Research and Lab Projects

International Conference Paper

Title: Automatic Bengali number plate reader

Published in: TENCON 2017 - 2017 IEEE Region 10 Conference

Date of Conference: 5-8 Nov. 2017

Date Added to IEEE Xplore: 21 December 2017

Electronic ISSN: 2159-3450

INSPEC Accession Number: 17501750

DOI: 10.1109/TENCON.2017.8228070

Publisher: IEEE

Conference Location: Penang, Malaysia

Abstract— In this paper, we propose a connected component analysis-based algorithm to automatically detect and read Bengali number plates used in the metropolitan cities of Bangladesh. Our proposed automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) system involves image pre-processing and morphological operation followed by edge detection, regional localization, and character segmentation to identify the Bengali characters in the number plate efficiently as well as with less computational complexity. For various weather conditions, our proposed algorithm shows a detection accuracy rate of ~95% with an average processing time of 0.75 seconds. Our system might be highly effective in real-time traffic control, security enhancement as well in electronic toll collection.

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Images illustrating the processing steps of the algorithm (a) Sample picture of the number plate (b) Resized image (c) Image Converted to Grayscale (d) Median filtered Image (e) Image after Morphological Operation.

Processing steps of the algorithm (a) Image after 2D convolution (b) Final Binary image (c) Bounding box image

(d) Image after reducing the area

Figure: Final output as text file

B.Sc. Thesis

Device Modelling and Simulation of Stable and High Efficient Linearly Graded Perovskite Solar Cell

Hole transport material (HTM) plays a vital role in the efficiency and stability of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Spiro-MeOTAD, the most commonly used HTM, is very costly and can be easily degraded by moisture, thus offering a hindrance to commercializing PSCs. There is a dire need to find an alternate stable HTM to exploit PSCs with their maximum capability. In this thesis work, a comprehensive device simulation is used to study different possible parameters that can influence the performance of PSCs with a p-i-n structure (Glass/ TCO/TiO2/Perovskite/ CuI). CuI is used as HTM, it is a p-type inorganic material with low cost and relatively high stability. It is found that cell performance improves greatly with decreasing defect density and increasing absorber layer thickness but there is a practical limit. Upon optimization of parameters, power conversion efficiency (PCE) for this device is found to be 24.42 %. The result shows that lead-based PSC with CuI as HTM is a stable and efficient system. We also propose a heterojunction and linear bandgap grading of two perovskites for further increase of efficiency. Enhancing the stability and reduction of defect density are critical factors for future experimental research. These factors can be largely improved by a better fabrication process.

Figure : SCAPS Generated Energy-Band Diagram.

Figure: J-V characteristics comparison between graded and non-graded Perovskite.

Figure: Quantum efficiency comparison between graded and non-graded Perovskite.

A project, dedicated to my colleagues

Absent extractor for online classes

During the Covid-19 situation, the classes are being conducted online. As a teacher, we need to take attendances through the chatbox of different online meeting platforms such as Zoom, Google Meet, etc. The students write their IDs in the chatbox, after finishing the class we need to collect the IDs and enter them serially in the university software system. But the IDs in the chatbox are not sorted. It is a very hectic process for the teachers to look at the unsorted present IDs in the chatbox and give attendance one by one. So to ease this situation, I have made a python based application that will generate the list of sorted present and absent IDs. The features of the application are the following:

No need to install python for the users as it is a stand-alone application.
Generate sorted present, absent and unregistered IDs
Available for two popular online meeting platforms Google Meet and Zoom.
It can be used for other online meeting platforms by modifying slightly.

All the features have been demonstrated in the following video:

Figure: Application Interface

B.Sc Lab Projects

1. Robotic Hand Control Using Flexible Carbon Sensor

Flexible carbon sensors sense the bending of fingers and feed the signal to the micro-controller. The micro-controller then bends the fingers of the robotic hands according to the input signal. Servo motors are used to move the robotic fingers.

2. Laser Audio Transmitter and Receiver With Auto Alignment Feature
(Communication Lab)

Figure: Transmitter Circuit

Figure: Receiver Circuit

This laser communication system transmits sound or music signals through a laser beam. The intensity of the laser beam changes with the amplitude of the sound signal. The variation in the intensity of the laser beam is converted into a variation in the voltage level by using a micro solar panel. The voltage variation on the solar panel is amplified by a low-voltage audio power amplifier and reproduced by a speaker.

For our project, we created a transmitter and receiver setup that converts an analog audio signal, via a standard 3.5mm jack, and transmits it via a laser to a receiver, which converts the signal back into audio. The receiver can be rotated within its horizontal plane and uses a servo motor controlled by an Arduino UNO to automatically align it with the receiver. The end result is a wireless audio signal that cannot be overheard by other devices

3. Omitting targeted words from a parent speech signal.

Figure: Input signal containing targeted word

Figure: Output signal omitting targeted word

The objective of our project is to create a system to detect a specific word from a parent speech signal. The system is then instructed to omit the targeted word from the parent speech.

Overview: The overview of our project is given below:

1. Input of parent speech signal and targeted word signal;

2. Noise removal from those signals;

3. Omitting the redundant part of the signals;

4. Downsampling of the signals;

5. Finding target sequence by correlation and et cetera;

Application: There are numerous sectors where applying this technology can be really useful. Now – a – day’s vulgar words usage has been very much elevated and little children learn those words. This word omitting technique can be used to filter out the bad words. A database can be set up and this technique can be trained to identify those words from the database and filter them out automatically. Another application can be omitting copyrighted sequences from any audio or video clip. The pattern recognition technique used here can be further stretched out by having different models for different words. Thus a database of words can yield a database of word speech signal models which can be used for other many purposes.

4. Pre-paid Energy meter

This meter calculates consumed electrical energy (KWh) and the bill. The meter can be recharged using a pin code which will be available in scratch cards. We have used a hall effect sensor and the input pin of Arduino Uno to measure current and voltage respectively. The continuous input parameters are passed through a programming code that updates the balance status with a refreshing rate of 33 seconds.

5. Making Portable Vacuum Cleaner.

For home appliances, we are concerned about a useful device at minimum cost. This issue has motivated us to proceed with the project of a vacuum cleaner which has a rising demand for domestic uses.

For the effective operation of a vacuum cleaner, a universal motor is preferable for its higher starting torque and efficiency. As it can both operate on DC and AC keeping the torque direction the same we can go for the convenient one as per requirement. The universal motor operates at a higher speed at DC than AC with higher starting torque and increased efficiency. So we have chosen such a one for our required purpose. The mechanical setup was also designed so that the device can effectively pull out the dust from an open place and performs as a useful vacuum cleaner. While working with the machine, from the difficulties we have faced we have learned how this machine’s performance can be improved and we have included our recommendation for future improvement to deal with the miscellaneous complexities.

This machine indeed can be effectively used for home appliance purposes as we intended to make it work. We will be working in the future to make it work better.

6. Power Smoothing and Frequency Control of a Variable Speed Wind Turbine Generator (Simulink simulation)

The power output of the wind turbine generator is smoothed by using a parallel generator, which will contribute only when the supply of the turbine is not matched by the demand. The key point here is that the parallel generator will run from the energy stored previously by the wind turbine in a dc storage system. The bypass module will either bypass the power from the turbine or simply send the power from the DC storage system.

We mainly use Simulink, a package from Matlab to simulate our idea. We use different models for different parts of our system. Wind Turbine Induction Generator model was used to represent the wind turbine, and we used a synchronous machine to invert our DC to AC. We use a normally distributed random number generator to generate different wind velocities for our Turbine, the power output of the turbine is proportional to the wind velocity cubed. The real power output of the turbine is sent through a user-defined function and to the input of the synchronous machine. The user-defined function block acts as the bypass and switching module, not shown in Simulink, senses the power and decides whether the wind turbine power should be sent directly, or the DC storage power should be used or the DC storage should be charged.

Figure 1: Block Diagram

Schematic Diagram

For better view please click here

7. Lift control system logic of a multi-storied building (Digital Electronics Lab)

PCB Implementation

Complete Logic Circuit

Counter Block

Input Block

External Clear Block

Direction Determining Block

An Elevator is an inseparable part of a building structure. A complete study of elevator control of a 6- story building has been presented in this project using the digital logic circuit. One unique aspect of this work is that we have not included any Microcontroller or Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) for logic implementation in this design, rather we have emphasized developing logic equations by logic computation and using basic digital logic circuit components. At first, the probable events regarding the up and downwards movement of the elevator have been identified and they have been used as variables to form the logic equation to determine whether the present direction of the lift will be upward or downward. In this logic equation formation, the priority of the events is considered accordingly i.e. the requests have been served on a priority basis. Once the direction of the lift is determined, the lift will change its level depending on its current position. The input keys from the elevator users standing inside or outside of the lift and the output display showing the present position of the lift have been presented in this project as observed in a standard 6-story building elevator. We have used Proteus 8 Professional software to simulate our designed circuit to show its functionality and also implemented it on the hardware using breadboards and standard ICs. The lift was set to operate between six floors – identified as the ground floor, 1 st floor, 2nd floor, 3rd floor, 4th floor, and 5th floor respectively. Each of the lifts was to have six internal switches – labeled GF, 1F, 2F, 3F,4F, and 5F –for the ground, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th floors respectively. The lift was also to have ten external switches – labeled GUP, 1UP, 1DOWN, 2UP, 2DOWN, 3UP, 3DOWN, 4UP, 4DOWN, and 5DOWN which formed the basis of the common control system. There were thus a total of 16 switches in the complete setup of the lift. We have implemented this circuit both on the breadboard and in PCB.

8. 32-bit MIPS processor

Objective: The objective of the project is to design from concept to layout including the test-bench to verify the operation of a simplified version of a Microprocessor without Interlocked Pipeline Stages (MIPS) processor and create the gate level structure followed by physical design that covers floor-planning, power mesh, clock tree synthesis, nano-routing, post-routing timing optimization, and design rule check (DRC).

Project Details: A 32-bit MIPS processor has been designed keeping the following specifications in mind.

The instruction set is 32-bit and compatible with R-format, load operation, store operation, branch, and unconditional jump. The MIPS module (Processor module) has been designed only using synthesizable Verilog code. Although traditional MIPS architecture has 32 registers reserved for proper functionality, for the design purpose only $t0 - $t8 registers are used with 5-bit addressing i.e 5’b00000 corresponding to $s0 and 5’b01000 corresponding to $t8. With 32-bit addressing, the data memory has a size of 4Gb. For project demonstration, only the first 32 word memories have been initialized to zero. The machine code has been written in the instruction register. The R-format includes ALU operations such as ADD, SUB, AND, OR, NOR, SLT. The following opcode, function, alu_op, and alu_control bits are implemented according to their respective operation.