Embedded Systems Projects – Smart Devices
A Smart House, Smart Car or Smart Factory consists a number of Smart Appliances and Smart Sensors that can be networked together by Smart Applications to provide a Smart Environment.
For 2004, the Embedded Systems Research Group will be supervising a number of projects which develop some prototype networked appliances and sensors, and also look at the technologies for interconnecting these.
The aim here is to develop low-cost sensors which can detect environmental characteristics and relay them back to a central data processing facility, and low cost actuators and appliances which can respond to control information from a central controller.
A number of different projects are available, based on different types of sensors and actuators, on different physical transport mechanisms, and on different control protocols.
Typically, an individual student will develop a simple sensor and its network interface. Students will also be part of a group of 3 or 4 (under the same supervisor) who will work together to demonstrate some different applications that can be built from cooperating networked sensors. Each student in the team will develop at least one networked application.
Sensors:
Temperature/Humidity
Open Circuit/Closed Circuit sensor for doors/windows, mats
PIR sensor
Light Sensor
Microphone
Noise Level Sensor
Rain Sensor
Motion Sensor
Camera
RFID Reader
Scales
Barcode reader
General Purpose A/D converter.....
Actuators:
Motor Controller
Speaker
Alarm
LCD/LED Display
RGB LED drivers
Mains Relay
Door/Window Locks
Physical Transport:
RS232
RS485
CAN
LIN
Ethernet
USB
Bluetooth (reserved for ME students)
WiFi (reserved for ME students)
Networking protocols:
DNP3
TCP/IP
Jini
OSGi
UPnP
....
Networking Devices:
RS485 Hub with Ethernet host connection
RS232 Concentrator/Switch
RS232 to Ethernet Concentrator
Jini/OSGi/UPnP controller/proxy
Possible Networked Applications
Intercom
Message board
Alarm Clock
Security System
Example Project
A typical project might involve the following:
Design a networked controller for multi-colour RGB LED Lamps and Clusters. The controller should use an RS485 multidrop serial interface for communication with a host, and should implement a suitable subset of the DNP3 command Protocol for Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition. The controller should be centred around a simple 8-bit Atmel AVR microcontroller or similar. An RS232/RS485 converter will need to be designed for debugging with a conventional PC.
Demonstrate the operation of the lamp in the following networked applications along with other student sensors: Combination Stop/tail/indicator/reversing light; temperature dependent "mood" light; sequencing display lighting.
Notes
All projects will involve design of embedded hardware, software and interface electronics.
The devices should all be designed to work with standard Cat-5 cabling, and each project will include the design of a suitable hub for their cabling system which provides connection to a host, and provides +5V power to all modules. Hub design can be shared amongst group members, but each student may need their own "minihub" for development.
Each sensor or actuator should be compact, neatly and attractively packaged. Designers need to explore low-cost options for implementing the devices – most should have a parts cost of $100 or less. Many will use inexpensive microcontrollers.
Students will apply to be part of this multi-project program, not for individual projects or supervsiors (although you can suggest your preferences). Individual projects and supervisors will be allocated according to demand, supervisor load, and student capabilities. Students can apply individually or in a group of two, three or four (we will try not to split up groups).
Prof. Neil Bergmann
School of Info. Tech. and Elec. Eng.
The University of Queensland
Brisbane 4072 Australia.
Phone: +61-7-3365-1182
Mobile: 0401 997 849
Fax: +61-7-3365-4999
E-mail: n.bergmann@itee.uq.edu.au
Web:
http://www.itee.uq.edu.au/~bergmann