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This project will utilize the processing power and peripheral features of the PIC32. In addition, it will utilize additional processors such as mulitple dsPIC33s to perform repetitive computations taking advantage of their ability.
The Handheld Multi-core Spectrum analyzer will provide a user with a low cost system capable of sampling multiple (up to 4) channels of analog data, computing the spectral content and FFTs and displaying the result on a color display located on the device. Additional features of the unit will include a touch screen interface for user interface as well as storage of data and plots on a removable media (microSD card) for use by other programs such as Matlab. Design trades during this project will: 1) determine whether communication between the processors will utilize the parallel port features of the devices or SPI; 2) Sample rates and sensitivities attainable; 3) Graphical interfaces necessary to maintain portability.
Ideas from members of the myPIC32 community are welcome, especially the perceived utility as well as their opinions on frequency spectrums they would be interested in.

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To control thyristors connected to a Three Phase Transformer, the thyristors will be connected in either half wave controlled, full wave controlled or hexaphase depending on ripple requirements of the output.
Voltage and current output is dependant on transformer/rectifier selected (from tens of amps to thousands of amps).
The micro will have to monitor voltage, primary and secondary currents, temperature, phase failure etc.
The project is required to be monitored and adjusted remotely and data must be able to be accessed locally, more than one unit must be able to be connected to the data bus (RS485).
the above equipment in normally associated with Hypochlorination Plants, Hydrogen production, Industrial battery chargers etc.
 

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This abstract is being re-edited for content

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Mico is a device to provide a personal digital assistant to people working in hazardous environments typically inhospitable to small devices. Mico has only one form of user input: a 3-axis accelerometer, which allows Mico to be protected by a perfectly sealed case. To communicate with a host computer or other devices, Mico will need to be wireless.
The goal of this project is to see if it is possible to create a user interface based solely on acceleration, and would people accept this user interface.
A couple of examples: Such a device could be worn by firefighters to provide pertinent information. Firefighters on the ground could be notified if the accelerometer stopped recording changes which may indicate a life threatening problem. Deep sea welders could use the device to monitor dive time, and read work lists in a high pressure environment.
 

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This device will allow precise 3D location of objects in the real world. Using a hand-held, battery operated PIC32 with a 2.4 GHZ transciever, the unit can be used to locate, measure and/or level anthing. The on-board OLED screen, allows easy operator interface. The 3D-ruler utilizes additional satellite units strategically placed around the site.The satelite units also have PIC32's and 2.4 GHZ transcivers. The stability and resolution of the system is enhanced by real time statistical analysis and noise cancellation with software in the PIC32's. The oscillators wiil be 2.55 PPM or better TCXO's.

This project will explore short time interval measurement using triangulation software in the PIC32 to effectively achieve pico-second time resolution.

If this proves feasible, it will allow precise x,y,z location measurements with up to 0.01 inch resolution. With the augmentation supplied by an auxiliary GPS receiver, very precise location can be determined. If you have a known location, like a survey pin, you can even determine exact position to 0.1 inch accuracy with an expected range of around 2000 feet.

This device will provide a low cost solution for multiple applications in construction, surveying, and any distance or location measuring need.
 

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This project will utilize the PIC32 microcontroller as the heart of an autonomous UAV flight control system. This system will provide autonomous departure (take off), route navigation to and from the destination target, data acquisition at the target site (still photography, video, environmental data) and finally navigation back to a predefined destination or backup destination where an operator would assist in the vehicle recovery (landing phase/payload recovery).

The PIC32 will be used to control all external devices (cameras, environmental sensors) and interface to all necessary attitude and positioning sensors/servos (AHARS,Magnetometers,GPS Receives,Air temperature and pressure probes,flight control surface servos and engine throttles).

All data will be logged in non-volatile EEProm and will be made available after recovery via a USB port.

 

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Overview
The device has the capability to do several monitoring that are comprised of: EKG Simulator, Breath Monitor, Stimulus Isolator and Electrical Stimulus. Using the PIC32 as the main processor would enable to switch between any of the four mentioned above or perform all four operations simultaneously. Below is the description of each section.
EKG Simulator
This simulator is a nuclear medicine application. It is to simulate an electrocardiograph and radioisotope signal. The simulated EKG output would be a smooth TTL signal enabling the clear use of EKG for other syndromes while radioisotope output would be a pulse generated by pulse-position moderator.
Breathe Monitor
This monitor would act as a detector of breathing. As an important factor in health industry, breathe monitoring would enable other factors to be involved as well. Whether involvement of other factors would be needed would be left to synchronization, algorithm in PIC32 and the monitor circuit.
Stimulus Isolator
This isolator would show levels of current readings versus the improved ones. It basically provides user to know the difference between a normal behavior and that of his/her actual syndrome.
Electrical Stimulus
The stimulus generated by this section would mainly be used for research applications. Another way of looking at this is the monitoring of the heart throughout a period of time by generating pulses.
 

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This is not a design, but a picture of the I/O Expansion board that is given as a prize to the top 128 contestants that make it through phase1.

I saw a number of forum posts from people interested in this board, so until we have a better landing zone on Digi-Key for this board, the attached picture gives you an idea. Note that the PICtail Plus slots can hold a myriad of cards from Digi-Key, from Ethernet to 802.11.15 wireless and more. The protoboards included with the prize pack are blank "lots-o-holes" PCBs for wire wrapping etc.

Update 05/09/08: we've added this board to the microchip site: http://www.microchip.com/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&nodeId=1406&dDocName=en535444

Terry West
PIC32 Marketing Manager & Design Challenge Judge

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Bonsai trees are meticulously taken care of. They are well fed, watered, and given light. A lifetime of work can go into one plant. This can cause a problem if you are away on work or vacation.
The "Bonsai Buddy" allows you to receive data and adjust your plants environment through a webpage.
This can be used for any houseplant. Or even on a larger scale like greenhouses. A farmer tending to his crop might be as easy as logging onto a webpage a thousand miles away.
Features:
- Soil moisture sensor for automated watering from a main reservoir.
-Soil PH sensor and web cam to determine what composition fertilizer to use.
-Humidity sensor to activate a fan to maintain the proper climate.
-Temperature sensor to regulate a heating element.
-Pressure sensor to monitor amount of water in reservoir.
-A smaller reservoir used for mixing fertilizer with water (done through an agitator).
-Compartments with various types of fertilizer and fungicides. Released to the mixing chamber by magnetic latches.
-Light sensor to log the amount of light and help regulate the light bulb.
-Webpage for user control.
-Internal and external CO2 sensors to also control airflow. This is to allow for the peak amount of carbon dioxide in the Bonsai Buddy to help with photosynthesis.

This is done on a small scale for a design that is feasible and can be accomplished in the allotted time. It would become more efficient if it were done on a large scale. Here are some examples:

-Rain from the roof might be collected in cisterns for watering the plants.
-Instead of venting the humid air it might channeled into something that would extract the water from the air. Then reuse the recycled water.
-The whole system might be powered by solar or wind energy.
-You might also put in a system to utilize the oxygen given off by photosynthesis.

All parts are available from digikey (except for a PH electrode and can be built for $200).
 

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This is a conceptual design to scan the surrounding of a room using ultrasonic transceiver . The touch-screen LCD will be used to control a TDR type scanning scheme . The data
Accumulated will be stored in a SRAM . From the initial position the scanning scheme will outline the walls of the room . When all sides of the rooms are scanned the PIC32 will be asked to move from one point in room to another without bumping into a wall .

This is a implementation of a Neural Network on PIC 32 MCU . Data accumulated will have information about the dimensions of the room , as accelerometer input will help MCU to compute the distance from its previous location .
 

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This is a design for a pocket size weigh scale primarily for weighing food items and calculating the carbohydrate content so that diabetics can give them selves an accurate dose of insulin.

The target is a PDA sized unit with QVGA LCD display with a weigh scale as part of the main unit or detachable by wired or wireless communications.
The unit will have a database of food types stored on flash (Onboard or SD/MMC card) that is easily accessed using a GUI so that the total carbohydrates of the food being weighed can be easily calculated. USB can be used to upload data to the internal Flash or SD card. Other options include the ability to build the total carbohyrate for a meal by weighing (By adding or removing) each item on a plate of food. Other possible options include an inbuilt blood glucose meter and the possibility to calculate the dosage of insulin that is required for the carbohydrate total and/or the blood glucose reading.


Main Unit:
- PIC32 Microcontroller
- QVGA Display (2.8" to 3.5")
- SD Card interface
- USB interface

Weigh Scale:
- High resolution ADC (>22bit)
- Strain guages / load cell
- Wireless chipset (optional)
- Microcontroller for wireless (optional)

Blood Glucose meter:
- Misc Analog devices and ADC
 

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Every hobbist or professional laboratory has got at least one power supply. I think that more than 90% of us has got a heavy power supply with big transformers and fans for cooling down the linear regulators. i've seen few catalogue with switching power supply controlled by a PC but I wasn't able to understand the price with so much zeros!
the aim of this project is to get something more than a simple power supply. I've just done a prototype using the PIC18F4550 but it cannot pretend the performance described herein. Dodolabpower is composed by various sections:
1) High voltage; convert efficiently the AC line supply in DC current using a dsPIC SMPS to control the Power Factor Correction and the Flyback converter (in theory it could be implemented using 2 pwm coming from PIC32 but there are increasing costs due to passive circuitry than using a dsPIC!).
2) Low voltage; a low power linear regulator generate 3.3 v for internal circuit and another linear regulator generate the 3.3 v, 5 v and adj V for low power external circuit with shortcut protection.
3) high power supply is controlled by PIC32 as double buck converter. The PIC32 thakes the decision with a double PID control funcion and the parameters (Ki, Kp, Kd) can be changed by keyboard or by software on PC connected via USB (device).
Simples regulations can be done stand alone and values read on a 128 x 64 monochrome lcd display. I don't want to use larger display because deeper controls can be done by PC.
I think to provide at least four analog channel that connected with probe can give us informations about voltage fluctuations on our test boards. Hardware trigger are very helpful i.e. in case of fast drop out voltages close to high and fast energy requirement; all controlled by Programmable Gain Control in SPI connection with PIC32.
The second SPI (optoisolated) is required to communicate with dsPIC for "on fly" parameter changes.
Dodolabpower can be also used to generate programmed voltage or current change to simulate "on field" environment.


Hope you'll find useful

Ivano
Dodotronic
 

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Pic & Plugs (rev.1 9/5/08)
A modern (normal) House is full of electrical devices which are all supplied from the same source, the Main:
Washing machine, refrigerator, vacuum cleaner, dishwasher, iron, microwaves oven, TV, PC etc.. are really common devices.
If you sum the power absorbed by each device you’ll find that it is absolutely more of the power your house Power meter can accept. Sometime (or often), our Housewifes use these devices contemporarily with the risk of over load and sure disconnection from the main. Moreover some load/device are critical (for example the refrigerator) and they needs to be monitored also when you are out of home, other are less critical and should be disconnected for a while to avoid an overload.
This system consist in a Pic Console and various intelligent Plugs /Sockets. It does not require any change in your electrical wiring. It can start with the console and One Plug and is extremely flexible and easy to upgrade (buying another plug!!). This Plug could have a connector (a jack) to which could be connected a remote sensor ( temperature, humidity sensor, etc..).
As soon as the Plug is connected to the main the Pic Console , via MiWi, recognizes it and informs the user that a new plug is connected to the main. Using the display and Touch you can start to configure the Plug and the load/device connected to it: giving a name (for example Vacuum Cleaner) , defining the priority (never disconnect, disconnect if overload) and other functionality (send a message via SMS, Buzzer ON etc..)….
The USB OTG open the doors to every type of application: Upgrade configuration via pen drive or PC, Internet connection via WiFi pen, etc..
The GSM module is an option and offers the possibility to be alerted if a problem is occurred on the load.
In detail the Pic Console is composed by:
PIC32
TFT Display 3,5” with touch-screen (thanks to Microchip Graphics library)
USB OTG
MiWi module
Single cell Li-Ion or Lithium Polymer battery (it’s a portable device!!)
BatteryCharger: I will use the Microchip MCP73855 so I can supply it via USB or using a Wall Mount 5V 5W Power supply.
DC-DC converter: I will use MCP1601 for the micro while if I need a step up for the Display backlight, I will use the MCP1650.
Buzzer
 

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This is a PID controller with auto tunning for up to 8 loop which can operate manual, auto or cascade mode and offer several configuration parameter like gains, dead band,alarms and a complete configuration of analog inputs (ranges, filters, alarm,..)
I will use a tactile color QVGA to operate the controller and will implement a MODBUS TCP SERVER to remote operation.

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Our previous pet doors were getting destroyed, due to the neighborhood. In addition, the area where we live in is teaming with cats, possums,
and rats. So, a very unique security door is necessary to allow our cat access to our house. With a few pieces from a destroyed pet door,
a PIC32, old robot parts, and access to a shop with excess Plexiglas, I will be constructing the Ultimate Security Pet Door.
The door in which the pet door will be installed is located next to a power outlet and a hole for the Ultimate Security Pet Door is already available. The components of the Ultimate Security Pet Door are as follows:
IR Transmission Pendant:
From a previously purchased pet door, the cat will be wearing this pendant. As the cat wears this pendant, the IR Receiver will pickup and identify this device when the cat walks within the sensor’s range.
IR Receiver:
Using the PIC32 to control the sensor, a specific IR transmission pendant can be correctly sensed and identified.
IR Motion Sensor:
This sensor will be used as a motion detector and will be controlled by the PIC32 micro controller A/D converter. These sensors use voltage levels
to determine distances to objects that pass in front of them.
Web Camera:
An old Game boy camera sensor will be used to record the image of objects that are detected by the IR Motion Sensor. The PIC32 will be used to setup and run this sensor.
Lights:
To be used for both quick status of the system and to provide light for the Web Camera, the PIC32 will provide the appropriate logic to activate
them.
LCD:
This component will be used to display overall status and specific requests.
RS232 Interface:
This port will be used to provide an interface to the PIC32 and can be used for specific types of inputs from a laptop.
MicroSD Flash Drive:
This component will be used to data log all information obtained from the sensors of objects that interact within range of the Ultimate Security Pet door.
Load Sensor:
Our cat is an allusive feline and any information on its health would be helpful. Since the hole in the door creates a corridor of 4 inches between the
front and back door surfaces, load sensors can be mounted under a false floor to determine the animal’s weight. Any trends can be determined by data analysis or by LCD alert.
Motor:
A motor will be controlled by the PIC32 and will be used to open the pet door to allow entry of our beloved cat. This can be changed to a solenoid.
The structure will be constructed out of Plexiglas, due to the fact that I have access to tools that can be used to form Plexiglas into the Ultimate Security Pet Door.