FPGA code for elevators(graduation project)

[Altera_Forum]

hey everybody, 

im new to this forum as im new to altera and FPGA language.. i have been taking a course in univerisity ( 4th year telecom engineering) called "architecture of micropocesser and open core"   as a graduation project, i am thinking of doing a elevator board (lifts) in FPGA.. the question is:  -im i qualified to do it? -is it realiable? -and what do you think i should focus on ( as u know, a graduation project should have an added value.   thanks alot guys.. im already getting hooked to this forum. looking forward for your answers

[Altera_Forum]

--- Quote Start ---   i have been taking a course in univerisity ( 4th year telecom engineering) called "architecture of micropocesser and open core"    --- Quote End ---  If you're taking a course in telecom, then why not propose something telecom related?  There are a huge number of communications protocols out there. Why not review some of the analog and digital modulation schemes and write example implementations of them using an FPGA with ADC/DAC board?  If you review the literature and find that no such tutorial exists, then propose that your thesis is such a tutorial.  Try to do something that is at least related to your field, and since you will likely be limited on time, try to design your project in a modular fashion, where you can complete the examples in phases. This will allow you to complete some part of your initial example list, and when you write your thesis, you can list the remaining examples as tasks for the next 4th year student who would like to advance your project. This way, you are creating something useful to yourself (as interview material) and to your fellow telecom students.  Cheers, Dave

[Altera_Forum]

hey Dave, and thanks for your reply. 

*why im not doing a project related to telecom: it's just because in lebanon, telecom field is a bit limited, and our studies programs is more focused on FPGA, open source systems, and embedded systems. plus, the dean of the faculty has gave us some themes for the project this year, like embedded systems, intelligent embedded system, 3D stereo, signal treatment with FPGA (witch is interresting,specialy if i want to do a project replated to the medical field), and websites. *is elevator on fpga will be my project?: im still not sure, im doing alot of researchs about it and about others stuff and themes too but i thought about it because my uncle works in it, and he may help me to find an added value to work on. *i thought about signal treatment for medical field because its really interresting, but in medical field i need a scientific parameters that is not easy to find online. *thanks to you now i will start doing some research about digital madulation using FPGA, but i would like to ask if there is any resources that may help me to find the motivation that it will lead to a good project with an added value that can be successful in the market, and helpful to other students.  finding a good project with an added value is not easy, specially that online resources is not enough.  thanks a dave for your reply, i really appriciate it.

[Altera_Forum]

--- Quote Start ---   *why im not doing a project related to telecom: it's just because in lebanon, telecom field is a bit limited, and our studies programs is more focused on FPGA, open source systems, and embedded systems. plus, the dean of the faculty has gave us some themes for the project this year, like embedded systems, intelligent embedded system, 3D stereo, signal treatment with FPGA (witch is interresting,specialy if i want to do a project replated to the medical field), and websites.   --- Quote End ---    It does not matter where in the world you are. The key is to pick a thesis topic that you are interested in, and ideally one in which you have a local resource (eg., your supervisor) to help you.    --- Quote Start ---   *is elevator on fpga will be my project?: im still not sure, im doing alot of researchs about it and about others stuff and themes too but i thought about it because my uncle works in it, and he may help me to find an added value to work on.   --- Quote End ---    Ok, since you have someone to help, it might be good. First you have to describe what you would be doing with elevators. Just checking the buttons is a bit limited in terms of what you would learn. So, would your FPGA be used to control the elevator motors, or perhaps communicate the elevator location and motion parameters to a control system? Perhaps the FPGA could be used to control the elevator motion, i.e., from a stop, accelerate at a specified rate until reaching a specified speed, and then decelerating to reach the desired floor. The design has to be complicated enough for you to learn something practical.    --- Quote Start ---   *i thought about signal treatment for medical field because its really interresting, but in medical field i need a scientific parameters that is not easy to find online.   --- Quote End ---   You can always create an analog to a medical signal processing task. For example, ultrasound and sonar are similar. You could create a robot path finding algorithm using an ultrasonic sensor, and that work would be similar to medical sonar (in some respects).    --- Quote Start ---    *thanks to you now i will start doing some research about digital madulation using FPGA, but i would like to ask if there is any resources that may help me to find the motivation that it will lead to a good project with an added value that can be successful in the market, and helpful to other students.   --- Quote End ---   Talk to your supervisor and ask whether creating some resources for future students would be helpful to him. If you can create a good set of resources, then you will please your supervisor, and learn a lot in the process.    --- Quote Start ---   finding a good project with an added value is not easy, specially that online resources is not enough.   --- Quote End ---   Create a set of proposals, and give them to your supervisor. Make sure to provide enough detail on what tasks you would perform to complete the thesis. That process will likely help you decide which one is of most interest to you too.  Cheers, Dave

[Altera_Forum]

--- Quote Start ---     Ok, since you have someone to help, it might be good. First you have to describe what you would be doing with elevators. Just checking the buttons is a bit limited in terms of what you would learn. So, would your FPGA be used to control the elevator motors, or perhaps communicate the elevator location and motion parameters to a control system? Perhaps the FPGA could be used to control the elevator motion, i.e., from a stop, accelerate at a specified rate until reaching a specified speed, and then decelerating to reach the desired floor. The design has to be complicated enough for you to learn something practical.   --- Quote End ---    what i have in mind about elevators, is that i would be doing a remote control access to the elevator, where u can check errors, set parameters to the existing code, watch the motion of the elevator in action on a screen. but im trying to find a way to connect it to the internet, maybe connect it to an ethernet card.. but im not sure if that even possible.. even that i think in FPGA everything is possible... this is what im think i will do .. buit after research i find that there is already a remote control for elevators, maybe i can make it less expensive in a way.. or less complicated.. thats why i find it interresting. and i dont have to worry alot about the materials because its more logical than phisical.   but this is not for sure my project.. im still doing some research about other topics too.. hope ill come up with a good project.  dave thanks alot for your posts! cheers:)

[Altera_Forum]

--- Quote Start ---  what i have in mind about elevators, is that i would be doing a remote control access to the elevator, where u can check errors, set parameters to the existing code, watch the motion of the elevator in action on a screen. but im trying to find a way to connect it to the internet, maybe connect it to an ethernet card.. but im not sure if that even possible.. even that i think in FPGA everything is possible...   --- Quote End ---   Yes, with an FPGA, anything is possible. However, much of what you describe here is also possible with a microcontroller, so it does not leverage the features of an FPGA.    --- Quote Start ---   .. but after research i find that there is already a remote control for elevators, maybe i can make it less expensive in a way.. or less complicated.. thats why i find it interresting. and i dont have to worry alot about the materials because its more logical than phisical.    --- Quote End ---    You're on the right track; propose a project that you can implement with the FPGA hardware you already have access to. You can add sensors and outputs to that hardware to simulate your real-world application. Don't worry if you are reproducing an existing system. Your supervisor/reviewers should be grading you on your problem solving skills and on your solution.    --- Quote Start ---   but this is not for sure my project.. im still doing some research about other topics too.. hope ill come up with a good project.   --- Quote End ---    I'm sure you will.  Cheers, Dave

[Altera_Forum]

--- Quote Start ---  Yes, with an FPGA, anything is possible. However, much of what you describe here is also possible with a microcontroller, so it does not leverage the features of an FPGA.  --- Quote End ---    well i ddnt knew that i can do the same with a microcontroller.. we worked on microcontrollers last semester,if its just to set parameters, that i know it works. but can a microcontroller be connected to an ethernet card? and produce ethernet packets? i think if it can produce an thernet packet and can be connected to an ethernet card, my problem is solved.. with a microcontroller it will be simpler than what we have in the market, plus, it's less expensive!  once again dave, thanks alot for replying

[Altera_Forum]

--- Quote Start ---  well i ddnt knew that i can do the same with a microcontroller.. we worked on microcontrollers last semester,if its just to set parameters, that i know it works. but can a microcontroller be connected to an ethernet card? and produce ethernet packets? i think if it can produce an thernet packet and can be connected to an ethernet card, my problem is solved.. with a microcontroller it will be simpler than what we have in the market, plus, it's less expensive!   --- Quote End ---    If you want to do the elevator project, and do not have to use an FPGA, then I'd recommend the BeagleBone board:  http://beagleboard.org/ http://beagleboard.org/static/beaglebone/latest/readme.htm  Its US$89, and has Ethernet built in. If this board has export restrictions, then there are plenty of Ethernet+USB based microcontrollers. NXP, ST Microelectronics, and TI have plenty of boards to chose from.  Cheers, Dave

[Altera_Forum]

Dave, thanks alot man, this is really helpful!!!!