I have worked on a few projects from proximity sensors to speech recognition engines along with Arvind and a couple of other friends (Arjun, Vinay, Sriram, Dheeraj, Aanjhan, Arun..). Most of the projects were built for various competitions held at IITs, RECs and our own Anna University. For a brief period of time - I was also associated with the technical wing of a Non Governmental Organisation called PeopleFirst. I was helping in developing solutions for the physically challenged.

I have also worked with Arvind on a couple of papers during our college days. The Titles are listed below

Papers:

• Fiber Optic Communication
• Space Physics
• Bluetooth Technology
• Distributed Computing
• Embedded Systems - basics
• Microprocessor and Micrcontroller - compartive study
• Control Systems - Digital Implementation Techniques
• Design and implementation of an indigenous autonomous networked robot - critical issues
• Object Recognition Techniques for Autonomous Robots - Machine Vision
• Network enabling an autonomous robot - embedded systems implementation
• Design and implementation of Wireless Sensor Networks

Have added a document containing links to datasheets of the various components that we had used...

Below are the projects that I have worked on after joining college. For now I have just given the title of the project and a brief description. Later on some day - I will add all relevant schematics. Have added my final year project also :) Guess that will be my last project while I am still a student :(

	Speech Processing - Using SAPI, NLP - for command recognition and external equipment control Was capable of controlling Winamp, General Windows Application - was later even used to control a Robotic Vehicle that we constructed.
	Embedded Ethernet and TCP/IP - embedded web server - as a frontend for equipment control Am still working on it - planning to implement using a Atmel AVR. Will run a Web Server and SMTP protocols. Will be used a frontend for controlling equipment through the web. Uses Ethernet to connect to a network
	Low End image recognition - Machine Vision - using webcam Was used to guide a small robotic vehicle to seek a ball. Uses human modeling to find balls beyong field of vision. Used a logitech webcam to acquire images.
	Remote temperature monitoring systems Used for measuring the temperature and transmitting the data to a computer using a serial link. The computer program monitors the temperatures and plot thermal graphs for predefined time periods. The system is capable of completely autonomous operation using the onboard microcontroller.
	PC based Spectrum Analysers Used FFTs to compute the spectrum of the signal. Signal acquired through sound card. Was capable of Audio Range analysis.
	Path Planning algorithms for Robotic vehicles This is actually a part of the robotics projects that we were working on. The algorithm is used to compute the shortest for mobile robotic vehicle. The path is then transmitted to the robot which navigates according to the path. The path planning algorithm runs on the x86 platform.
	Design and implementation of an indigenous autonomous networked robot - critical issues This was our main project for our third year. We built two robotic vehicles - one with a wired interface, the other was wireless. Multiple Interfaces were written to control these vehicles. They could be controlled using Standard Computer Joystick Any standard TV Remote Controls Speech Custom DTMF based remote controls Mnemonics based Language Schedulers Computer interface Web server interface (yet to be implemented) The vehicle featured tank like steering system which enabled it to turn on the spot. The network interface will allow it to literally plug in to a local lan network. We are also working on developing a reliable RF link to it. Application will include Sensor Networks Search and Rescue (Locate) Industrial Platform Mapping, etc
	Firefighting Robot Fourth and my final year in college is equally exciting as the third year - would say much more exciting. Worked on the design of firefighting robot - basically a variant of the autonomous robot mentioned above. This one is capable (???) of autonmously detecting a fire and putting it off. Our first project using the new AVR micrcontroller. We had shifted to this architecture as we had a programmer and it is very C friendly.
	Microrobot Maze Contest 2004 - Nagoya Science Museum, Japan Though less technically challenging, this was a very very exciting project to work on :-) We had the oppurtunity to participate in the Annual Microrobot Maze Contest. We finished fourth overall and also won the best design documentation award.
	ASP based online quizzing engine Though not exactly an engineering project - this was a very challenging experience. I had to build a quizzing engine capable of handling multiple databases from which questions were to be sourced and displayed on a dynamically generated web page. I had used IIS 6.0 web server and the coding was done in ASP.
	Anna University - Sound Seeking Robot This was our final project in UG level - infact my last competition :( I really hope I get to work in some other project before I join Infy. Anyway - the sound seeking robot was built using the same base as the fire fighting robot. We used the AVR ATMega8535 as the core processor. It used the onboard ADC to measure the magnitude of the sound levels and then move towards the source. Bluetooth and Speech Enabled Poochi :) We are still building on it. It was really fun - I wrote my first application for my Pocket PC (IPAQ 4150). Wrote a Program to control The Poochi using Bluetooth of the Pocket PC. Actually the BT link was between the PC and the IPAQ. The PC will control The Poochi using RF. We even voice enabled it :) This was also for the same competition at Anna University. Pity I will not be involved in another competition for quite some time.
The Web server connected to a hub The Energy Meter - the 22VAC switch board next to it acts as the load	Final Year Project - Network Gateway for Distributed Sensor Networks THE last project for now :( and it is not even for a competition. Anyway - I tested out a number of products (technologies). The model would consist of a Class 1 Energy Meter. The Energy Meter interfaces with a webserver (running from ATMega32 microcontroller) through Power Line Modem or RF. The web server's physical layer is provided by Packet Whacker (RTL8019 ethernet chipset). The webserver will give all meter readings through a web site. In the end, because the damn RF and Power Line modems did not work, we used a BT link between the webserver and the power meter. Anyway it was really exciting to work with numerous technologies (Power Line Communication, RF, Bluetooth, Power Measurement (220VAC!!), Ethernet Networks, etc.)
	Vision - Engineering Solutions for the Visually Challenged Well one more "THE last project for now" :) I worked with Arjun.V.S of SSNCE - IT and two of juniors - Mayur and Karthick. I was mostly resposible for the development of the hardware component of the project. The project included four modules - one was to allow the blind to navigate through a new environment using a combination RF ID, bluetooth and relay electronics. The second module was an ultrasonic range finder with voice feedback. The third was an e-learning system in client server model. The fourth was a key skin with Braille etchings on it. We presented this at CSIDC 2005 in Washington DC

The ones listed below are science exhibits done during my school days

I know most of them are science projects (bit childish to list them) - I just wanted to make a complete list of all the projects that I have worked since my school days :D - most of them were for display in school exhibitions

II Std - Coin Collection

It was not exactly a science project - anyway it was just to explain the currency system from the olden days to the modern one

III Std - Electrical SeeSaw

would swing by itself - had a fast fan on one side and two like pole facing magnets on the other - was to explain the effects of Newton's law and magnetic fields.

IV Std - Volcanoes

This was a fun experiment to work on ;-) - made a volcano with pot and clay - used vinegar and baking powder to show volcanic eruption :d was really fun

V Std - Hovercraft

Used a pressurised cylinder to pump air on to a Small hover craft model - slides over a glass surface

VI Std - Electroplating & Elctric Writing

Everybody does this at some point or another - did copper plating and used indicators (phenolphtalien - I think) for the electric writing

VII Std - Remote Control and Music Generator

Did this with my friend Arvind - actually I didnt know much in electronics then (and now)

VIII Std - Digital Clock

LED based Digital Clock with Alarm settings

IX Std - Digital Counters

Used a decade counter IC actually which was triggered whenever the beam falling on the LDR section was blocked

IX Std - Multiplexers

With Arvind - Digital 7 Segment Display Multiplexer

X Std - Wireless Transmission

MW,FM Transmission

X Std - Thermostat

A thermistor based Thermostat which will drive a relay - can control a 220v appliance

XI Std - Cybernetics

It was to show different types of sensors, control systems, digital signal transmission within a system, etc.

XI Std - Wireless Voice Transmission

It was a PLL based system using Infra Red as the transmission medium. Need Line of Sight. Gave pretty decent results.

XII Std - Robotics

An introductory project on Robotics - implementation, technology, controlling techniques

 

 

Incase some one is working on a similar project do mail me

 

Ashwin