P300-based EEG signal interpretation system for robot navigation control

In recent years, Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) research has provoked an enormous interest among researchers from different fields. The most popular approach is a non-invasive method, using Electroencephalogram (EEG) analysis which acquires signals from the brain. The aim of this project is to develop a brain signal interpretation system that can convert one thought into multiple movements for mobile robot navigation. A signal interpretation system is designed and developed to receive the EEG signal via User Datagram Protocol (UDP) transmission, converts the signal to several robot commands that are pre-programmed according to the robot’s programming software and send the commands to the robot through the operating computer. Using signals from four electrodes to evaluate the signal interpretation system, a success rate of 75-80% is received, while a total response time of only 61 seconds needed by the system from the start of the stimuli until the robot has finished all commands sent by the system, as compared to the conventional method of one-thought-one-movement which can take around 30 seconds per command. With this system, user can expect faster execution of the robot commands, less thinking therefore less exhausting, making BCI a pleasant experience for all users regardless of their health conditions

RFID-enabled web-based interface for chemical storage management system

The management of a chemical inventory is necessary for safety purposes as well as for fulfilling regulatory compliance. In most academic laboratories, the management of chemicals is still being done manually, which is time-consuming. As a result, data are not updated and expired chemicals are unintentionally used. This research proposes that UHF Class 1 Gen 2 Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology be used in the development of a chemical inventory information system to ease chemical tracking as well as to shorten the inventory process time. An information system integrating RFID data and a web-based rule identification interface was developed. WAMP 2.2.17, PHP 5.3.5 and MySQL 5.5.8 were downloaded and a programming language was written to check the expiration date of the chemicals as well as to produce alert notification status. Wireless technology through GSM modem helped in producing alert messages using the Short Message System (SMS) of the nearly expired chemicals to the handphone of the person in charge in real time

Performance of Ultra High Frequency Gen2 Passive Tags Radio Frequency Identification in chemical laboratory environment

This research analyzes the performance of Ultra High Frequency (UHF) Gen2 Passive Tags Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology as sensing device in chemical laboratory environment. The purpose of this paper is to verify the effectiveness of using RFID for tracking chemical bottles during inventory process in a laboratory. In most laboratories, the chemical tracking process is still being done manually which is very time consuming. The advantages of RFID operaton will help to enhance the effectiveness of chemical inventory management and reduce the process time. An experiment in a laboratory was done to verify the performance of detection rate according to the specifications stated in the manual data sheet. Pre-programmed RFID passive tags were affixed onto chemical bottles and then scanned using RFID reader to detect all output data in a controlled environment. The result showed that certain conditions such as material of the container, tag-reader orientation and the size of chemical bottles play important role to get detected for this type of RFID. From the result, the paper suggested some guidelines to be taken care of during scanning process to get higher percentage of reading rates

RFID-enabled web-based interface for a chemical storage management system

The management of a chemical inventory is necessary for safety purposes as well as for fulfilling regulatory compliance. In most academic laboratories, the management of chemicals is still being done manually, which is time-consuming. As a result, data are not updated and expired chemicals are unintentionally used. This research proposes that UHF Class 1 Gen 2 Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology be used in the development of a chemical inventory information system to ease chemical tracking as well as to shorten the inventory process time. An information system integrating RFID data and a web-based rule identification interface was developed. WAMP 2.2.17, PHP 5.3.5 and MySQL 5.5.8 were downloaded and a programming language was written to check the expiration date of the chemicals as well as to produce alert notification status. Wireless technology through GSM modem helped in producing alert messages using the Short Message System (SMS) of the nearly expired chemicals to the handphone of the person in charge in real time

Synthesis of carbon nanomaterials from rice husk via microwave oven

Microwave oven was utilized to fabricate carbon nanostructure, specifically CNTs, from waste RH powders. It has been shown that the use of carbon source, catalyst, and commercial microwave oven to induce plasma is necessary to carry on this synthesis. The plasma enhances and speeds up the catalytic decomposition of RH in presence of ferrocene. FESEM, TGA, and Raman spectroscopy were utilized to confirm the presence and quality of produced carbon nanomaterials. In addition, these results suggest the conversion of ferrocene to iron(II, III) oxide with notable conversion rate

Nickel zinc ferrite thick film for optimized performance of flexible patch antenna

This work investigated the effect of adding nickel zinc ferrite thick film layer to a flexible substrate as overlay below a conductive silver patch. The ferrite thick film paste was prepared by mixing nickel zinc ferrite (NZF) nanopowders with an organic vehicle, and later using screen printing technique to print a thick film layer onto polyimide film, and later added a rectangle silver conductive patch on top of the ferrite layer. Measurement results of the flexible patch antenna with NZF thick film layer show that the thick film significantly widens the bandwidth of the antenna while having good return loss. The bending test, however, showed that there are significant changes of frequency and return loss when the antenna was bent at different angles, showing that further improvement is needed to further stabilizes the antenna parameters in bent conditions

Effect of aggregation on dielectric property of MWCNT/PDMS nanocomposite

Highly graphitized nucleophilic group functionalized Multiwall carbon nanotubes are utilized to fabricate PDMS/FMWCNTs nanocomposites with low weight fraction (0.1 wt%). The effect of solvents on dispersion of FMWCNTs is studied. THF shows higher dispersion power in comparison with chloroform. The dielectric constant is measured using impedance analyzer in the range of 106-109 Hz. The result indicate, the dielectric property of FMWCNTs/PDMS nanocomposite could be manipulated with proper mixing techniques and adjustment of curing time

Rheology properties of carbon nanotube thick film paste for potential application in patch antenna

This work investigated the effect of various carbon nanotube (CNT) powders' weight ratio for the preparation of CNT thick film paste. CNT pastes have been prepared with powder weight ratios of 5 wt%, 10wt%, 15wt% and 20wt% to study the rheological properties of the paste. Results show that pastes with a weight ratio of 15wt% and 20wt% have high viscosity at a low shear rate and decreasing viscosity as shear rates increases. This shear-thinning rheological behaviour is found to be suitable for screen printing pastes. Measurement results of CNT thick film patch antenna show that CNT thick film significantly widens the bandwidth of the antenna while having good return loss. The frequency shift as compared with an antenna with the silver conductive film however notably increases, indicating that electrical properties of CNT patch are lower than those of silver patch, which may occur due to the defects of CNTs in the paste

Motorcycle image application on MATLAB Simulink and FPGA platform

This research investigated image tracking and edge detection for motorcycle in various lighting and weather conditions. The capabilities in different resolutions and thresholds level also evaluated. Comparison between hardware and software implementation of edge detection also been made. Developed framework showed great accuracy in segmentation of plate number from motorcycle image in daylight condition compared to rainy daylight and night condition

Printability and structural analysis of yttrium iron garnet thick film with low firing temperature

This paper presents results of study on Yttrium iron garnet (YIG) thick film paste using linseed oil as organic binder. YIG nanopowder is mixed with organic vehicle which consists of linseed oil, m-xylene and α-terpineol. Samples with different ratios of compositions are prepared to study the printability and adhesion properties of the paste. Paste samples were then screen printed onto alumina substrate, dried and fired at 300°C. Microscopic images of the samples were observed to determine most suitable ratio for producing YIG paste. Based on the results, YIG paste with 30 wt% ratio showed good adhesion to the substrate as well as having high dielectric property compared to pastes with lower powder ratio