Executive SummaryTechnical SpecificationsIntroductionBackgroundDesign SpecificationsDesign CriteriaConceptual DesignPhase I: Power ArchitecturePhase II: System Architecture PrototypesLaptop ArchitectureMulti-Seat ArchitectureBlade-Client ArchitectureThin Client ArchitecturePhase III: Power ManagementPhase IV: ContentProject Management We will be designing and building a power management system for our multiseated computer system. This system will monitor voltage and current levels at key points in the system and use this information to obtain real-time data such as percent battery remaining, time until dead battery, and current charging conditions. To implement this system we plan on using a PIC18F4520 for all processing functions. Various voltages can be read using the PICs analog inputs. For current sensing we are using LEM FHS-40P Hall effect sensors. These sensors measure the electromagnetic field created from the current flowing through the wire and convert this to a voltage that the PIC can then calculate the current with. The PIC will communicate with the server using the serial data bus. This is preferred over USB because it is easier to implement and tends to be more reliable. Also a serial to usb converter is easy to acquire off the shelf if the server is lacking a serial port. Our power management system will function with or without the server. An LCD screen will display pertinent information. More information can be accessed via several buttons which will allow scrolling through a menu. Several LEDs will display critical information such as power on, low power, and service needed. When power becomes critically low, less than 10%, the PIC will initiate a shutdown sequence which will save important data to the server and then turn off all of the components safely. Once the system has been charged to an appropriate level the system will perform as usual.Design Teams and RolesEngineering (Michigan State University)Telecommunications (Michigan State University)Tanzania (University of Dar es Salaam)ReferencesImagesNomenclatureTEAM 2Solar-Powered Multi-Seat Computer Kioskfor Tanzanian ClassroomsECE Facilitator Jian RenTelecomm Facilitator Kurt DeMaagdUDSM Solar Advising Professor Dominick ChambegaUDSM Telecomm Advising Professor Aloys MvumaManagement Jakub MazurWeb Josh WongDocument Ben KershnerPresentation/Lab Eric TarklesonTelecomm Joe LarsenTelecomm Tor BjornrudUDSM Telecomm Victor CralletRequest for Pre-Proposal Draft -– October 13th September 17, 2008Sponsored By:In Cooperation With:Michigan State University University of Dar es SalaamExecutive SummaryWith the increasing proliferation of affordable, reliable personal computers into the marketplace, there is a great demand to develop affordable personal computers for remote and undeveloped areas. One such potential region is rural East Africa, specifically Tanzania. Before deploying a computer system into such harsh conditions, several obstacles must be overcome, including source of electricity, telecommunications, and the savannah climate. The Lenovo Corporation has tasked this team to develop a solar-powered computer workstation that can accommodate up to eight users. The solution must be robust enough to withstand the harsh environment with as little technical maintenance as possible, yet still be affordable for rural schools.2Table of ContentsEXECUTIVE SUMMARY 2TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS 4INTRODUCTION 4 BACKGROUND 4 DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS 5 DESIGN CRITERIA 5 CONCEPTUAL DESIGN 6 PHASE I: POWER ARCHITECTURE 7 PHASE II: SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE PROTOTYPES 8 PHASE III: POWER MANAGEMENT 14 PHASE IV: CONTENT 14 PROJECT MANAGEMENT 15DESIGN TEAMS AND ROLES 15 REFERENCES 16IMAGES 16 NOMENCLATURE 16 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 2TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS 4INTRODUCTION 4 BACKGROUND 4 DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS 4 CONCEPTUAL DESIGN 4 SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE PROTOTYPES 4 PROPOSED DESIGN SOLUTION 5 RISK ANALYSIS 5 PROJECT MANAGEMENT 8DESIGN TEAMS AND ROLES 8 BUDGET 6 REFERENCES 10IMAGES 10 NOMENCLATURE 10 3Technical SpecificationsIntroductionThe primary goal of this project is to help promote education in developing countries by providing grade schools with electronic resources. There are a variety of other groups that have already initiated solutions to this problem. The most prominent group is the One Laptop Per Child Association (hereinafter referred to as OLPC), which has created a cheap, durable laptop known as the XO-1. Other groups such as the Center for Scientific Computing and Free Software (hereinafter referred to as C3SL) have made significant strides in reusing older computers for schools; however, both of those programs have some significant drawbacks. BackgroundThe primary goal of our product is to help promote education of the youth of various third world countries. There are lots of other groups that are investigating solutions to the problem. The most prominent group is the One Laptop Per Child Program (OLPC). Other groups such as the Center for Scientific Computing and Free Software (C3SL) have made significant strides in reusing older computer for schools.However, both of those programs have some significant drawbacks. The primary competitor we haveidentified is the OLPC. The OLPC Association, this program is dedicated to producing low cost laptops andintended for distributing themion to low incomelow-income areas. Our design aims to correct some of the flaws found in the OLPC program. One of the major problems with the OLPC is integrating the educational programs of the countries. There exist several pOther problems with the program, s includinge the per-deployment costt of the program, and deployment. The original intent of the program was to deliver a laptopto every child for a cost of $100 per device. However Tthe program, however, iswas unable to deliver the laptop at the $100 target,; in fact, the cost to donate a system isalmostcloser to $200. Deployments also Also, in order to program is requireing a minimum commitment of 100 laptops
View Full Document
Unlocking...