Week 12: The Proposal Report Part II

Objective: To finalize the proposal report.

Analysis/Discussion:

This week I need to finalize my proposal report and the blog. The proposal report is almost 80% finished. But, this week I am a little bit busy with other reports I have only a little time to work on the proposal report. Fortunately, the proposal report is due next week.  

Discussion: A very small progress this week. I need to make it up in week 13.

Week 11: The Budget

Objective: To list the price for all the components and instruments in this project.

Analysis/Discussion:

All the components needed in this project are sold separately. I took the liberty to survey the price of each components available in electronic shops in Kuala Lumpur. After days of research, I have enlist the components and instrument. Below is the table of budget:

PART A – HARDWARE & SOFTWARE
No	EQUIPMENT	PRICE /UNIT	UNIT	TOTAL PRICE
1	Speedometer	RM 50.00	1	RM 50.00
2	Sensor	RM 10.00	2	RM 20.00
3	Printed Circuit Board	RM 5.00	2	RM 10.00
4	GSM Module	RM 430.00	1	RM 380.00
5	RS232 to TTL	RM 40.00	1	RM 40.00
6	LCD  2 by 16	RM 35.00	1	RM 35.00
7	PIC	RM 35 .00	1	RM 35.00
PART B – STATIONARY
No	EQUIPMENT			TOTAL PRICE
1	Papers			RM 10
2	Photocopy			RM 10
3	Binding			RM 15
4	Poster			RM 20
PART C – OTHERS
1	Prepaid			RM 20
2	Travelling expenses (Petrol and Taxi)			RM 50
TOTAL				RM 695.00

From the table, the most expensive instrument is the GSM modem/module. Total budget for this project is RM 695.00. 

Conclusion: Though the budget is quite is almost RM 700, but I can claim it through MARA.

Week 10: The FYP Presentation

Objective: Debriefing about the Final year presentation I (FYP I).

Analysis/Discussion:

The Final Year Presentation I (FYP I) took place in the Dewan Gemilang, Unikl British Malaysian Institute (BMI) on 22nd of November 2013. The presentation started at 3:00 in the evening. I was assigned to two assessors from the FYP committee whom are lecturers from the communication Section. The assessors are Sir Razif and Madam Lili. 

The first assessor is Sir Razif. I presented my proposal project presentation to him. He listened through the presentation until the question and answer (Q&A) session which he asked a few questions. Fortunately, I answered all his question. In the end of the first presentation, he suggested that I should clearly state my work plan for the FYP II and should be in the Gantt Chart form. 

The second presentation with Madam Lili also went well. Again, I successfully answered her question during the Q&A session. She does not suggested anything which in my opinion, she implied my presentation went with full satisfaction. 

Conclusion: Though the presentation has ended and went with flying colours, I still need to finish up and I also need to correct a few parts in the proposal report.

Week 9: The DPDT Switch

Objective: To investigate about the Double Pole Double Throw (DPDT) Switch.

Analysis/Discussion:

A Double Pole Double Throw (DPDT) switch is an intermediate switch placed in a multi-way switching system in order to control lamps operated by more than two switches. They are crossover switches that have four terminals. Two of these terminals are inputs, and the other two are outputs. Below is a DPDT component and how it is connected:

The DPDT switch is used in this project solely to increase and decrease the needle of the speedometer. This switch have three position which in this project are to:

1. Increase
2. Stop
3. Decrease

Below is a video showing an application of DPDT switch:

Conclusion: In my opinion, this switch is suitable and it will be connected to the speedometer.

Week 8: The GSM Network

Objective: To analyse and to know Global System For Mobile (GSM)

Analysis/Discussion: 

The GSM applications in our daily life are very essential. Take a mobile phone for an example. We used it almost everyday and almost everywhere. The GSM is very suitable for this project. The GSM system on mobile devices has it advantages and its drawback such as:

Advantages:

1. Extensive Coverage
2. Security
3. Affordable devices and services
4. Wide spectrum availability

Disadvantages:

1. Can cause electronic interference
2. Bandwidth lag
3. Radiation
4. Every device uses a simcard provided by Telco. Service is terminated if simcard is not reloaded/Topup

Below is an example of a GSM network architecture.

The GSM network can be divided into four main parts:

1. The Mobile Station (MS).
2. The Base Station Subsystem (BSS).
3. The Network and Switching Subsystem (NSS).
4. The Operation and Support Subsystem (OSS) (BSS and NSS together).

TYPE	FULL ACRONYM DESCRIPTION
BTS	BASE TRANSCEIVER STATION
BSC	BASE STATION CONTROLLER
HLR	HOME LOCATION REGISTER
VLR	VISITOR LOCATION REGISTER
AUC	AUTHENTICATION CENTER
OMC	OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE CENTRE
MSC	MOBILE SWITCHING CENTRE
PSTN	PUBLIC SWITCHED TELEPHONE NETWORK
ISDN	INTEGRATED SERVICES DIGITAL NETWORK

In this project, I need to find a suitable GSM device to send and receive a Short Messaging Service (SMS). In my opinion, I think a GSM modem would suffice as the GSM device. Currently, there are many choices of this type of modem in the market. The SIEMENS company offers variety of product which i think suitable with its reasonably priced product. Below are the example of a GSM modem:

A GSM modem is a specialized type of modem which accepts a SIM card, and operates over a subscription to a mobile operator, just like a mobile phone. From the mobile operator perspective, a GSM modem looks just like a mobile phone.When a GSM modem is connected to a computer, this allows the computer to use the GSM modem to communicate over the mobile network.  While these GSM modems are most frequently used to provide mobile internet connectivity, many of them can also be used for sending and receiving SMS and MMS messages.

Conclusion: 

The GSM modem the most expensive component in this project. I need to save up a sum of money before FYP II course start. Also, I also need to learn how to program the GSM modem and how to integrate it with the circuit. 

Week 7: The Proximity Sensor

Objective: To identify about and research about sensors

Analysis/Procedure:

There are many type of sensors currently being used nowadays. In this project, I need to find a suitable sensor that suitable for the speedometer. This components is the most important part. The sensor must detect the narrow and thin needle of the speedometer. My idea of the position of the sensor which will be placed on the speedometer display:

Below is the suitable sensor that I think could integrate with the speedometer. 

1. Proximity Sensor

• A proximity sensor is a sensor able to detect the presence of nearby objects without any physical contact. A proximity sensor often emits an electromagnetic field or a beam of electromagnetic radiation (infrared, for instance), and looks for changes in the field or return signal. The object being sensed is often referred to as the proximity sensor's target. Different proximity sensor targets demand different sensors. For example, a capacitive photoelectric sensor might be suitable for a plastic target; an inductive proximity sensor always requires a metal target. The maximum distance that this sensor can detect is defined "nominal range". Some sensors have adjustments of the nominal range or means to report a graduated detection distance. Proximity sensors can have a high reliability and long functional life because of the absence of mechanical parts and lack of physical contact between sensor and the sensed object.

• One of the application of this sensor is on a modern smart phone. For example, if there is an outgoing or incoming call on a smart phone and a person will start moving the cellphone towards his or her ear to listen to the other person, the device’s proximity sensor detects that the phone is very close to his or her face. The proximity detector signals the motherboard to disable the phone’s touch-sensitive display to prevent the person inadvertently activating an icon on the screen with his or her face. When the person move the phone away from your head, the proximity sensor detects the change and reactivates the touch-sensitive display.

In term of this project with the proximity sensor, if the proximity sensor detects a needle crosses the sensor it will send a signal to the PIC and automatically sends an SMS through the GSM modem.

Week 6: The Speedometer

Objective: To identify and research about the speedometer.

Analysis/Procedure:

Speedometer or a speed meter is a gauge that measures and the instantaneous speed of a land vehicle. Otto Schulze, an inventor from Strasbourg, filed the first patent for the eddy-current speedometer in 1902. Schulze conceived of the revolutionary device as a solution to a growing problem. Cars weren't only becoming more popular, they were also traveling faster. The average automobile's top speed just after the turn of the 20th century was 30 miles per hour, slow by today's standards but sizzling fast at a time when much of the world still moved at the leisurely pace of a horse-drawn carriage. As a result, serious accidents began to increase dramatically. Below is an example of a speedometer.

There are two types of speedometer for land vehicle. 

• The first and widely used is the mechanical speedometer. The speedometer is made up of two sections, the odometer which records the miles and the speed indicator. The odometer is quite simple, a simple gear train which takes a given number of turns of a tire and gears those turns down to equal one turn of the tenths wheel. Simple gearing. The speed needle is quite different. It works on magnetic fields. Connected to the cable is a magnet on the very end, usually in the sape of a disc. Close to, but not touching, is an aluminum disc. The magnet spins and genenerates eddy currents in the aluminum disc which produces a magnetic field in the disc, which tends to drag the aluminum disc to spin with the spinning magnet. There is a spring which works against the movement of the needle. So, the faster the magnet spins, the more the aluminum disc tends to be dragged along, resisted by the spring. So, the faster the spin, the higher the needle reads. In essence, it is a rate meter, which indicates the rate the magnet is spinning. Below is a mechanical speedometer example:

• Second is the electronic speedometer. Many modern speedometers are electronic. In designs derived from earlier eddy-current models, a rotation sensor mounted in the transmission delivers a series of electronic pulses whose frequency corresponds to the (average) rotational speed of the driveshaft, and therefore the vehicle's speed, assuming the wheels have full traction. The sensor is typically a set of one or more magnets mounted on the output shaft or differential crownwheel, or a toothed metal disk positioned between a magnet and a magnetic field sensor. As the part in question turns, the magnets or teeth pass beneath the sensor, each time producing a pulse in the sensor as they affect the strength of the magnetic field it is measuring. A computer converts the pulses to a speed and displays this speed on an electronically-controlled, analog-style needle or a digital display. Below is the electronic speedometer example: 

Conclusion:

The mechanical speedometer is cheaper and more practical then the electronic speedometer. To build this project, I have decided to choose mechanical speedometer. But there are few problems which I will be facing:

1. How to install the sensor to the speedometer?
2. How to simulate speedometer, when the meter is working mechanically?

Before going any further, I need to do some research about sensors.