ASYRAFF AIMAN

Educational Platform Using Low-Cost Technologies For Control Subject

Introduction

Nowadays, most universities, especially those universities which are offering Engineering courses start to improve the teaching and learning activities or techniques. The highlights are to emphasize some practical aspects and hands-on learning in the teaching by incorporating innovative trends in order to enhance students’ understanding and participation. Hence, several of commercial educational platforms have been produced and marketed for this purpose. However, it is found that the price for this platform is typically a remarkably expensive [1]. Apart from that, the commercial platforms produced were usually compatible with its own hardware and software, limiting the functions to be extended and integrated with other type of hardware and software. 

For these reason, designing a low-cost educational platform has gained a significant interest from many universities [2]. A low cost platform for control subject with various types of possible hardware and software is proposed. In this paper, it is mentioned that the idea came up from the concern of the lecturer to provide new tools to the student which incorporate attractive feature which is to enhance student understanding for control subject. By having the low-cost platform, it will enable the student to learn not only the platform devices but also able to understand a variety of programming languages that can be used for implementing the control solutions. Some examples of platform device are Lego, Arduino, Kinect and Rasberry Pi. Most of common languages used are LabView and Matlab/Simulink [2].

The aim of this project is to develop a low-cost educational platform for basic control subject with water level system. The students will design their controller using Matlab Simulink and the response of the water level system can be observed. By using this platform, each student will be able to design their own controller algorithm based on their creativity and understanding.

Result 

A Matlab Simulation

To design a controller when the plan model is not available, we are using data driven control. Data driven control is to use the input and output from the plant to build the mathematical model. We have arduino connect to motor and host computer. The figure below show that the block we run into the arduino board. The block created an executable file from a model and run it on target hardware. The model will detect the change in voltage in the sensor and the different in voltage will be use to run the motor.

 Figure 4.1: The block diagram run in to the Arduino.

The second Simulink model will be run in to the computer host. This second model will send the command to arduino board. The block diagram show in figure below.

What did I do?

Methods of educational are improving continuously in Control Subject by using low-cost platforms. This paper is presenting a brief description of the most widely used platforms or technologies and how they are selected for university subjects, specifically in Control Engineering Subject. This study is focusing on two criteria which are to create an easier platform for lecturers to simulate, and the continuously growing experience of students in relation to every low-cost platform. We hereby present a case study of the water system using Arduino platform, MATLAB SIMULINK as the software and integrating Internet of Thing (IoT) into the system. 

The journey:

• Heavy engineering-design, project plant, project cost, construction, quality and safety (most important).
• Resident Engineer
  - Commission the air conditioner plant

                 - Dealing with clients
                 - Dealing with colleague
                 - Dealing with contractors

        - The engineering with clients
                - Managing stakeholders’ expectation
                - Managing the development plant

*To be an engineer, ones’ must be able to design a simple electrical design and know the basic electrical knowledge.
            - Single line drawing
            - Groom and cost saving initiatives

Expectation:

• Workers have positive view to their manager believing they can give experience
• Managers in general have negative view of their employee. They feel that employee have unrealistic compensation, poor work, ethic, and easily distracted.
  

Employer’s expectation:
1. Have deep technical competency in a specific engineering discipline

2. Able to perform in group
3. Able to acquire and apply knowledge
4. Able to communicate well
5. Able to undertake problem identification, formulation and solution.
6. Have social awareness on sustainable development
7. Able to utilise systems approach in design and evaluating operational performance
8. Able to design and conducts experiment as well as to analyse and interpret data

Situational leadership:
S1 (Directive) à S2 (Coaching) à S3 (Supporting), S4 (Delegating)

Ethic:
Engineering ethics is the field of applied ethics and system of moral

Standard and guidance:
1. National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE)

2. Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (IEEE)

 Nowadays, the number of cases involving missing children is increasing and in worrying trend. It is mostly associated with abduction and kidnapping where in some situation, it occurs in split second when in parents are accidently inattentive to the children. In crowded are such as shopping malls and festival area, keeping children closed to parents are more challenging. Thus, the need to get the children enganged with parent is deemed become crucial such that where about of the children can be monitored. For this project, our innovation is to build a device that can monitor distance between the parent and children. The device then would give alert to the parents, indicating the status of their children, and becoming early warning system before unwanted incident occurs to the children. Besides that, this project is about to innovate from existing system which is existing system that being used detect location of children usually involve complex hardware such as combination of GPS and mobile network which are expensive and only available to certain groups of people. Furthermore, the system also limited when involving detection inside closed area. For product features, this device is like kids watch which is this device is lightweight, extensible, contain cartoon characters, energy efficient and cost effective. This device work is work by attach to the child (receiver) while the other one (transmitter) to the parent. When the child is within 5 meters or less, no alert notification is ON, when the child is beyond 5 meters but less 10 meters, pulsating vibrating at parent device is activated to alert the parent and when the distance of child is more that 10 meters, it continuous vibration and beeping sounds are activated to notify parents. Lastly, the system work based on detection of signal strength both device. The devices are developed based on available technologies with innovation in term of integration of electronic component and system. The low development cost promises competitive market price.

                                                                                     poster for Jejeak Annakku