Three Project Ideas for the ECE411 Practicum Project

This page is for listing three ideas for our ECE411 Practicum Project, one of which we'll pick to develop.

Idea 1: Physical Disk Player

Description: The Physical Disk Player (PDP) is a device that plays a disk whose data has been physically by the user. First the user must have a physical disk (created by us) that can have its bits altered by hand (think Lego). Then they must insert the disk into the device, which will decode the disk and play music/tones based off the given data.

Controller: ATmega32

Sensors: Photodiodes and IR LEDs for capturing data. Switches/knobs for controlling power, speed, and volume.

Actuators: A motor to spin the disk and a speaker to play the audio.

Idea 2: Soldering Pen

Description: The soldering pen uses an active tip with an attached thermocouple sensor. This is connected to a controller which supplies or restricts current to keep the temperature at a set level. Temperature controls are handled through a small LCD screen and two push buttons. Power would be supplied by a wall wart in the first iteration, with the possibility of switching to battery power in future iterations.

Controller: Atmega32

Sensors: Thermocouple sensor, push-buttons

Actuators: Transistor to control heating

Idea 3: RFID Door Lock

Description: The RFID Door Lock is a security system that will allow individuals to unlock a door using a specific identification Code. Each user will be given a specific RFID ID and using the controller we will program it to only accept the specific ID's. If the correct ID is used the controller will send a signal to unlock the solenoid lock. If the wrong ID is used an alarm will be set off.

Controller: ATmega32

Sensors: RFID Reader, RFID Tag

Actuators: Solenoid Lock