Edgefx Technologies Pvt. Ltd.

The project is designed to shut down the power supply when it is overloaded. Conventional circuit breaker like MCB based is on thermal bimetal lever trip mechanism. It is very slow and the trip time is dependent upon the percentage of overload.

This project senses the current passing through a series element and the corresponding voltage drop is compared against the preset voltage proportional to the current by a level comparator to generate an output for the load to trip.

The concept of electronic circuit breaker came into focus realizing that conventional circuit breakers such as MCBs take longer time to trip. Therefore, for sensitive loads it is very important to activate the tripping mechanism at the shortest possible time, preferably instantaneously.

This project is demonstrates fast tripping mechanism as against the slow one like MCB. Electronic circuit breaker is based on the voltage drop across a series element proportional to the load current, typically a low value resistor.

This voltage is sensed and rectified to DC which is and then compared with a preset voltage by a level comparator to generate an output that drives a relay through a MOSFET to trip the load. The unit is extremely fast and overcomes the drawback of the thermal type. It uses a microcontroller from 8051 family.

Further the project can be enhanced by using a CT for galvanic isolation between mains and control circuit. Power electronic devices such as thyristors / IGBTs can be used for ultra fast operation compared to all the methods.

Additional Information:

• Item Code: 11

The project is designed to operate an electrical load multiple number of times as per the program. It overcomes the difficulties of switching the load ON/OFF manually. This proposed has an inbuilt real time clock (RTC) to keep tracking the time and thus to switch ON/OFF the load accordingly.

Load shedding is what electric utilities do when there is a huge demand for electricity that exceeds the supply. Thus in a distribution system it needs to be precisely controlled for specific period of time.

Programmable load shedding time management system is a reliable circuit that takes over the manual task of switch ON/OFF the electrical devices with respect to time. It uses real time clock (RTC) interfaced to a microcontroller of 8051 family. While the set time equals to the real time, then microcontroller gives command to the corresponding relay to turn ON the load and then another command to switch OFF as per the program. Multiple ON/OFF time entry is the biggest advantage with this project. A matrix keypad helps entering the time.A 7-sement display is interfaced to the microcontroller to display time.

Further the project can be enhanced by interfacing a GSM modem to the existing project so that the complete control of the load can be done by sending an SMS to the control unit

Additional Information:

• Item Code: 33

The project is designed to develop an automatic irrigation system which switches the pump motor ON/OFF on sensing the moisture content of the soil. In the field of agriculture, use of proper method of irrigation is important. The advantage of using this method is to reduce human intervention and still ensure proper irrigation.

The project uses an 8051 series microcontroller which is programmed to receive the input signal of varying moisture condition of the soil through the sensing arrangement. This is achieved by using an op-amp as comparator which acts as interface between the sensing arrangement and the microcontroller.

Once the controller receives this signal, it generates an output that drives a relay for operating the water pump. An LCD display is also interfaced to the microcontroller to display status of the soil and water pump. The sensing arrangement is made by using two stiff metallic rods inserted into the field at a distance. Connections from the metallic rods are interfaced to the control unit.

The concept in future can be enhanced by integrating GSM technology, such that whenever the water pump switches ON/OFF, an SMS is delivered to the concerned person regarding the status of the pump. We can also control the pump through SMS.

Additional Information:

• Item Code: 12

The project is designed to control the speed of a BLDC motor using closed loop control technique. BLDC motor has various application used in industries like in drilling, lathes, spinning, elevators, electric bikes etc. The speed control of the DC motors is very essential.

This proposed system provides a very precise and effective speed control system. The user can enter the desired speed and the motor will run at that exact speed.

Based on the principle of PWM speed can be controlled. This is achieved by keeping BLDC motor on closed loop feedback by giving RPM reference to the microcontroller upon a shaft mounted IR reflection arrangement. An LCD duly interfaced to the microcontroller to display the running speed.

The desired speed in percentage of full speed is fed with the help of keypad. The controller delivers desired pulse width to automatically adjust the DC power to the motor for required speed. The above operation is carried out by using one opto-isolator and a MOSFET for driving the BLDC motor with IR sensing for getting the speed reference to the microcontroller.

Further the project can be enhanced to a fully fledged fuzzy logic control of a BLDC motor for industrial applications. It can also be developed for an intelligent cruise control used in modern automobiles these days.

Additional Information:

• Item Code: 155

Based on the principle of firing angle control of thyristors, one can control the ac power. A display unit displays the full power or any percentage and one can enter the desired percentage to reduce the power to the load.

The firing angle would be automatically adjusted to maintain the load power. The project uses a lamp such that the entered power matches the required one. The above operation is carried out by using a TRIAC in series with the AC load. (Optionally two no’s of SCRs connected in back to back can also be used)

It uses microcontroller from 8051 family. The input is given to the Microcontroller using a keypad and ZVS is given as reference. A 16X2 LCD is used for display purpose.

Additional Information:

• Item Code: 289

The project is designed to control the speed of an induction motor such as fans, by using a standard TV remote. In home automation application, convenience of remotely controlling the speed of the fan is achieved.

 A standard TV remote sends coded infrared data to the control board, which is then received by an IR sensor (at the receiver end) interfaced to a microcontroller of 8051 family. Each time a button is pressed it sends a specific coded data in infrared range. This coded data is executed by the microcontroller to deliver delayed firing pulses to the thyristor through optical isolation.

The power to the load connected in series with the thyristor is controlled based on the received signal. Also the firing angle is displayed on a 7-segment display. A lamp load shall be provided in place of a motor whose varying intensity demonstrates the varying power to the motor for speed control. A lamp is provided in place of an induction motor for demonstration purpose.

Additional Information:

• Item Code: 4

The project is designed to monitor the number of persons entering as well as exiting a room. Electrical loads are switched ON as the first person enters and switches OFF when the last person leaves. IR sensors used in combination with microcontroller to monitor all the operations. This helps in saving lot of energy.

There are two pair sensors, each kept at certain distance from the other. One pair of sensor consists of a transmitter and a receiver, kept exactly opposite to each other. The transmitting part emits modulated IR light which is received at the receiver end and fed to a microcontroller of 8051 family.

When a person enters the room then microcontroller senses it (with the help of IR sensors) and increments the count and displays it on 7 segment displays and also switches ON the load. In the same way when a person exits the room, the count gets decremented. When the last person exits from the room, the lamp is switched OFF. The load operation is handled by a relay interfaced to the microcontroller.

Additional Information:

• Item Code: 19

The aim of this project is to control the electrical appliances through a personal computer (PC). For example, theatre lighting can be centrally controlled form the PC for better stage management.

Presently, they are manually managed which makes it difficult to coordinate the lighting with the respective scene. With this system, one can control the electrical appliances ON/OFF by just being seated at one place using a PC.

This system is integrated with the electrical loads and also connected to the PC where centralized control takes place. It uses an RS-232 protocol from the microcontroller to communicate with the PC.

To turn on/off the appliances, we use Hyper Terminal on PC. Once the connection is established with the PC, then the system starts working. The microcontroller used in this project belongs to 8051 family.

This project can be further enhanced by implementing a GUI based control panel on the PC with appropriate embedded software. The intensity control can also be incorporated using power electronics devices.

Note: The project works only on operating systems having hyper terminal (E.g. Windows XP). The computer must have a RS232 serial port.

Additional Information:

• Item Code: 22

The main objective of this project is controlling speed of BLDC motor and displays its speed using an IR method of speed sensor mechanism. The DC motor has various application used in industries like in drilling, lathes, spinning, elevators and etc.

The speed control of the DC motors is very essential. This proposed system provides a very precise and effective speed control system. The user can increase or decrease the speed as per the requirement and the motor will run at that exact speed.

The project is divided into three stages: input, processing and output stage. The input stage consists of entering the required speed through switches. The processing stage provides RPM reference of the motor, by a shaft mounted IR sensor interfaced to the microcontroller in the circuit.

The microcontroller develops PWM pulses which are varied with switches to regulate the DC power to the motor such that the desired speed is achieved. The output stage uses a MOSFET being driven by the microcontroller output.

An 8051 family microcontroller is used with a set of switches to increase or decrease the speed of the BLDC motor. This speed is sensed by the sensors and is given to microcontroller which in turn displays it on a LCD display.The above operation is carried out by using one opto-isolator and a MOSFET for driving the BLDC motor. IR sensing is used for getting the speed reference to the microcontr.

Additional Information:

• Item Code: 181

The main objective of this project is to force the BLDC motor in electric vehicles to run exactly at stored speed in EEPROM (non volatile memory). The BLDC motor has various application used in industries like in drilling, lathes, spinning, electric vehicles, elevators and etc. The speed control of BLDC motors is very essential.

The present system speed control is not very effective. This proposed system provides a very precise and effective control system. The user can enter the desired speed (predefined speed) which is stored in an EEPROM and the motor will run at that speed. If the power supply is off, the EEPROM retains the last speed entered. When the supply is resumed, the motor will run at the last entered speed.

Based on the principle of PWM speed can be controlled. This is achieved by keeping BLDC motor on closed loop feedback and giving RPM reference of the motor by a shaft mounted IR sensing arrangement which is fed to the microcontroller in the circuit. A display unit displays the full speed and one can enter the desired percentage with help of switches to vary the speed.

The pulse width would be automatically adjusted to maintain the DC power to the motor such that the entered speed percentage matches the present RPM. The above operation is carried out by using one opto-isolator and a MOSFET for driving the BLDC motor and IR sensing is used for getting the speed reference to the microcontroller.

Additional Information:

• Item Code: 182

The objective of this project is to synchronize traffic lights at each consecutive junction in such a way that the traffic moving at a specific speed gets a green signal, so that it never stops.

Due to rapid urbanization and increase in population, the traffic congestion has also increased in all major cities. This has become a major problem affecting everybody. Due to unplanned traffic management and sticking to outdated methods, problem has only deteriorated. In this proposed system multiple microcontrollers are used. They communicate with each other via serial communication.

Three microcontrollers are used to synchronize the traffic lights at three junctions as a model. Each microcontroller is responsible for one particular junction. If the vehicles are assumed to travel at a particular speed, then the traffic signals change in such a way, that the vehicle gets green signal all through the junctions.

This kind of technology is used in modern automobiles where multiple microcontrollers are used, as the number of microcontrollers increase, the communication between them becomes essential for collective decision. For communication among themselves serial communication is preferred and a lot of serial buses and protocols were developed optimizing different parameters of the communication.

The major advantage of adopting this technology is that, there is no need for any centralized body to monitor the direction of traffic flow. As human involvement is negligible, there will be little scope of human error.

Hence, this approach is boon for government and local authorities facing financial constraints as they can’t spend money on costly cameras and software

Additional Information:

• Item Code: 150

The project is designed to detect vehicle movement on highways to switch ON only a block of street lights ahead of it (vehicle), and to switch OFF the trailing lights to save energy. During night all the lights on the highway remain ON for the vehicles, but lots of energy is wasted when there is no vehicle movement.

This proposed system provides a solution for energy saving. This is achieved by sensing an approaching vehicle and then switches ON a block of street lights ahead of the vehicle. As the vehicle passes by, the trailing lights switch OFF automatically. Thus, we save a lot of energy.

So when there are no vehicles on the highway, then all the lights remain OFF. However, there is another mode of operation where instead of switching OFF the lights completely, they remain ON with 10% of the maximum intensity of the light. As the vehicle approaches, the block of street lights switch to 100% intensity and then as the vehicle passes by, the trailing lights revert back to 10% intensity again.

High intensity discharge lamp (HID) presently used for urban street light are based on principle of gas discharge, thus the intensity is not controllable by any voltage reduction. White Light Emitting Diode (LED) based lamps are soon replacing the HID lamps in street light. Intensity control is also possible by Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) generated by the microcontroller.

Sensors used on either side of the road senses vehicle movement and sends logic commands to microcontroller to switch ON/OFF the LEDs. Thus this way of dynamically changing intensity ON/OFF helps in saving a lot of energy. The project uses a PIC series microcontroller.

Further the project can be enhanced by using appropriate sensors for detecting the failed street light and then sending an SMS to the control department via GSM modem for appropriate action

Additional Information:

• Item Code: PIC107

The project is designed to operate an electric bell number of times as required in an institution. It overcomes the difficulties of switching the bell ON/OFF manually. This proposed has an inbuilt real time clock (RTC) to keep tracking the time and thus to switch ON/OFF the load accordingly.

The project uses a real time clock (RTC) interfaced to a microcontroller of 8051 family. While the set time equals to the real time, then microcontroller gives command to the corresponding relay to turn ON the bell and then another command to switch OFF as per the program.

Multiple ON/OFF time entry is the biggest advantage with this project. A matrix keypad helps entering the time. A 7-sement display is interfaced to the microcontroller to display time.

Additional Information:

• Item Code: 33A

The project is designed to control the speed of a DC motor using an 8051 series microcontroller. The speed of DC motor is directly proportional to the voltage applied across its terminals. Hence, if voltage across motor terminal is varied, then speed can also be varied.

This project uses the above principle to control the speed of the motor by varying the duty cycle of the pulse applied to it (popularly known as PWM control). The project uses two input buttons interfaced to the microcontroller, which are used to control the speed of motor. PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) is generated at the output by the microcontroller as per the program.

The program can be written in Assembly language or in Embedded C. The average voltage given or the average current flowing through the motor will change depending on the duty cycle (ON and OFF time of the pulses), so the speed of the motor will change. A motor driver IC is interfaced to the microcontroller for receiving PWM signals and delivering desired output for speed control of a small DC motor.

Further the project can be enhanced by using power electronic devices such as IGBTs to achieve speed control higher capacity industrial motors.

Additional Information:

• Item Code: 2

The project is designed to switch industrial loads using a user programmable logic control device for sequential operation. This operation is generally used for repetitive nature of work.

Programmable logic controllers used in industrial applications are very expensive for simple operations like sequential switching of loads. In this project we demonstrate the working of this simple operation using a microcontroller of 8051 family. The development of this application requires the configuration of the program through input switches.

In industries, there are many tasks are carried out which requires some repeated operation in various orders and time intervals. For example, certain loads need to be switched ON/OFF in specific time intervals. In order to achieve this, microcontroller is programmed in such a way that the loads a can be operated in three modes: Set mode, Auto mode and Manual mod.

In set mode, through timers, the machinery works based on input time set by the user where as in auto mode it works on default time settings and finally in the manual mode it functions while respective switches are pressed depending on the user’s need and flexibility. All the modes and status of loads are displayed on an LCD.

Additional Information:

• Item Code: 15

The project is designed to evaluate consumption of any load in units and cost in rupees as per the energy tariff and the number of hours the load is going to be used. The evaluation is almost instantaneous thus assisting the user to save hours of waiting time for the load survey.

An energy audit is an inspection, survey and analysis of energy consumption with possible conservation in domestic sector or industrial environment etc. As unit cost of electricity is very high these days it is essential to know if a particular device or instrument is energy efficient or not.

This system proposes an energy auditing system for the instruments where the microcontroller calculates the units that will be consumed by the loads and the rupees that will be spent on it. The input data i.e. energy tariff and number of hours the load is likely to be used, is given by the user through push button switches.

The relevant information is displayed on an LCD interfaced with the microcontroller. The microcontroller used in the project is of 8051 family.

Further the project can be enhanced by using a GSM modem interfaced to the device for remote monitoring of these data over GSM network via SMS. Even load control can also be achieved over SMS.

Additional Information:

• Item Code: 49

The solar energy is converted to electrical energy by photo-voltaic cells. This energy is stored in batteries during day time for utilizing the same during night time. This project deals with a controlled charging mechanism which over charge, deep discharge and under voltage of the battery.

In this project a solar panel is used to charge a battery. A set of op-amps are used as comparators to continuously monitor panel voltage, load current etc. Indications are also provided by a green LED for fully charged battery while a set of red LEDs to indicate under charged, overloaded and deep discharge condition.

Charge controller also uses MOSFET as power semiconductor switch to ensure cut off the load in low battery or overload condition. A transistor is used to bypass the solar energy to a dummy load while the battery gets fully charged. This protects the battery from getting over charged.

Additional Information:

• Item Code: 213

This practical temperature controller controls the temperature of any device according to its requirement for any industrial application. It also displays the temperature on an LCD displays in the range of –55°C to +125°C. At the heart of the circuit is the microcontroller from 8051 family which controls all its functions.

An IC DS1621 is used as temperature sensor. The DS1621 Digital Thermometer and Thermostat provides 9-bit temperature readings, which indicate the temperature of the device. User-defined temperature settings are stored in a nonvolatile memory EEPROM through 8051 series microcontroller.

Maximum and minimum temperature settings are entered to the MC through a set of switches which are stored in the EEPROM -24C02.Maximum and minimum setting are meant for allowing any hysteresis necessary. Set button is used first and then the temperature setting by INC and then the enter button.

Similarly for the DEC button. A relay is driven from the MC through a transistor driver. The contact of the relay is used for the load, shown as a lamp in the circuit. For high power heater load a contactor may be used, the coil of which is operated by the relay contacts in place of the lamp as shown.

Additional Information:

• Item Code: 282

The project is designed to use a TV remote as a cordless mouse for the computer. A conventional PC/laptop uses a mouse to operate and control all its applications. As a PC mouse is wired to the system, one has to sit near the PC to operate it.

This becomes very tedious when the PC is used for presentation purposes (when using a projector). In this proposed system TV remote can be used as a cordless mouse, and the user need not operate the PC sitting near it.

A typical TV remote sends coded infrared data that is read by an IR sensor interfaced to an 8051 family microcontroller. This data so received by the microcontroller sends it to the COM port of a PC through a level shifter IC. This IR code is traditionally RC5 code as followed by some manufacturers.

Software named PC remote is used on the PC that recognizes data received from the microcontroller through the COM port and performs the required operation. Designated numbers on the TV remote are used to perform up - down, right - left cursor movement. Features like left click and right click of the mouse can also be performed with the TV remote.

Further this project can be enhanced using Bluetooth/ RF technology to overcome the traditional line of sight communication drawbacks of the infrared type.

Additional Information:

• Item Code: PIC117

The aim of this project is to develop a device to detect rash driving on highways and to alert the traffic authorities in case of any speed violation. Accidents due to rash driving on highways are on the rise and people are losing their lives because of others mistakes.

In the present system, to detect rash driving the police has to use a handheld radar gun and aim at the vehicle to record its speed. If the speed of the vehicle exceeds the speed limit, nearest police station is informed to stop the speeding vehicle. This is an ineffective process as after detecting one has to inform the same and a lot of time is wasted.

The proposed system will check on rash driving by calculating the speed of a vehicle using the time taken to travel between the two set points at a fixed distance. A set point consists of a pair of sensors comprising of an IR transmitter and an IR receiver, each of which are installed on either sides of the road.The speed limit is set by the police who use the system depending upon the traffic at the very location.

The time taken by the vehicle to travel from one set point to the other is calculated by control circuit. Based on that time it then calculates the speed and displays that on seven segment displays. Moreover if the vehicle crosses the speed limit, a buzzer sounds alerting the police.

This concept can be extended in future by integrating a camera with the system which could capture the image of the number plate of the vehicle to sends that to the traffic authorities.

Additional Information:

• Item Code: 225

The project is designed to maintain secrecy among four parallel telephones connected to a single telephone line. When more than one phone is connected to a single telephone line, anyone can lift a phone to hear the conversation on the other one. The proposed system provides a solution for the secrecy among the telephones connected.

In order to meet this requirement we are using 4 telephones connected in parallel through a single telephone line with each telephone connected through a relay in the system. When any one of the telephone is lifted all other phones are disconnected by the relays through an arrangement of opto-couplers, the output of which is fed to a programmable microcontroller of 8051 family.

The microcontroller sends a signal to a 7 Segment display to display which telephone is lifted, while other telephones are disconnected by the respective relays with help of a Relay Driver IC interfaced to the microcontroller.

This Project can be used in houses and offices where more than one telephone is connected in parallel through a single telephone line. The project is suitable for both incoming and outgoing calls. Further the project can be enhanced by adding more number of phones with an intercom facility. An incoming caller id facility can also be added to it.

Note: The project needs 4 telephone instruments to be connected to the board for the functioning of the project. Telephone instruments are not provided with the kit.

Additional Information:

• Item Code: 109

The aim of this project is to develop a device to detect rash driving on highways and to alert the traffic authorities in case of any speed violation. Accidents due to rash driving on highways are on the rise and people are losing their lives because of others mistakes.

In the present system, to detect rash driving the police has to use a handheld radar gun and aim at the vehicle to record its speed. If the speed of the vehicle exceeds the speed limit, nearest police station is informed to stop the speeding vehicle. This is an ineffective process as after detecting one has to inform the same and a lot of time is wasted.

The proposed system will check on rash driving by calculating the speed of a vehicle using the time taken to travel between the two set points at a fixed distance. A set point consists of a pair of sensors comprising of an IR transmitter and an IR receiver, each of which are installed on either sides of the road. The speed limit is set by the police who uses the system depending upon the traffic at the very location.

The time taken by the vehicle to travel from one set point to the other is calculated by a microcontroller program. Based on that time it then calculates the speed and displays that on an LCD. Moreover if the vehicle crosses the speed limit, a buzzer sounds alerting the police.

This concept can be extended in future by integrating a camera with the system which could capture the image of the number plate of the vehicle to sends that to the traffic authorities

Additional Information:

• Item Code: 242

The project is designed to achieve integral cycle switching, a method to remove whole cycle, cycles or portions of cycles of an AC signal. It is a well-known and old method of controlling AC power, especially across linear loads such as heaters used in electric furnace.

However the concept of achieving the cycle stealing of voltage waveform by use of microcontroller can be very precise as per the program written in assembly / C language so that the actual time-average voltage or current experienced at the load is proportionately lower than the whole signal if applied to the load.

In place of a linear load to be used in the output, a series motor or lamp can be used to verify the output. One side effect of utilizing this scheme is an imbalance in the input current or voltage waveform as the cycles are switched on and off across the load.

In this project we are using comparator for zero crossing detection which is fed as an interrupt to microcontroller of 8051 family. Here the microcontroller delivers the output based on the interrupt received as the reference for generating triggering pulses.

Using these pulses, we drive the opto-isolators for triggering the TRIAC to achieve integral cycle control as per the input switches interfaced to the microcontroller. A lamp is provided in this project in place of a motor for demonstration purpose.

Additional Information:

• Item Code: 9

The aim of this project is to develop a stamp value calculator for the postal operations that is carried out in a post office. These postal letters are tariffed at the post offices depending on the weight of the postal letter measured on a weighing scale.

Normal weight checking instruments used in the shops like the grocery stores are not applicable in post offices, where the weights range from kilograms and above, but in post offices the weights are considered in the order of grams and the tariff rate is imposed accordingly.

Hence, there is a need of a precise weighing scale that can measure the weights in grams and display it. This concept can be achieved by an electronically weighing machine. This proposed system can fulfill the desired functionality and it is exact in its precise weight measurement and price of the stamp required.

This system is built upon using an 8051 microcontroller, which uses weight sensor by a spring loaded variable resistor to determine the weight of the particular letter placed on it. This data is processed through an ADC which is interfaced to the microcontroller to generate an appropriate display on the LCD, both in terms of weight and its corresponding stamp value required.

This project can be enhanced by integrating a mini printer with this system, which can be used for printing the value of stamp for franking machines. It can also be interfaced with a keypad and an EEPROM to store the price details corresponding to its weight.

Additional Information:

• Item Code: 185

The main objective of this project is to provide uninterrupted power supply to a load, by selecting the supply from any source out of 4 such as mains, generator, and inverter and solar automatically in the absence of any of the source. T

he demand for electricity is increasing every day and frequent power cuts is causing many problems in various areas like industries, hospitals and houses. An alternative arrangement for power source is a must.

In this project uses four switches to demonstrate the respective failure of that power supply. When any of the switches is pressed it shows the absence of that particular source, switches are connected to microcontroller as input signals. A microcontroller of 8051 family is used.

The output of microcontroller is given to the relay driver IC, which switches appropriate relay to maintain uninterrupted supply to the load. The output shall be observed using a lamp drawing power supply from mains initially. On failure of the mains supply (which is actuated by pressing the appropriate switch) the load gets supply from the next available source, say an inverter.

If the inverter also fails it switches over to the next available source and so on. The current status, as to which source supplies the load is also displayed on an LCD. As it is not feasible to provide all 4 different sources of supply, one source with alternate switches are provided to get the same function.

The project can be further enhanced by using other sources like wind power also and then taking into consideration for using the best possible power whose tariff remains lowest at that moment.

Additional Information:

• Item Code: 3

The project is designed for using surveillance camera on a panning platform i.e. moving the camera, mounted on a DC motor in clockwise and anticlockwise direction in periodic intervals. For security reasons, surveillance cameras are used everywhere like roads, shops, colleges and offices.

Surveillance cameras are basically stationary devices therefore 360 degree coverage is not possible. However, 270 degree coverage is possible if this proposed system is interfaced with the camera along with power to control the panning speed. One can follow a moving object.

This system is interfaced with a PC where the input is given from keyboard using hyper terminal. The functionality of this circuit is, that once the PC sends a command to the microcontroller (of 8051 family) through level shifter IC (used to convert the voltage level from PC to that of the microcontroller), the microcontroller analyses this signal and activates the motor driver to drive it at the desired speed. The program on the microcontroller is executed based on the input signal from the PC to develop output to drive the motor through motor driver IC.

Further this project can be enhanced by interfacing it to a tilt arrangement for up and down movement besides 270 degree pan movement. It can also be wirelessly controlled (using RF technology) to manually adjust the camera movement or the stop the panning movement if desired with a RF remote.

NOTE: The project works only on operating systems having hyper terminal (E.g. Windows XP). The computer must have a RS232 serial port.

Additional Information:

• Item Code: 156

The project works on the principle of DTMF tone command so received from any phone to remotely switch any electrical load such as agricultural pump, domestic and industrial loads etc. In industries, the loads are spread over a large area and thus, operating these loads is a very tiresome and difficult task.

In agricultural fields also, pumps and other loads are connected over a large area and hence it is difficult for the farmer to operate all the loads and similarly for house hold loads. Keeping these problems in mind, the proposed system has been designed which uses DTMF technology to control the loads remotely.

A cell phone is interfaced to a DTMF decoder in the system from its audio output socket for receiving tone commands. The receiving cell phone codes are converted into digital commands by using a DTMF Decoder which will identify the frequency of the key and convert that frequency to its equivalent digital code which is then fed to a microcontroller (8051 family).

As per the commands sent from the sender’s mobile, the microcontroller will send signals through a buffer to actuate the respective loads by turning the relays ON/OFF. These relays are actuated by a relay driver IC interfaced to the microcontroller.

Further this project can be enhanced by using a GSM modem, where the loads can be controlled by sending an SMS. This will eliminate the need of answering the call for the system to work

Additional Information:

• Item Code: 148

The project is designed to develop a robotic vehicle that follows a specific path. This project uses a microcontroller of 8051 family for its operation. A pair of photo sensors comprising IR transmitter and photo diode is interfaced to the controller to detect the specified path for its movement.

Line follower robot is a useful robot that is used in ware houses, industries, and stores etc, where it follows a dedicated path. This proposed system of a line following robot fulfils the desired functionality and demonstrates the working of it. It uses a pair of photo sensors, comprising of one IR transmitter and a photo diode in each. It guides the robot to follow a specified path by giving appropriate signal to the microcontroller. Two DC motors are used interfaced to the microcontroller through a motor driver IC. Input signals given to the microcontroller from the sensors and then the controller takes the appropriate action according to the program written in it and drives motors as desired.

Further the project can be enhanced by adding more advanced sensors to it. This will add more features to the existing project. For example, we can use ultrasonic sensors for detect any obstacle in front of the robot and to take appropriate action

Additional Information:

• Item Code: 171

The project is designed to maintain precise illumination of a lamp. A microcontroller of 8051 family is used along with thyristor controlled lamp for maintaining the illumination.

Illumination of a lamp varies depending on the voltage applied to it. In certain specific applications it is necessary to have controlled illumination as per requirement. This system overcomes the faults in the present system and provides a solution for light illumination control mechanism of the lamp.

This system is built by using an 8051 microcontroller and based on the principle of firing angle control of thyristors, which in turn can control the illumination of lamp. An LCD display unit is used, which displays entered percentage of the illumination through a matrix keypad.

The firing angle control of thyristors is done by the microcontroller, according to the desired percentage entered by the user. Based on this input the microcontroller will automatically adjust the power delivered to the lamp through a solid state switching mechanism.

Further the project can be enhanced by interfacing the current system with a GSM modem. The user can send an SMS with the desired percentage of illumination entered in it through his cell phone. The GSM modem accepts this message and thus controls the illumination of the lamp through microcontroller

Additional Information:

• Item Code: 220

The project is designed to develop a system to detect the synchronization failure of any external supply source to the power grid on sensing the abnormalities in frequency and voltage.

There are several power generation units connected to the grid such as hydel, thermal, solar etc to supply power to the load. These generating units need to supply power according to the rules of the grid. These rules involve maintaining a voltage variation within limits and also the frequency.

If any deviation from the acceptable limit of the grid it is mandatory that the same feeder should automatically get disconnected from the grid which by effect is termed as islanding. This prevents in large scale brown out or black out of the grid power. So it is preferable to have a system which can warn the grid in advance so that alternate arrangements are kept on standby to avoid complete grid failure.  

This system is based on a microcontroller of 8051 family. The microcontroller monitors the under/over voltage being derived from a set of comparators. As the frequency of the mains supply cannot be changed, the project uses a variable frequency generator (555-timer) for changing the frequency, while a standard variac is used to vary the input voltage to test the functioning of the project.

A lamp load (indicating a predictable blackout, brownout) being driven from the microcontroller in case of voltage/frequency going out of acceptable range

Additional Information:

• Item Code: 64

The project is designed to operate electrical loads using a TV remote. The remote transmits coded infrared data which is then received by a sensor interfaced to the control unit. The system operates electrical loads depending on the data transmitted from the TV remote. Operating conventional wall switches is difficult for elderly or physically handicapped people. This proposed system solves the problem by integrating house hold appliances to a control unit that can be operated by a TV remote.

RC5 based coded data sent from the TV remote is received by an IR receiver interfaced to the microcontroller of 8051 family. The program on the microcontroller refers to the RC5 code to generate respective output based on the input data to operate a set of relays through a relay driver IC. The loads are interfaced to the control unit through the relays. The system can be used in existing domestic area for either operating the loads through conventional switches or with the TV remote.

The project can be enhanced by using radio frequency technology where the operational range shall be independent of line of sight distance as often encountered with IR type of remote control.

Additional Information:

• Item Code: 30

The aim of this project is to remind people who forget to take their medicines on time. Elderly people because of their age usually forget to take their medicines. This project will help to remind the patient to take his/her medicine at prescribed time.

The proposed system is best suited for elderly people and people who are very busy, as this device will not only remind them of their medicines with a buzzer sound but also displays the name of the medicine to be taken at that time.

The patient can store the respective time of the particular medicine through a matrix keypad. Based on an RTC (Real Time Clock) interfaced to the microcontroller, the programmed time for the medicine is displayed on the LCD along with a buzzer sound to alert the patient about taking the appropriate medicine.

The microcontroller used in this project is of PIC16F8 family. RTC used maintains an accurate time as it is supported by a crystal.

Additional Information:

• Item Code: PIC115

The objective of this project is to determine the distance of underground cable fault from base station in kilometers. The underground cable system is a common practice followed in many urban areas.

While a fault occurs for some reason, at that time the repairing process related to that particular cable is difficult due to not knowing the exact location of the cable fault. The proposed system is to find the exact location of the fault.

The project uses the standard concept of Ohms law i.e., when a low DC voltage is applied at the feeder end through a series resistor (Cable lines), then current would vary depending upon the location of fault in the cable.

In case there is a short circuit (Line to Ground), the voltage across series resistors changes accordingly, which is then fed to an ADC to develop precise digital data which the programmed microcontroller of 8051 family would display in kilometers.

The project is assembled with a set of resistors representing cable length in KM’s and fault creation is made by a set of switches at every known KM to cross check the accuracy of the same. The fault occurring at a particular distance and the respective phase is displayed on a LCD interfaced to the microcontroller.

Further this project can be enhanced by using capacitor in an ac circuit to measure the impedance which can even locate the open circuited cable, unlike the short circuited fault only using resistors in DC circuit as followed in the above proposed project.

Additional Information:

• Item Code: 164

The project is designed for automatic door opening system using PIR sensor. Opening and closing of doors is always a tedious job, especially in places like shopping malls, hotels and theatres where a person is always required to open the door for visitors.

This project proposes a system of automatic opening and closing of door by sensing any body movement near the door.This is achieved with help of a PIR (Passive Infrared) sensor. A live body generally emits infrared energy which is sensed by the PIR sensor from a considerable distance.This sensing signal is fed to a microcontroller to operate a door motor through motor driver IC.

When a body approaches within the operating range of the sensor, it sends a logical command to open the door. The door automatically closes with a fixed time delay. If there is no further movement within the PIR operating range. Interrupt signals are used through limit switches to avoid locked rotor condition of the motor.

Additional Information:

• Item Code: 145

The project is designed to develop a robotic vehicle that is controlled by a cell phone. DTMF commands from a phone are sent to another cell phone which is mounted on the robot. These commands are fed to a microcontroller of 8051 family to operate the vehicle movement through motor interface.

The main scope of project is to send commands from one cell phone to be received by another cell phone mounted on the robot to receive the DTMF (Dual Tone Multi Frequency) mode commands which are then decoded by a DTMF decoder.

The corresponding codes are then fed to a microcontroller, programmed to recognize those codes to operate 2nos DC motors through motor driver IC for any direction movement as per the sent commands from sender’s mobile. The motors are controlled using motor driver IC which is interfaced to the microcontroller. It uses microcontroller from 8051 family and a battery for power source.

Further the project can be enhanced by interfacing it with additional motors for multipurpose activity. For example, it can be developed into pick n place robot or fire fighting robot with water pump etc.

Additional Information:

• Item Code: 35A

The aim of the project is to design a contactless speed sensing device (tachometer) for a Brushless DC (BLDC) motor. Traditional tachometers require a physical contact to the shaft of the motor to measure the speed. In certain applications, where it is not feasible to measure the speed for safety and technical reasons, it is possible for a contactless tachometer to take the readings from a certain distance.

This proposed system uses the IR transmitting and receiving technique. This is achieved by receiving IR rays from a reflecting spot on the shaft of the motor. Such arrangements can measure the rate at which the IR rays are getting reflected back. The project uses a microcontroller of 8051 family.

A pair of sensors (Transmitter and receiver) is used to develop a pulse for each reflection that sends an interrupt to the microcontroller. The timer of the controller calculates the speed by each pulse received in a particular time interval and displays the same. The microcontroller is interfaced with an LCD to display the speed.

The concept of the contact-less tachometer can be enhanced and implemented in the bikes, cars for speed measurement, avoiding the use of traditional analog speedometer.

Additional Information:

• Item Code: 169

This project is designed to develop a PC controlled scrolling message display for notice board. It can also be used to display latest information anywhere such as colleges, shops, railway stations and other places. The information is transmitted using PC.

Traditionally notice board is all about sticking information, but sticking various notices day-to-day is a difficult process. A person is required separately to take care of this notice board. This system displays notices through a PC on notice boards.

This system can be implemented in many important places where latest information can be displayed. For example if implemented in colleges all information for students can be displayed. It is very convenient for students and college management to display any information.

This system can also be implemented in railway stations and airports to display information regarding the train and flight timings. This system reduces the wastage of papers. The information is sent through a PC, which is interfaced to a 8051 family microcontroller through MAX232 interface IC. An external memory connected to the microcontroller stores the information. An LCD is connected to the microcontroller to display the message in a continuous scrolling manner.

NOTE: The project works only on operating systems having hyper terminal (E.g. Windows XP). The computer must have a RS232 serial port.

Additional Information:

• Item Code: 234

The main objective of this project is to provide a security system having the provision to change the password by the authority only. The security of any organization or house is of prime importance always. The concern is for the physical property and also for the intellectual property in case of any organization.

This proposed system provides a user friendly security system for organizations and homes. This system is password based and allows only authorized person to access it with a password. It also has the provision of changing the password.

The system is fully controlled by the 8 bit microcontroller of 8051 family. The password is stored in an EEPROM, interfaced to the microcontroller and the password can be changed any time unlike a fixed one burnt permanently on to the microcontroller.

A keypad is used to enter the password and a relay to lock or unlock the electric door, which is indicated by a lamp. Any wrong attempt to open the door (by entering the wrong password) an alert will be actuated, indicated by another lamp.

Further this project can be enhanced by interfacing a GSM modem to the device so that when a wrong password is entered, an alert SMS will be sent to the concerned authority

Additional Information:

• Item Code: 53