Week 6
Lower Order Thinking Skills (LOTS) includes the answer given in the reading.
- State the theories/equations used in this project.
Some of the theories used in this project is remote accessing. Several components will be needed in order to establish this remote accessing. The web server will be handling the web interface to allow users to make experiments over the internet. The server will allow users to access to the cameras as well to allow monitoring of the laboratory equipment.
- Where are these theories/equations being implemented in the project?
These theories is being implemented in this project by providing user a interface to allow interaction of users and the real FPGA remotely.
For this week, I tried using the In system memory content editor in Quartus II to mimic the toggling of input. A simple block diagram is design using lpm_constant module and the design is programmed into the FPGA.
The lpm_constant is connected to 2 outputs and these outputs will then act as inputs for the switches
A simple AND gate is designed to test the output. The switches are connected to LEDs to check if the toggling is successful.
Using the In-System Memory Content Editor, users can change the values of the instances and write the data to the in-system memory to allow toggling of inputs.
After meeting with the supervisor, the goal for next week meeting is to test out the connections of 2 FPGAs, 2 cameras and also test out using the GPIOs to allow sending datas.
Week 7
Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) includes implicit answers (not boldly stated answers)
- Explain the outcome(s) of the results. (pattern, sequencing, etc)
The outcome of this projects will be a successful remote connection of FPGAs where users can toggle the switches and push buttons of the real FPGA remotely and also monitor the output of the FPGA through a camera.
For this week, I tested using the JTAG server in Quartus II by connecting 2 FPGAs but with different device family which is DE2-70 and DE2-115 because that’s the only board I have at the time. The connection is successful and is tested using another friend’s Quartus II and programming Verilog and simple schematic design is possible. The problem is cannot differentiate which board is which as the device family is different as well and the device settings had to be changed to allow successful programming and pin assignments had to be changed as well.
After that I went for some research to find suitable website building websites but most of that requires subscription and suitable for marketing use. I decide to request assistance from supervisor regarding this matter after Raya Holiday.
Week 8
Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) includes implicit answers (not boldly stated answers)
- Discuss the implementation of the end product of the project.
The implementation of the end product would be a software hardware based project where a website is build with cameras and virtual switches to allow controlling the FPGA remotely to allow vast amount of students learning the use of FPGA board at anywhere and anytime.
For this week, I met with the supervisor and update my progress. He got me a textbook about MERN Projects for Beginners to create five social web apps using MongDB, Express.js, React and Node.js. After that, the progress is halt for a while because there is test and some other assignments and I tried follow Chapter 1 to get to know some basics for the website building. Most of the parts were initial setup which include creating Firebase Hosting, MongoDB setup and the back-end setup using Heroku. There were some front-end deployments and some parts were unclear and confusing so I took quite some time and managed to follow the steps.
Week 9
Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) includes implicit answers (not boldly stated answers)
- Discuss the future improvement of the project.
The future improvement of this project would be designing a better-looking design interface and allow more features to be used such as VGAs, LCD displays, enable audio listening to listen to beep sounds etc. Website would require a better queuing system to prevent congestions and interruption of using the FPGAs. There would be still more improvements again for sure if given more time.
For this week, I encountered some issue during the Initial back-end setup at the Chapter 2 to setup MongoDB Schema and Routes. When checking the routes, there is some error codes happening and I was unable to solve the problem at this time.
The progress was halted again as there is another test before meeting with the supervisor. After discussing with the supervisor, he requested help from a computer science student who can guide me in designing a website. I contacted the person but he’s having a tight schedule at that moment so I decided to contact him again at a later time.
After the meeting, I found out that the newer version of Mongoose does not support the useCreateIndex option as it has been deprecated for a while and removed as of the Mongoose 6 release. After that I managed to complete the Chapter 1 tutorial and managed to host it in the firebase. But somehow the pictures would not appear but the website host is working. Will work on other chapters to get to know how to create a login page during the weekends.