An external control unit implemented for stimulator ASIC testing

This paper presents the design and development of an external control unit (ECU) for a stimulator ASIC testing purposes. The ECU consists of a graphical user interface (GUI) from the PC, a data transceiver and a power transmitter. The GUI was developed using MATLAB for stimulation data setup. The data transceiver was designed using hardware description language (HDL) Verilog code and was implemented in a Virtex-II Pro FPGA board. The overall stimulator ASIC design architecture and its operation for an epiretinal implant application are briefly explained to correlate with the ECU’s design requirements. The flexible multichannel stimulator ASIC was successfully fabricated in a 0.35μm AMS HVCMOS technology. Conducted simulation and measurement results on stimulation waveform generation, supply voltage compliance and external control of supply voltage adaptation validate the functionality of the designed ECU and the stimulator ASIC.Keywords: external control unit; data transceiver; stimulator ASIC; retinal prosthesis; epiretinal implant; stimulation waveform; Manchester data; voltage compliance

Spatial assessment on ambient air quality status: a case study in Klang, Selangor

Klang as the center of economic and industrial zone in Malaysia has been exposed to poor air quality condition over the years. This study was conducted to evaluate the spatial variation pattern of air quality status in Klang, Selangor by using a four years (2010-2013) secondary database from the Malaysian Department of Environment (DOE). The finding shows that carbon monoxide (CO) had a strong correlation with nitrogen dioxide (NO2) (r = 0.76, p < 0.001), while Air Pollutant Index (API) had moderate correlation with particulate matter (PM10) (r = 0.64, p < 0.001). Principal Component Analysis (PCA) indicates that the most significant air pollutants were NO2, CO and PM10. Statistical Process Control (SPC) reveals that several PM10 data beyond the limitations of SPC and the national guidelines. This study shows that active collaboration among all relevant environmental departments and agencies should be implemented for the effective management of air quality.Keywords: air quality; correlation; principal component analysis; statistical process control

Multilevel inverter switching controller using a field programmable gate array (FPGA)

This paper presents the design and development of a switching controller using a field programmable gate array (FPGA)for a multilevel inverter application. SHE with PSO switching strategy was chosen and pre-calculated offline to obtain optimized switching angles for the power switches in the 5-level transistor-clamped H-bridge (TCHB) multilevel inverter. The designed switching controller produced 5-bit control signals, which connected to the power switches of the 5-level TCHB multilevel inverter. The switching controller utilized less than 1% of the total FPGA logic elements (LEs), which was equivalent to 96 out of 114,480 LEs. The execution speed of the switching controller using the FPGA chip was found to be 99.9% faster than microcontroller (PIC16F877A). Conducted simulation and measurement results verified and validated the switching controller design functionality and requirement.Keywords: multilevel inverter, switching controller; FPGA, general purpose processor(GPP);digital signal processing (DSP); IGBT; Verilog, power consumption;harmonic elimination (SHE).

The implementation frameworks of meta-heuristics hybridization with dynamic parameterization

The hybridization of meta-heuristics algorithms has achieved a remarkable improvement fromthe adaptation of dynamic parameterization. This paper proposes a variety of implementationframeworks for the hybridization of Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) and GeneticAlgorithm (GA) and the dynamic parameterization. In this paper, taxonomy of the PSO-GAwith dynamic parameterization is presented to provide a common terminology andclassification mechanisms. Based on the taxonomy, thirty implementation frameworks arepossible to be adapted. Furthermore, different algorithms that used the implementationframeworks with sequential scheme and dynamic parameterizations approaches are tested insolving a facility layout problem. The results present the effectiveness of each tested algorithm in comparison to the single PSO and constant parameterization.Keywords: hybridization; PSO; GA; implementation frameworks; dynamic parameterization

New flood risk index in tropical area generated by using SPC technique

This study applied four hydrology parameters. The findings from Principal ComponentAnalysis confirmed that all selected parameters were significant to be taken as main tools forfurther analysis with result of R2> 0.7. SPC set up a new control limit for all selectedparameters in the study area. For those data within or beyond the Upper Control Limit value, itwas being considered as high risk for flood occurrence. New flood risk index within rangefrom 0-100 was calculated using a combination of new algebraic equation and control limitvalues obtained from SPC analysis as variable. The accuracy of FRI was tested using ANN.The result showed the accuracy of FRI was more than 90%. It can be stipulated that thecombination of chemometric techniques and SPC can produce a new standard FRI which iscost effective, accurate and flexible to be applied for the purpose of flood risk control intropical area.Keywords: flood risk index; statistical process control; chemometric technique; tropical area;control limit; prediction performance

Experimental Investigation Of Different Rules Size Of Fuzzy Logic Controller For Vector Control Of Induction Motor Drives

There is lack of performance comparison investigation between 49,25 and 9 rules size speed controller of Induction Motor (IM) drives of the rules size toward the motor performance. Furthermore, no study was conducted based on the computation burden time affects by the rules experimentally fuzzy rules sizes in terms of performance based on simulations and experimental analysis as well as the execution time.MATLAB/SIMULINK and dSPACE DSl104 controller platform are used for the analysis. Variation in performance with the shape and number of membership functions.Based on the experimental results,it can be concluded that,higher number of rules increase the Computational Time (CT), hence bigger sampling time is required which will There is lack of performance comparison investigation between 49,25 and 9 rules size speed controller of Induction Motor (IM) drives.Thus,it is difficult to understand the effect of the rules size toward the motor performance.Furthermore, o study was conducted based on the computation burden time affects by the rules experimentally.This paper compares the fuzzy rules sizes in terms of performance based on simulations and experimental analysis as well as the execution time. MATLAB/SIMULINK and dSPACE DSl104 controller platform are used for the analysis.Variation in performance with different rule size may occur due to the shape and number of membership functions.Based on the experimental results,it can be concluded that,higher number of rules increase the Computational Time (CT),hence bigger sampling time is required which will affect the performance.There is lack of performance comparison investigation between 49,25 and 9 rules sizefor the. Thus, it is difficult to understand the effect of the rules size toward the motor performance.Furthermore,no study was conducted based.This paper compares the fuzzy rules sizes in terms of performance based on simulations and experimental analysis as well as the execution time. MATLAB/SIMULINK and dSPACE DSl104 controller platform different rule size may occur due to the shape and number of membership functions.Based on the experimental results, it can be concluded that, higher number of rules increase the Computational Time (CT),hence bigger computational time (CT)

An Improved Of Dual Single Input Fuzzy Logic Controller For Underwater Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) – Depth Control

This paper presents an improvement of Dual Single Input Fuzzy Logic Controller (DSIFLC) of an underwater Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) system for depth control. Proportional Integral Derivative (PID) controller are used as the basic controller and compared with the SIFLC controller.The technique used is the conventional Fuzzy Logic Controller simplified to Single Input Fuzzy Logic Controller (SIFLC) by using signed distance method.The SIFLC were upgraded to DSIFLC by using double feedback of disturbance.The controller was upgraded until the system response shows the satisfied result in terms of rise time and percentage of overshoot.This method was verified and validated in MATLAB/Simulink platform.The result shows it was found the proposed method have better performances analysis of the system response which is faster rise time and lower percentage of overshoot

Sposol: 5 In 1 Smart Portable Solar Light

Smart Portable Solar Light is a project based on a circuit obtained through the internet connection.A few modifications have been done to the original circuit; original circuit uses eight LEDs while this project only uses one main LED.The main source of this system is harvest form the sun.The sun’s radiation is converted to electrical energy that is supplied to a battery,which acts as a power storage for the system.Another set of batteries is used as the structure of the lamp is design to be portable

Assessment on pattern of urban air quality by using chemometric technique:a case study in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

The study evaluate the relationship between the main daily concentrations of criteria air pollutants in urban areas and their associations by using chemometric technique. Data were gathered from the Department of Environmental for three years observations (2011-2013) consisting of 5 major pollutants such as SO2, NO2, O3,CO and PM10 and meteorological parameters such as wind direction, wind speed, temperature and humidity were used. Chemometric technique such asPCA and SPC were used in this study. It can be cocluded that Chemometric technique is meaningful tool for assessment of large and complex air quality data. Besides, it also able to give a clear picture about trends, pattern of major air pollutants and sources identification of pollutants in the study area. This is important for a better management of air quality in the future which able to reduce the possible health and environmental effect.Keywords: urban air quality; chemometrictechnique; Kota Kinabalu; Sabah