ECE 478 group project ideas

PLC controlled model train- This includes figuring out what's what, keeping track of where the train is, controlling the tracks and interfacing with the web people. Debugging the hardware is likely to be a part of this project.

PLC web interface- Modicon has an Ethernet/web server that can communicate with the PLC. Using a package called "factorycast" you can do all sorts of cool interactive web stuff with the PLC. What I'd really love is a web page that shows where the train is and allows you to control its path and/or turn it on and off. The group that worked on this last year had some difficulty…figuring out factorycast is definitely part of this project. (A new version is available)

Allen-Bradley PLC- The power lab has oodles of new Allen-Bradley equipment. With Patton's and/or Dunning's permission this group would dig into the equipment and report back what it is, what it does, what's better, what's worse.

Embedded control. I'm going to talk a bit about these in class, especially the PIC16F84. If you already have experience with them, it would be cool to do a project (such as the Electroluminiscent wire) using them. Having a PIC working with a PC or a PLC on a bigger problem is very cool indeed.

Feedback control- How about actually controlling something?

Fuzzy Logic- Always fun

Neural network- not as hard as it seems

Something else- The best project is one that interests you. If there is anything class related that you'd like to do, I'd love to hear about it.