Spring 2008
Senior Design Group List
($ = Denotes Groups that Won a $500 Award)



Project NameTeam Name
1 Sonar/Ultrasonic gPS BS
2 Intelligent HVAC System Buckyball
3 2.4 GHz Wireless Headphones D&M
4 Professional Microphone Pre-Amp Doc-Chai's Audio
5 Equine Dental Camera From the Horse's Mouth
6 Plant Sitter H20 Inc.
7 Peek-a-Boo ICU
8 Buddii 2.0 Mechanos Labs
9 Beat Box Sensei Mic Jones
10 CEEGALS MindView
11 PAMELA: (Pulse) PULSERS
12 Beyond Tracking Renaissance Men
13 LiveDrive Display Road Rage
14 Human Powered Submarine Control Swamp Thing
15 Electric Super Bike The Best Team in the World
16 Auto Rev Matcher The Cowboys Lost Again
17 Self-Tuning Guitar The Toms



Sonar/Ultrasonic gPS
BS
1
Bret J Lauer
egpres@ufl.edu
Steven Medina
sxm457@ufl.edu

Abstract Brief:

We are going to use a combination of RF and ultrasonic transceivers to design and build a system capable of locating the position of a mobile receiver inside an enclosed room. The system will consist of remote beacons mounted throughout the room and the actual receiver, which could be part of a robot, or utilized in some other fashion. The receiver will use an RF transmitter to request an ultrasonic tone from each of the beacons. The receiver will then measure the time delay from the transmission of the initial RF signal to the reception of the sonar pings. These time delays for each of the remote beacons will be sent to the microprocessor, and the microprocessor will then calculate the receiver¡¯s position relative to each of the remote beacons. When the system is set up, it will be calibrated with the location of the remote beacons so that the position relative to the beacons calculated from the time delays can be presented as an actual location within the room.

Documents:



Intelligent HVAC System
Buckyball
2
Robert Gravois
gravord@ufl.edu
Greg Slovin
greg914@ufl.edu

Abstract Brief:

The Intelligent HVAC System will control Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) of aresidence. The project will consist of two modules that can be easily added to a home’s existing HVAC system. The Central Thermostat Unit (CTU) will control the general heat, air conditioning, and fan levels of the residence and communicate wirelessly to one or more Individual Room Controllers (IRC). Userscan set their desired room temperatures with a simple user interface, and the Individual RoomControllers will adjust vent openings to meet the users’ comfort levels. The project will be demonstrated by simulating temperature conditions (with compressed air and a hair dryer). LEDs will be used to display the CTU’s operation and the IRC will control standard-sized vents.


Documents:



2.4GHz Wireless Headphones
D&M
3
Don Burnette
donb@phys.ufl.edu

Abstract Brief:

The project will serve as a wireless audio communication device that can be used with any standard stereo 1/8” audio player such as a computer or iPod, as well as any TV/VCR/DVD player. The analog signals from a TV/VCR/DVD audio out or headphone jack will be filter the signal using an analog filter, and then sample the signal with an A/D. The A/D will send the signal to an Atmega2560, which will communicate to a wireless transmitter, which will send the data out via 2.4Ghz. The receiver will receive the 2.4Ghz signal, send the digital signal to another atmega2560 on the receiving side. The data will be then sent out a D/A, it will be amplified and connected to a headphone jack. The TV audio signal should be audible in real time from anywhere in the room.


Documents:



Professional Microphone Pre-Amp
Doc-Chai's Audio
4

Joe Chaildin
joechild@ufl.edu

Chris Dougherty
chrisdoc@ufl.edu

Abstract Brief:

Our project will be the design of a low-noise microphone pre-amplifier for use with professional studio microphones from companies such as Neumann, Gefell, Shure, etc. This unit would provide the essential functions of a single channel strip from the modern mixing console. Specifically, the pre-amp will provide greater than 40dB gain over the audible frequency range of 35-20kHz within 3dB, phase inversion switch, switchable 48V phantom power for studio condenser mics, balanced inputs and outputs, transformer coupling, discrete input stage, and high signal-to-noise ratio and headroom. To aid in the design goals, a custom linear power supply will be constructed as well.




Equine Dental Camera
From the Horse's Mouth
5
Joshua Rogers
fatman31@ufl.edu
Gene Shokes
gshokes@ufl.edu

Abstract Brief:

Equine Dentistry is normally provided in a rustic setting such as a stable or barn where horses are lightly tranquilized and restrained in the standing position as dental work is provide. Restraints do not impede the over excited horse from flailing and causing damage in the immediate area. The possible violent reaction of the horse coupled with the rustic features of location prevents the Veterinarian Technician from placing expensive computer and electronic equipment in close proximity to the horse. However, there is an ever growing need to document, by digital photography, the dental disposition before and after service. Thus, this project consists of building an equine dental camera in the likeness of a gun with a mirror mounted to the top of the body and a camera on the end for inspecting the horse¡¯s teeth. Non native lighting will be provided by microprocessor driven pulse wave modulated LED¡¯s varied in intensity by user input into the microprocessor. The images from the camera will be displayed on a color LCD screen mounted on the back of the gun and will also be wirelessly transmitted to a distant laptop via RF transmitters. There will be streaming video, as well as an option to capture screen shots.



Plant Sitter
H20 Inc.
6
Christian Davis
cdavi010@ufl.edu
Adam Wright
bluesforsalvador@gmail.com

Abstract Brief:
Plant Sitter is an automatic multiple plant watering system. Each plant to be watered is fitted with a remote device equipped with a water reservoir and pump that will wirelessly receive commands from a central hub. The central hub will keep time and send watering commands at user programmed time intervals for each plant. The user is capable of programming different watering times for each plant as well as monitor the water level in each reservoir with the use of a water level sensor in each pump. This will all be done through a user interface consisting of a keypad and LCD screen. The central hub will utilize a timer to maintain a system clock which a microprocessor will use to transmit the programmed watering commands and water level inquiries as well as receive the level status and confirmations of received commands. Each remote watering device will also contain a microprocessor with a wireless transceiver that will send and receive information to and from the water level sensors and pumps.





Peek-a-Boo
ICU
7
Santiago Gutierrez
kaine@ufl.edu
John Kurien
jkurien@ufl.edu

Abstract Brief:

The project consists of a remotely controlled probe (manifested as an off the shelf RC toy car). It will have a mounted camera to record where it has driven. We will implement a remote controller using a glove on the user's hand. Motions with the hand (and the hand alone) will control where the car drives. An accelerometer and flex resistors on the glove will record hand movements and transfer them to a microcontroller on the glove. They will then be transmitted to the car. The car will have another microcontroller on it to take the information and control the car.





Buddii 2.0
Mechanos Labs
8
Derek Otemat
dotermat@ufl.edu
Jason Taylor
jason342@ufl.edu

Abstract Brief:
Buddii is an autonomous parental assistant and security device. Buddii will have the capability to provide live video and audio feed to a remote location. Buddii will have obstacle avoidance capabilities as well as the ability to stay in the vicinity of a child. It will be able to display the temperature, the lighting conditions in whichever room it is in and whether there is a fire or not. When Buddii is switched to security mode, it will have the ability to detect intrusion.





Beat Box Sensei
Mic Jones
9
Mark Villena
meccaxpn@ufl.edu
Renee T Pringle
reneepringle@gmail.com

Abstract Brief:

The project is inspired by an art called "beatboxing." Beatboxing is the idea of mimicking drum sounds with the human mouth. This project uses two particular sounds, "boom" and "shhh," to send MIDI signals to computer software and outputs actual drum sounds. Beat Box Sensei (BBS) has many purposes such as the potential to serve disabled people who want to play drums and for musicians who are looking for different ways to express themselves. BBS is a MIDI controller.





CEEGALS
MindView
10
Danny Schoonover
BMIGuy@cnel.ufl.edu
Jose Perez
josejose@ufl.edu

Abstract Brief:

Electroencephalography (EEG) is the acquisiPon and recording of brain signals from the scalp by means of electrodes placed on the head. Many curious electronics hobbyists have shown keen interest in EEG, although the steep cost of these apparatus usually places a barrier from exploiPng their interest. The goal of our project is to build a CogniPve Electroencephalography AcquisiPon Laboratory System (CEEGALS) providing the end©\users an affordable way to view and analyze their brainwaves. CEEGALS will allow the user to view these waveforms on a handheld LCD. The user will benefit from a beauPful separaPon of acquisiPon hardware and feedback hardware, since CEEGALS features wireless data transmission from the electrodes board to the display board.




PAMELA: (Pulse)
PULSERS
11
Mark Oden
cerberus.rock@gmail.com
Carlos Torres
enderzztop@yahoo.com

Abstract Brief:

The goal of our project is to measure three nearby heartbeats on the same test subject and be able to continuously chart/analyze the differences in amplitude among the heart beats. The continuous heart rate will be determined and displayed as well. With this data, numerous other plots can be displayed (trajectory, change in heart rate over time, etc.). This design is for a specific application. Its main function is to investigate how the differences in amplitudes of the three heart beats relate to the health condition of the test subject. A potential case study would be to collect data on a physically fit, healthy subject with no known organ deficiencies and to collect data on an unhealthy subject with known organ deficiencies. A general application of this product is to analyze one¡¯s heart rate and interpret the data accordingly. Existing products do not satisfy the needs of our specific application. Some current products on the market include hospital heart monitors which implement IR sensors, wrist watch BPM (beats per minute) monitors, etc.




Beyond Tracking
Renaissance Men
12
Ashley Trowell
ajtrowell@gmail.com
Raul Chinga
ralandrex@gmail.com

Abstract Brief:

The Beyond Tracking system is a long range wireless RF network for distributing GPS location data, real-time bus seating availability, and other real-time information useful to both city transportation services and their patrons. Goals for this semester are oriented towards delivering a reliable product with a marketable image.





LiveDrive Display
Road Rage
13
Hussam Okasha
rokashah@ufl.edu
Kenneth Hunter
kwhunter@ufl.edu

Abstract Brief:

This project will result in a system through which the driver of a vehicle can display a desired message to the driver of another vehicle. The message will be input using a keyboard that is easily accessible to the driver, and then displayed locally on a small LCD screen where the user can check the message for accuracy. The message will then be transmitted wirelessly to a second module located either in the front or rear of the vehicle. This second module will decode the message and display it on an LED-based display that is visible and legible to the driver of another vehicle. Technical challenges include interfacing the input device with the local processor, transmitting the data wirelessly, and then creating a custom display that will be visible to another driver at short range in nearly all weather conditions.




Human Powered Submarine Control
Swamp Thing
14
Charlie Shupard
shupardc@ufl.edu




Electric Super Bike
The Best Team in the World
15
Matt Fisher
madfish@ufl.edu
Brandon Swope
bswope@ufl.edu
Richard Orr
gautama@ufl.edu

Abstract Brief:

Our project will consist of a central data display/controller run by a microprocessor mounted on an electric bicycle. The device will monitor the battery charge level as well as the speed and distance traveled. These values will then be displayed on an LCD attached between the handlebars to provide the rider with easy access to the information. The bicycle will also feature a feedback system that provides a rider-selectable level of motor assist.




Auto Rev Matcher
The Cowboys Lost Again
16
Brad Atherton
masscles@ufl.edu
Monique Mennis
moniki@ufl.edu

Abstract Brief:

Our device will minimize the frequency differential between the engine and transmission of a manual automobile for increased longevity of the clutch plate. In human terms our device can be seen as an automated RPM matcher. Technical challenges may entail finding an appropriate sampling rate for the inputs of our microprocessor, and correctly calibrating the appropriate RPM value for each gear from a series of tests. We expect our product to be a valuable asset in the car performance industry.





Self-Tuning Guitar
The Toms
17
Thomas Johnsen
colttom@ufl.edu
Thomas Negley
tombo438@ufl.edu

Abstract Brief:

Our project consists of an electric guitar equipped with the ability to detect the frequency at which an individual string is vibrating and adjusting the tension on the string until it vibrates at a predetermined desired frequency. The string frequency will be captured using the guitars standard output jack, and then a microcontroller attached to the back of the guitar will interpret the frequency and send commands to a collection of motors (most likely stepper motors) on the head in order to adjust the string that is playing. The units controls will consist of a six-position switch used to select the string and a set of LEDs that indicate the tuning status. We ultimately intend to power the unit from an attached rechargeable battery.