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Sensors – Integrations with Embedded Systems and Applications (part 2)

By
Olawale Bakare
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0


In part I of article, sensor unit was addressed with microcontroller as well as its brief applications.

 

Nonetheless, part II addresses vague technical analysis on possible low- cost peripherals interface with embedded system. Ideally, low –cost interfaces used to connect peripheral chips to microcontrollers residing in a unit of embedded systems.

 

However, sensors part II shall provide an insightful overview on gradual and brief achieve-able research works regarding sensor networks. Though, sensor networks still pose big challenges – communication protocols, routing as well as energy.  Besides, energy efficiency is a known issue which is indubitably remains a herculean task to telecommunication equipment and electronic products manufactures.

 

Meanwhile, this article surely not addresses areas of immaturity in wireless sensor networks which characterised as high- level concepts. Areas are databases, middleware and applications but tremendous and laudable development have been made on this, though still not fully matured.

 

 Peripheral Interfacing

 

The interfaces allow possible connection of distinct devices such as sensor interfaces, real – Time clocks. Due to affordability in terms of low –cost, interfaces are ideal for small embedded applications. The two available cheap interfaces:

 

1)      Serial Peripheral Interface acronyms as SPI

2)      Inter-integrated Circuit acronyms as I2C

 

 

1 Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI)

 

SPI is a protocol designed which employs synchronous (clock) transmissions.  Mode of operation works in master and slave relationship. Where by all transmissions with clock is usually produced by processor –microcontroller, master in this case. The receiving device, peripheral, a slave this time around employed clock for its synchronisation to accept the serial bit stream.

 

1        SPI can be used to interface to memory

2        Serial Peripheral Interface used in analogue digital converter and digital analogue converter

3        Use to interface sensor

4        Use to interface real –time clock calendars

 

 

 

2   Inter – Integrated Circuit (I2C)

 

Inter – Integrated circuit I2C is a network scheme employed to inter-connect peripheral devices in small scale embedded systems. IIC is a cheap network bus for effective communication with an embedded systems and peripheral.

Inter – integrated circuit is an alternative connection to SPI used in interfacing embedded systems with peripheral. IIC Operational mode quite distinct to SPI, I2C uses two wires connecting with numerous devices in a multi – drop bus. Conventionally, bus communicate in duplex, with considerable amount of low –speed and synchronous to a common clock.

 

 

Wireless Sensor Networks

 

In a traditional computer network communication, several computers networked together for sharing, distribution and storage of data. However, it is imperative to achieve better communication not only between computer and other devices but to also integrating computation and control in our physical environment. Communication is very crucial concept of interaction be it person –to – machine or machine – to –machine. And this communication concept takes the form of wired or wireless.

Wired communication is common for use among large numbers of devices that is imaginable in our environment. A MANET – Mobile Ad hoc Network is associated with wireless communication and specifically wireless multi-hop communication in case of computers connected in small networks.

 

Nonetheless, sensors can be integrated with processing unit, memory, communication device (low power radio) to what is commonly known as Sensor Node.  Several thousand of sensor nodes joining them together designed or built performing different applications wirelessly forming networks sensor. The type of wireless networks just appeared few years ago to handle sensor nodes deployment & physical interaction by sensing or controlling parameters.

 

More importantly, few years back the field of wireless sensor networks were at infancy stage; this indeed has opened to a plethora of research activities in the world leading universities and research institutions, among them, the fore- front university in innovations of wireless communication and its concept university of California, Berkeley USA, and as well as other top universities around the world where empirical analysis on wireless sensor networks have successfully been developed.

 

      Architecture of Sensor Node

 

The hardware assemble into a single- chip CMOS device that integrates the processing, storage, and communication sub-unit makes complete system node. The single sensor node is a very small size device measures 2.5mm by 2.5mm.

a)      Microcontroller

b)      Sensor board

c)      ADC

d)      General purpose I/O ports

e)      Memory – EEPROM

f)       Power Supply by battery

g)      Platform of sensor node range from different manufacturers such as Mica, Micaz, Rene, weC and many more.

 

Programming of sensor node is mostly achieved through what is called Network Embedded System C programming language otherwise known as nesC. nesC is a component based syntax OS specifically designed for sensor node, called TinyOS. However, subsequent article will address architecture of sensor node and its TinyOS.

 

Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) Application Areas

 

Most research works in sensor networks today have partially be mined and matured to deploy few applications areas, such areas are:

a)       Facilities management – such as intruders into a large building,  real –time tracking – vehicles that pass a street outside of normal office hours.

b)      Medicine & health care – for intensive care where sensors attached to patients (elderly) and for automatic drug administration (embedding sensors into drug packaging, trigger an alarms whenever drugs applied to wrong patients.

c)      Monitoring of environmental condition for low frequency data trends – example a chemical factory could be easily be monitored for possible leakages by scores of sensors automatically networked wirelessly and write any detection of chemical leaks.

d)      Smart grid technology – sensor nodes could also be applied within an electric power distribution network – sensor and SCADA.

 

 

         Benefits of Wireless Sensor Networks

 

  1. Wireless sensor networks use low cost embedded devices for different types of applications
  2. Wireless sensor networks deployment independent on existing communication infrastructures – GSM, PSTN, Copper or Fiber.
  3. No need of high power and expensive control mast or base stations.

 

Olawale Shakir Bakare

MSc Embedded Computer Systems Engineering UK, Sigbed Member US.

‘Wale Bakare also writes for EBN the premier online community for global supply chain professionals, EBN part of United Business Media Inc, USA.  Mr. Bakare also moderates for blogs with Internet Evolution Group – group that shares ideas and thoughts on internet technology and its developments. Internet Evolution is also a US based organisation, part of UBM Inc USA. And he belongs to member of Google group for Software Testing (QC) & Software Quality Assurance Group – software/embedded products testing technicians.

 

 Co – Founder PAWAAK Technologies Ltd

Website: www.pawaak.com

Phones: +447901236822

Email addresses:  | olawalebakare@pawaak.com  | wales.baky@gmail.com  |

pawaak@gmail.com |     

Twitter: @Bwale1

Skype VOIP: walex.george

 

 

[Reminder] $100,000 for 1st Prize – The Legatum Africa Awards for Entrepreneurship

By
Tekedia Editors
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0

From the Longitude Prize in the 18th century to Alfred Nobel’s laureate awards at the start of the 20th century, the power of prize programmes to catalyse innovation and inspiration is undeniable. Such prizes serve a purpose beyond recognition and reward alone – also raising awareness, creating role models and igniting ambition.

 

From our experience with previous prize programmes within Africa and globally, we have met remarkable entrepreneurs who never lost belief in themselves, even when confronted by overwhelming challenges but persevered to bring their ideas to fruition. As such entrepreneurs work to create businesses that meet the needs of those around them and by doing so raise the living standards of their communities while also creating something of lasting value for themselves, their employees, their communities and their nations. The Africa Awards for Entrepreneurship is honoured to provide a platform upon which they may continue to inspire a new generation of African entrepreneurs.

 

The objectives of the Africa Awards for Entrepreneurship are:

  • To promote the value of entrepreneurship as a driving force of today’s Africa
  • To celebrate the standards of business excellence within Africa
  • To encourage small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs to embrace the challenges and rewards of entrepreneurship
  • To build strong networks of African entrepreneurs as a source of learning and sharing of best practice
  • To attract more venture capital inflows towards good businesses across Africa

Timings

Applications to the 2011 Africa Awards will remain open until August 24th. The Gala Awards Banquet and CONVERGENCE: AFRICA conference on entrepreneeurship will take place on December 8th, 2011 in Nairobi, Kenya

Sauder School of Business Teaching Social Entrepreneurship And Business Skills In Kenya

By
Tekedia Editors
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1

The Sauder School of Business has been developing programs in Nairobi, Kenya since 2006. The main program, Social Entrepreneurship 101 (SE101), is a three-week course where students from UBC and Strathmore University (Nairobi) teach young people how to write business plans. Participants are mentored, sources of funding for the projects are identified, and businesses have been launched as a result of the program. Learn about the 2011 project, and read more about the overall initiative.  The core of the program is the  Social Entrepreneurship 101

 

Social Entrepreneurship 101:

Africa is one part of the African Initiative of the Sauder School of Business. SE101 started delivering a business plan training program to youth living in Africa in the summer of 2006. Most of our efforts have focussed on Kibera and other areas of Nairobi, Kenya, but we have also delivered a modified version of SE101 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Our workshops educate and enable impoverished youth to start their own businesses.The program is based on one designed by Sauder faculty and delivered to residents in the downtown eastside of Vancouver, the poorest postal code in Canada.

 

Through extensive research and support from the Sauder community and our African partners, the UBC students involved in SE 101, together with students from Strathmore University in Nairobi, have designed the course to be practical, applicable and sustainable in the local context.

 

Project Components:
  • Three weeks of workshops to Kenyan youth on the essentials of a business plan.
  • One-on-one consultation sessions with program participants, to share ideas and information, complete the business plans and organize step-by-step development strategies.
  • Guest speakers from the Kenyan business community provide a local prospective, impart inspiration and share essential knowledge and experience.
  • Post-program support to polish the business plan, access funding, and launch businesses.

Intel Controls 82.6% of Global MPU Revenue – Yet, Lackluster Performance in Tablets Could Hurt in Coming Quarters

By
Tekedia Editors
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0

Despite a design problem that forced a large-scale chipset recall, Intel Corp. in the first quarter managed to pad its dominant position in the global microprocessor business, according to new IHS iSuppli research.  Intel during the first three months of 2011 accounted for 82.6 % of global microprocessor revenue, up 1.6 points of share from the 81 percent it held in the fourth quarter of 2010. On a year-over-year basis, Intel gained 2.0 percentage points.

 

While Intel continued to ride high in the first quarter, the company this year will face a challenge from the continued market advances of the media tablet, the report noted. Intel has not come with a solution t ARM based microprocessor which powers most mobile devices in the market today.

 

There is also the risk that PC market will go down. So although Intel’s sales of its Atom microprocessor for netbook PCs rose in the first quarter, tablets will cut down shipments of netbook PCs this year. Media tablets, most notably iPad, don’t employ dedicated microprocessors like Atom, instead using integrated chips that include processor cores.

 

Those are the warning signs for the continuous dominance of Intel in the market. But Intel has been in this position many times in the past and came out fine. We will see with time how they address this cannibalization of their key market segment by tablets.

 

 

Doing Business: How Africa Encourages the Informal Economy. In Equatorial Guinea, The Prime Minister Approves all Businesses

By
Tekedia Editors
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0

It takes less than ten minutes to approve certain documents towards starting a new business in New Zealand. At most, it takes a day to get a business approved to open its doors to customers. And all the procedures are combined into a single step. That is why the World Bank ranked it #2 in its Doing Business 2010 report. This pattern of quick new business approval is similar in most developed nations where it could take from a day to a week. In the United States, it takes about a week to launch a new business.

 

But move to Africa. It takes 136 days to get approval to start a new business in Equatorial Guinea. Why? Because the country’s Prime Minister must approve all new businesses. Yes, a Prime Minister must approve a small business to be operated by a college student in that country. By moving this approval to the office of the Prime Minister, the nation creates about 20 procedures compared to 1 in New Zealand.

 

Yet, Equatorial Guinea does better than another country, Guinea-Bissau. Guinea-Bissau needs 213 days to approve a new business. The fees and legal costs are a factor of 807 more when compared to New Zealand. So if an entrepreneur in New Zealand pays $1 to launch a new business, the counterpart in Guinea-Bissau will pay $807, in relative terms.

 

The whole outlooks show that only the rich can afford to create new businesses in most parts of the black race. In Haiti, it takes more than three years to get a building permit with many layers of bureaucracy.

 

From personal experiences, the World Bank numbers are reliable. I have created firms in two countries. In the United States, it took less than a week and all was done via the web. In Nigeria, it took weeks with endless and needless documentations. We spent the first few weeks to search for business name and that could only be validated in Abuja, the nation’s capital.  The problem was that the regional offices were not equipped to check for these names. Documents were sent to the approving commission headquarters where business names are approved before the regional offices could complete the paper works. Nigeria is ranked #125 out of 183 countries in the World Bank’s Doing Business 2010.

 

From Cameroon to Botswana, the experience is basically the same. The high barrier to incorporation makes it tougher for most business owners to operate and join the formal economy. The reality is that unless Africa finds ways to improve its business registration climate, most entrepreneurs will continue to operate in the informal sector thereby depriving the state much needed taxes and fees.

 

I used some of the numbers provided by World Bank to see the relationship between the Doing Business ranking and the percentage of the GDP in the informal economy. There were no surprises: a correlation exists; as the incorporation barrier increases, the percentage of GDP in the informal economy also increases. So, Guinea-Bissau has more of its GDP controlled in the informal sector than New Zealand.

 

There are many reasons why this trend happens in Africa where we have disproportionate informal economies dominating our GDPs. One is that most business owners in Africa are not educated and their businesses rarely need government approvals to thrive. The women that sell oranges and carrots on the highways may not bother to register with the governments as there seem to be no major benefits that incorporations could give their businesses. The same applies to most African subsistence farmers.

 

Another reason is the cost and time needed to incorporate. When most entrepreneurs consider these factors, they decide to go under and operate in the shadow economy.

 

Nonetheless, most of these business owners will be most willing to incorporate if the process is efficient and affordable. From Nigeria to Cameroon, Africa must work very hard to modernize most of its business environments so that people could be attracted to launch businesses legally. If they leave the system as it is, governments are basically encouraging their entrepreneurs to shun the formal sector. Certainly, it will not be the best model for development.

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