A Multifunctional Measurement Unit with the Internet Access

2020 COE Engineering Design Project (VG04)

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Faculty Lab Coordinator

Vadim Geurkov

Topic Category

Embedded Systems

Preamble

The unit constitutes a universal device that can work in multiple modes of operation, such as Digital Multimeter, LCR Meter, Oscilloscope or Logic Analyzer. The unit consists of two parts: a measurement part (that includes an A-to-D converter and a microcontroller) and a PC-based computing part. The measurement part converts analog parameters being measured into a digital form and performs initial processing of the data. The processed data is then fed to the PC-based part which performs final processing and displays the required information using GUI (in a form of tables, plots etc). The unit has self-testing capability and can display all of the data on the local screen. The data can be monitored through the Internet. As well, the unit can be remotely controlled through the Internet. The measurement unit is a Bluetooth low energy (BLE) enabled IoT Wireless device, featuring automatic Bluetooth pairing using near field communication (NFC) protocol.

Objective

(a) Design and implementation of a hardware system that will measure AC voltage and object impedance (RLC); (b) Develop a link to a PC; (c) Design and implementation of a graphical user interface that will allow displaying data as well as monitoring the instrument via the Internet; (d) Design of a local display software; (e) Design of self-testing HW/SW solution; (f) designing of a Bluetooth Low Energy feature; (g) Designing a near field communication system

Partial Specifications

- Use a dual-slope (or any other) A-to-D converter to perform measurements
- Apply Visual Basic, Tcl/Tk or Java for GUI and application software development
- Use a BLE device available from TI
- Implement NFC protocol using TI wireless chips
- Use self-testing principles for digital and mixed-signal systems
- Control processor: ARM Cortex M3, TI ARM controllers, Altera, Xilinx or Actel programmable logic devices

Suggested Approach

- Conduct literature survey on voltmeters, LCR-meters, oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and self-testing methods
- Develop detailed specifications and hardware / software strategies
- Design and implement the GUI
- Design and implement BLE and NFC features
- Built and test the prototype system

Group Responsibilities

Research of the literature, development of the technical specifications of the system, design, implementation and testing of the system with the above objectives, preparing the thesis.

Student A Responsibilities

Design of the hardware part of the system, design of the primary processing part.

Student B Responsibilities

Design of the software part of the system, design of the secondary processing part (for Person Computer or mobile device) and the Internet software part.

Student C Responsibilities

Design hardware and software for the Internet, project management.

Student D Responsibilities

Investigate and design IoT, BLE and NFC systems and devices, project management.

Course Co-requisites

COE-328, COE-538

To ALL EDP Students

Due to COVID-19 pandemic, in the event University is not open for in-class/in-lab activities during the Winter term, your EDP topic specifications, requirements, implementations, and assessment methods will be adjusted by your FLCs at their discretion.