light bulb eight inches above the solar panel on the robot. To test this, the programmers used a white line of tape leading back to the charging station, which the robot followed flawlessly.
Many of the students cited the help of Brother Chaya, Dr. Mauro, Computer Science 1 and 2, Electrical Engineering Lab 1 and 2, and Dr.. Borrmann's 8051 Microcontroller course as the most useful sources of information in developing their ideas.
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