List of Projects Directed by Tristan H. Calasanz
Jun 2000 to Mar 2005

Department of Electronics Communications and Computer Engineering
Ateneo de Manila University

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A. THESIS RESEARCH PROJECTS

  1. 2005: Remote ECG to Save Lives (part 2)
  2. 2001: Remote Cardiac Monitoring and Analysis to "Save Lives" (part 1)
  3. 2005: Wand Converts Ordinary Monitors into Touch-Sensitive Screen
  4. 2004: Refreshable Braille Display
  5. 2004: Active RFID
  6. 2002 to 2004: Voice and/or Manually Operated Hospital Bed
  7. 2003 to 2004: "Go To and Track" Control for Alt-Az Telescope
  8. 2003: Electrical Peak Demand Manager for Starting of Motors
  9. 2003: PC-Based Power Monitor and Manager
  10. 2002: PC-Based Manufacturing Process Controller
  11. 2004: PC-Based Real-Time Exhaust Gas Monitoring for Vehicles
  12. 2003: Three-Phase Sinusoidal Variable Frequency Inverter
  13. 2003: PC-Based Controller and Software for the Management of Hybrid-Electric Vehicles
  14. 2003: Intelligent Battery Charger with "Charge-Level" Manager
  15. 2003: The Hybrid-Electric Vehicle for Slow-Speed, Start-Stop, Low-Gear Traffic Conditions
  16. 2003: Quantified Heavy Rain Forecasting System


B. OTHER PROJECTS THAT I HAVE DIRECTED

  1. - 2000 : www.thcalasanz.com/thcal/scada.html
    2000: "Distributed Control System - DCS"
  2. (Five papers were accepted for public presentation at the 2nd ECE Conference - 2002)
  3. 2001: "Security and Fire Alarm System for SCADA"
  4. 2001: "SCADA - TEMS (Total Environmental Management System - Internet/Wireless)"
  5. 2001: "Computerized Parking Lot"
  6. 2001: "Voice-Enabled Controller for RCs"
  7. 2001: "Faura Map Activated via Touch Screen"
  8. - 2002 : www.thcalasanz.com/thcal/21s_ce150_00.html
    (Ten papers were accepted for public presentation at the 3rd ECE Conference - 2003)
  9. 2002: "Automated House Interconnection Module"
  10. 2002: "Automated House Security and Access (AI House)"
  11. 2002: "Environment Control Through Speech Recognition"
  12. 2002: "Remote Administration of an Automated House through Web and SMS"
  13. 2002: "Status Monitor for an Automated House"
  14. 2002: "Radio Interfacing"
  15. 2002: "Voice Texting"
  16. 2002: "16 Alphanumeric Encoded Key Wearable Keyglove"
  17. 2002: "Remote Video Surveillance using Radio Control"
  18. 2002: "Proximity Sensor"
  19. - 2003 : www.thcalasanz.com/thcal/31s_ce150_00.html
  20. 2003: "Underwater Light Meter"
  21. 2003: "Computerized Parking Lot Monitoring System using ID Barcode"
  22. 2003: "Underwater Probe"
  23. 2003: "Automatic Surveillance Camera using Reference Image Difference"
  24. - 2004 : www.thcalasanz.com/thcal/41s_ce150_00.html
    (Four papers were accepted for public presentation at the 5th ECE Conference - 2004)
  25. 2003: "Smart HVAC (Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning) System"
  26. 2003: "Faura Tour via Touch-Screen"
  27. 2003: "Educational Instru-Kit"
  28. 2003: "Admission Impossible"
  29. 2003: "Robotic Delivery Platform"
  30. 2003: "Rain Gauge"
  31. - 2001 : www.thcalasanz.com/thcal/12s_ps141_class_projects.html
    (Electronics for Sophomore Computer Science Students)
  32. "Light-Controlled Toy Car"
  33. "Touch / Clap Lamp Control"
  34. "Clap : Run / Light"
  35. "Clap-O-Meter"
  36. "Burglar Alarm with Sound Output"
  37. "Burglar Alarm with Computer Monitoring and Control Interface"
  38. "Automated Light Intensity Control with Computer Interface"
  39. - 2002 : www.thcalasanz.com/thcal/22s_ps141_class_projects.html (Electronics for Sophomore Computer Science Students)
  40. "Audio System" - audio-driven dancing lights
  41. "PC-Based Real-Time Human Joints Movements"
  42. - 2003 : www.thcalasanz.com/thcal/32s_ps141_00.html (Electronics for Sophomore Computer Science Students)
  43. http://www.thcalasanz.com/thcal/32s_ps141_marclihan-aprilrey.htm - This site teaches electronics to a 12-year old brother or mom.
  44. - 2004 : www.thcalasanz.com/thcal/42s_ps141_class_projects.html (Electronics for Sophomore Computer Science Students)
  45. "PC-Controlled Panda Goes Toward a Sound Source"
  46. "PC-Controlled Remote Controller Automatically Adjusts Volume of Sound from TV Set"
  47. "PC-Assisted RC with an Anti-Collision System"
    A. THESIS RESEARCH PROJECTS


  • Year 2005: Remote ECG to Save Lives (part 2) - Heart diseases are prevalent in our times. It can happen to anyone at anytime. Notwithstanding the fact that specialized cardiac centers are few and not easily accessible to everyone, the difficulty of immediately addressing vital medical attention for patients with heart diseases is pressing. This remote ECG hopes to enable a cardiac specialist to provide expert attention to a patient in as short a time as possible. This is realized by implementing a 3-lead ECG that uses an instrument amplifier to amplify small electrical signals from the heart by a thousand times. The acquired ECG signal is then digitized and passed on to a Personal Computer that filters, analyzes the signals and stores the waveforms in memory. Lastly, if a life-threatening waveform is detected, an SMS message containing the analysis made is sent to a doctor or a cardiac center, where cardiac specialists are on duty. At the same time, a text file including the ECG data is sent to a web-based database which reconstructs the waveform. The system is flexible enough to be integrated with other medical data acquisition devices, so that the specialists can make a picture of the health status of a patient. It also aims to improve diagnostic systems which will hopefully save more lives.

  • Year 2001: Remote Cardiac Monitoring and Analysis to "Save Lives" - This brings cardiac patients at health centers in remote locations to be no farther than 5 to 10 minutes away from a cardiac specialist at a central location. The system will take the ECG readings of a patient and watches for a combination of waveforms that are "life-threatening". If so, dispense predetermined emergency medicines. Then it immediately sends the waveforms starting several seconds from the life-threatening traces and continue on-line. The cardiac specialist at the central location sends back his diagnosis and prescribes medicines to prevent the further deterioration of the patient's condition. Thereafter, the ordinary routine care would take over.

  • Year 2005: Wand Converts Ordinary Monitors into Touch-Sensitive Screens - Touchware System is a handheld touch screen solution designed for Microsoft Windows. It converts ordinary monitors to behave like "touch-screens". It uses a pointer with a phototransistor to specify the location of the pointer. Touchware System is suited for metric analysis of images. In medicine, doctors could use the system to easily gather the required measurements from x-ray, ultrasonic and other images for the diagnosis. It could also be used for maps and other image measurement applications. The software was written in Microsoft Visual Basic 6.0 and C++.

  • Year 2004: Refreshable Braille Display - Provides the blind with the capability to open, edit, and save text files. The system initially uses solenoids, but it will eventually use much smaller solenoids or piezo-electric matrices. This is "Year 1" of a three-year program. "Year 2" will allow the blind to surf the internet and access vast information found there. "Year 3" will provide support for the blind so that they can undertake leadership functions in the professional world and in their respective communities.

  • Year 2004: Active RFID - Used for locating objects within an enclosed space. Designed for the wireless acquisition of "remote data", the "identification of cargo trucks", and "inventory" that have come within the coverage area of the system. It can be configured to be able to meet the needs of other applications, among which is security.

  • Year 2002 to 2004: Voice and/or Manually Operated Hospital Bed - Designed to ease the human condition of hospitalized patients, and enable them to retain their human dignity. This project starts with a retrofit system for old beds, but its control system can be used to control other forms of actuators.

  • Year 2003 to 2004: "Go To and Track" Control for Alt-Az Telescope - Designed to search the sky for heavenly bodies, record their coordinates in a database, execute a "user go-to" command, and track that heavenly body from then on. When this project was conceived, it was intended for amateur astronomers.

  • Year 2003: Electrical Peak Demand Manager for Starting of Motors - Monitors and controls the starting of electric motors within an area of coverage so that only one motor is allowed to start at any given time, thereby managing the "coincident starting currents".

  • Year 2003: PC-Based Power Monitor and Manager - Acquires voltage and current waveforms and their phase relationships, in order to calculate electrical parameters, as "real power", reactive power, and power factor. Such a system provides the energy manager with the state of the electrical loadings and enables him to formulate strategies.

  • Year 2002: PC-Based Manufacturing Process Controller - Initially acquires data on the characteristics of a system by using the Proportional, Derivative, Integral Control of the system. After it has learned the behavior of the system, it monitors disturbances in process parameters, calculates the error values, and injects the appropriate "metered" (predetermined) error-correcting process intervention.

  • Year 2004: PC-Based Real-Time Exhaust Gas Monitoring for Vehicles - Collects real-time opacity readings of the exhaust gas coming out of an automotive internal combustion engine, and plots the opacity as a function of engine speed. Can be used for qualifying automobiles for road-worthiness and determine the engine's most efficient operation if used in conjunction with a dynamometer.

  • Year 2003: Three-Phase Sinusoidal Variable Frequency Inverter - Converts DC into alternating current and can be used for variable-speed AC drives found in industry and hybrid vehicles. It can also be used in "decentralized energy systems" where the input energy comes from "renewable energy sources" that have inherently wide variations in available power.

  • Year 2003: PC-Based Controller and Software for the Management of Hybrid-Electric Vehicles. It is a general purpose system and accepts any parameter from the outside world and sends optimized control signals for the vehicle's "actuators".

  • Year 2003: Intelligent Battery Charger with "Charge-Level" Manager - It is designed designed as a general purpose controller capable of charging single batteries or multiple batteries connected in series.

  • Year 2003: The Hybrid-Electric Vehicle for Slow-Speed, Start-Stop, Low-Gear Traffic Conditions. Its internal combustion engines runs only at conditions where its efficiency is optimal. The system, algorithm and operating philosophy, are initially built for retrofit and home-built vehicles. However, it can be adopted easily for cars that are to be manufactured in production lines.

  • Year 2003: Quantified Heavy Rain Forecasting System - Retrieves satellite images, processes them, and issues a quantified forecast for precipitation. Forecast includes locations covered, amount of rainfall for each, the time and the duration of such rainfall.


    B. OTHER PROJECTS THAT I HAVE DIRECTED

  • - Year 2000 : www.thcalasanz.com/thcal/scada.html

    Year 2000: "Distributed Control System - DCS" - Implemented a DCS using separate computers interconnected at their serial ports for communication with a "Plant Master", with the plant master able to communicate with a "Remote Master" anywhere in the world via telephone and modem. The DCS controlled the the temperature, lights, door access and security, and monitored each person that enters the room. It applies the respective billing rates to each person and transmits data to the remote master, which plots the cost of operating the room per unit time.

  •   - Year 2001 : www.thcalasanz.com/thcal/11sce_150_00.html
    (Five papers were accepted for public presentation at the 2nd ECE Conference - 2002)

  • Year 2001: "Security and Fire Alarm System for SCADA" - A prototype computer-interfaced security system was developed with detectors for smoke, presence and motion. A personal identification number (PIN) keypad activated lock and dialer were also developed. The whole system is interfaced via parallel port and is controlled by a custom supervisor program.

  • Year 2001: "SCADA - TEMS (Total Environmental Management System - Internet/Wireless)" - Sets the conditions of a room to set up a mood for its occupants. Parameters being manipulated are "which musical piece?", loudness, light brightness, and room temperature. Controlled via SMS (wireless), and via internet.

  • Year 2001: "Computerized Parking Lot" - Reads the barcoded ID of a user for log-in or log-out. Checks if vehicle is authorized, monitors parking slots and senses where the vehicle parked.

  • Year 2001: "Voice-Enabled Controller for RCs" - This project involves two parts. The first is the interfacing of the remote-controlled car to the personal computer. The second one is the analysis and recognition of human voice. To interface the car to the PC, the parallel port is utilized for the said purpose. Switching circuits and opto-isolators were also implemented to make the PC be able to control the car.

  • Year 2001: "Faura Map Activated via Touch Screen" - Very small bare wires were put on the face of a monitor and the row/col touched by the fingers were sensed and the maps stored in a database are displayed.

  • - Year 2002 : www.thcalasanz.com/thcal/21s_ce150_00.html
    (Ten papers were accepted for public presentation at the 3rd ECE Conference - 2003)

  • Year 2002: "Automated House Interconnection Module" - The Automated House project provides a model for a house with components monitored and controlled through a network of computers. The model has five modules. The Access and Security, Environment Control modules are the monitor modules that monitor and control the conditions in the house. The Status Monitor/Control, Remote Administration are the control modules that allow the user to input instructions for the monitor modules. The Interconnection Module manages the communication among modules. The serial ports, which are designed for a "one-to-one" communication, are fitted with homemade hardware and software to convert them into a "one-to-many" / "many-to-one" configuration.

  • Year 2002: "Automated House Security and Access (AI House)" - Features an automatic presence detector implemented using Piezotite Ultrasonic Sensors MA Series, a dual security level door access through speech-recognition and numeric password entry, and an automated power-saving intercom system. All these are controlled through the main console written using Turbo C++ and Matlab. The overall system is designed to time stamp detections, handle different access scenarios of the house members, visitors and intruders, and includes a valid access database to create user-event associations, manual control interface, and is integrated via the enhanced parallel port of the personal computer. The security and access system is designed and developed for the AI House Project, therefore, the module also provides direct link to the central house computer for event updates, warning messages and for control from the main computer of the AI house.

  • Year 2002: "Environment Control Through Speech Recognition" - The environment module controls the intensity of the lights, the temperature of the air conditioner, and the volume and station of the radio, via speech command. Interfacing is made through the parallel port using C++ and speech control is processed through a MatLab program that sends control signals through an outputting function. Main processing is accomplished in MatLab and control signals are sent to the C++ functions using text files. Although speech command takes precedence, the system is also controlled through keyboard (PC) and via cellphone text messages. The lights and air conditioner are controlled by sending signals to an R-2R ladder circuit coupled with appropriate operational amplifier configurations. The light intensity and the temperature in the room are monitored through a light intensity detecting circuit and a temperature sensor connected to ADCs. Depending on the signals detected, a request for parameter change is sent to, processed and sent back by the computer to the requesting I/O. Radio volume is altered by digitally changing the input resistance of an operational amplifier circuit. The radio station is selected either by resetting the station to the start of the FM band or by scanning for the next FM band.

  • Year 2002: "Remote Administration of an Automated House through Web and SMS" - The Automated House provides a controlled and automated home system which consists of five modules - Access and Security, Interconnection, Status and Monitor, Environment Control, and Remote Administration. The Automated House-Remote Administration (AHRA) module interacts with the rest of the system through exchange of status and log files that are exchanged via serial ports. The AHRA automatically replies to requests by remotely located administrator to send the contents of status and log files through SMS. The AHRA prompts the administrator when the automated house encounters emergency interrupts. The software for this mobile interface is coded in Visual C++ and Visual Basic. The administrator can likewise extract information regarding the status of the house through a web and send command to the central automated control by updating the command file on-line. Still images (captured with an interfaced webcam) and command files are regularly uploaded to the site for updates.

  • Year 2002: "Status Monitor for an Automated House" - To fully reap the benefits of an automated house, there is a need for a monitoring system to keep track of the status of each individual device and to control these from one computer. The Status Monitor is a program that provides a view of the house’s current settings and conditions. The information is acquired via a central computer that communicates with all other equipment and this data is translated to graphical and textual representations. The Status Monitor also allows the user to input new settings through the keyboard or through text message (SMS). The text message input is received as a file from a remote administration module that is also connected to the Status Monitor. These inputs are passed to the central computer, to be disseminated to other modules as a command to change their settings. All events received and transmitted by the Status Monitor are recorded in a text file.

  • Year 2002: "Radio Interfacing" - The project aims to create a hardware / software combination that is able to record broadcast coming from an ordinary AM / FM radio into a format playable by the computer (WAV file). The hardware contains circuits capable of filtering the signal gathered from the radio, and converting the signal via Pulse Code Modulation. It also contains a circuit that displays the current status of the system. The software contains a module that writes the header of the WAV file that is needed for a media player to recognize the file. The program creates 2 WAV files per recording, one using the original converted amplitudes, and one using normalized amplitudes. A module handles the visual outputs and serves as an error-checker for the system.

  • Year 2002: "Voice Texting" - This project involves the design and implementation of a voice-texting system that allows the sending of SMS messages by way of voice recognition and computer interfacing, and supports user-notification of incoming messages. This is intended to facilitate the easier transmission of commonly sent messages saved as templates simply through voice identification rather than typing the whole message in the mobile phone’s keypad, which takes more time and energy, and involves greater susceptibility to committing typographical errors.

  • Year 2002: "16 Alphanumeric Encoded Key Wearable Keyglove" - A key glove provides an alternative and portable input device for wearable computing. As research on wearable technology increases, the design of an unobtrusive and portable input device becomes invaluable. This project aims to provide inputs similar to the keys of a keyboard. However, unlike the keyboard, the keys are directly fitted on the glove. Furthermore, the key glove utilizes an interface similar to that of cell phones where several keys are encoded in a single contact. This reduces most of the keys of a 101-key keyboard into 11 contacts only. Thus, this improves the ergonomics of the keyer and makes it easier for the user to learn the configuration. Such a design allows the user to perform multiple tasks and to achieve portability and convenience.

  • Year 2002: "Remote Video Surveillance using Radio Control" - The project aims to build a simple but functional remote surveillance device using available RC appliances. In essence, a wireless camera was mounted on an RC toy tank to serve as a functional remote video surveillance device. The 27 MHz remote control toy tank is responsible for motion on land and a 2.4 GHz wireless camera provides for off-location video. In addition, these two wireless devices were interfaced to a computer so that the movement of the tank and the viewing of the off-location video were handled by a software program. Essentially, the program displays what the camera sees and waits for keys to be pressed that would move the remote device. Effective controlling distance between the operator and the remote device wad increased by accessing the software control program through a LAN connection.

  • Year 2002: "Proximity Sensor" - This project measures distances using 40 kHz transducers and interfacing them to a computer.

  • - Year 2003 : www.thcalasanz.com/thcal/31s_ce150_00.html

  • Year 2003: "Underwater Light Meter" - An underwater light meter is able to measure the intensity of certain wavelengths of light underwater, the wavelengths depending on the LEDs to be used as sensors. For a certain LED, once light is supplied corresponding to the wavelength of the LED, a voltage will be produced across the LED electrodes, the voltage proportional to the intensity of the light sensed or detected. The voltage is calibrated against an LUX calibration curve, so that the reported light intensity at the specified wavelength is fairly accurate.

  • Year 2003: "Computerized Parking Lot Monitoring System using ID Barcode" - The system monitors how many cars are parked in a given parking lot while recording the duration of each automobile's stay as well as information regarding the current owner of the car (ID number, year level, student/faculty status, parking privileges). This is achieved by placing barcode scanners in front of computer controlled barriers at both the entrance and exit of a specific parking lot. The barcode scanner will read the personal ID of the student or faculty driving the vehicle and will crosscheck the scanned ID number against a database of valid users of the said parking lot. If the ID checks out (e.g. the person is a student or faculty member of the Loyola Schools, there are no hold orders against that person, the parking lot in question isn't restricted) then the bar is raised and the car may park within. The same system applies to cars exiting the parking lot.

  • Year 2003: "Underwater Probe" - The probe measures three underwater parameters up to a target maximum depth of 0.5 meter, light intensity, and temperature. A graphical interface is provided which the user may operate to observe and log the measurements in real time. The module is provided with a sensor that monitors the integrity of the water-proof seals.

  • Year 2003: "Automatic Surveillance Camera using Reference Image Difference" - This project is able to make a prototype security device that compares successive images taken by a web cam, in order to track an intruder. Horizontal and vertical stepper motors are interfaced with a desktop computer to control the position of the web cam. If motion is detected, it zooms to the area in the room where the sound or motion was detected. If the object continues to move, the camera follows. The images as well as the times of detection are recorded.

  • - Year 2004 : www.thcalasanz.com/thcal/41s_ce150_00.html
    (Four papers were accepted for public presentation at the 5th ECE Conference - 2004)

  • Year 2003: "Smart HVAC (Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning) System" - The project designed and implemented an HVAC (Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning) system that can be automatically controlled by external sensors. The whole project is based on the dynamics of comfort cooling, in which temperature, humidity, and airflow are all considered. "Dry" bulb and "Wet" bulb temperatures were detected to situate the air properties within a "psychrometric chart". Air flow was detected using flashlight bulb filaments. The window-type aircon was controlled using solid-state relays.

  • Year 2003: "Faura Tour via Touch-Screen" - This project provides a virtual tour of the offices and classrooms located at third floor of Faura building. A display monitor is provided with two laser beams (rows and columns) that are reflected by mirrors. Pointing one's finger on a menu interrupts these beams and decoded by the computer. Thereafter, a flash program runs video files that are stored in the computer's database.

  • Year 2003: "Educational Instru-Kit" - This is a PC-based general-purpose training kit for electronics and computer students. It measures voltages, currents, and resistances. The system receives signals from the computer to measure these parameters and display the results on the PC.

  • Year 2003: "Admission Impossible" - The system monitors sound, change in temperature, and laser beams projected in the room. A disturbance beyond certain bands will be interpreted as caused by unauthorized access.

  • Year 2003: "Robotic Delivery Platform" -

  • Year 2003: "Rain Gauge" -

  • - Year 2001 : www.thcalasanz.com/thcal/12s_ps141_class_projects.html
    (Electronics for Sophomore Computer Science Students)

  • "Light-Controlled Toy Car"

  • "Touch / Clap Lamp Control"

  • "Clap : Run / Light"

  • "Clap-O-Meter"

  • "Burglar Alarm with Sound Output"

  • "Burglar Alarm with Computer Monitoring and Control Interface"

  • "Automated Light Intensity Control with Computer Interface"

  • - Year 2002 : www.thcalasanz.com/thcal/22s_ps141_class_projects.html
    (Electronics for Sophomore Computer Science Students)

  • "Audio System" - audio-driven dancing lights

  • "PC-Based Real-Time Human Joints Movements" - A position sensor is attached to the elbow and linked to a PC. The position is displayed through a GUI. One position will turn on a lamp, and another will turn it off. Position within a sector will control the brightness of the lamp.

  • - Year 2003 : www.thcalasanz.com/thcal/32s_ps141_00.html
    (Electronics for Sophomore Computer Science Students)

  • - This site teaches electronics to a 12-year old brother or mom.

  • - Year 2004 : www.thcalasanz.com/thcal/42s_ps141_class_projects.html
    (Electronics for Sophomore Computer Science Students)

  • "PC-Controlled Panda Goes Toward a Sound Source" - The Panda is provided with two microphones that picks up sound, which is processed and acquired by a PC. The PC compares the volume of the sounds coming from the microphones and directs the appropriate stepper motor to turn faster to accomplish the steering action.

  • "PC-Controlled Remote Controller Automatically Adjusts Volume of Sound from TV Set" - A microphone picks up sound from the speakers of a TV set. This is digitized and is compared by the PC to a "set-point". The system automatically controls the sound output of the TV via a remote controller, so that it is neither too loud nor too low.

  • "PC-Assisted RC with an Anti-Collision System" - A PC operates the remote controller to implement keyboard commands: forward OR reverse; right OR left. The car is provided with collision sensors and a light sensor that are acquired by the PC through an umbilical cord. The PC directs the motion of the car depending upon which collision sensor is triggered. The PC stops the car when the light sensor sees dim lighting conditions.