Air car concept

What does it take to shock the world? The answer is simple: innovation. And when it comes to innovation in the automobile sector, Volvo, arguably stands apart.
At the LA Auto Show, Volvo came up with a vehicle concept that may seem bizarre to some, cool to many and splendid to most. Yes, we are talking about the Air Motion Concept – a nearly 1000 pound four seater enclosed in a carbon-fiber clamshell.

The Air Motion Concept runs on a tank full of compressed air. And it doesn’t stop there, as Volvo even went as far as proposing wind-powered refueling stations in order to ensure that the power for the Air Motion Concept is borne solely out of thin air.

Virtualization

Client desktop computing is surely the new way towards connecting people to offices. Virtual desktops or Virtual machines will soon be employed in many offices providing better flexibility to hardware and software selection.
This will reduce the hardware cost of servers and desktops and CPU maintenance in office. This will also reduce the cost of softwares as most will be deployed in the virtual machines. This is a key to cutting costs, lowering complexity, as well as increasing agility as needs shift.

Social Profile Management(Advanced Analytics)

Online Social Networking sites have blasted the news channel on each opportunity in 2009 and it will continue to do so in 2010. More and more real time contents would be distributed online and consumed by people. Online networking will see more than just sharing information.

2009 had an overwhelming reaction towards social media which created a lot of junk in the Internet. Currently, information’s and contents go to waste and don’t make their way toward the targeted audiences.

2010 will see a revolution towards social profile management with advance analytics. This will be applying spam control over your networks and strengthening the efficiency of your network connections. As sites like LinkedIn, Twitter and Face book are used in professional hiring, Profile search will also be a big thing. Social network provides a best way to reach out to potential businesses. Hence search (not for content) but for people should be big. Social profile management with advance analytics will be the next big thing for social networks

Net Phone

We are already seeing the importance of Google Voice, which many Americans have enjoyed. We already have software like Skype which allows you to communicate through the internet data line.

This demonstrates that people are still comfortable with voice communication and it is not going to die. We would still want to call our friends and families and communicate. Hence, we might see more advancement in VOIP technology.

Though mobile network providers would have to play a hard battle with the VOIP services, the conflict between these two models will end once we have more and more VOIP services running in our mobile devices.

Tablet

We must admit that a tablet is a concept that has been around us for a very long time. But it is still not the consumer device that people would die for. But after the increase in sales and demands of Amazon Kindle and Nook, the market is pretty sure that a tablet is soon to be the device to have. So at this time, if Apple can bring the device with the interface that people are looking for then that’s it – We have our new iPOD. It is not a biased statement, but a truth in some way.

The reason that I say is because Online Reading is something that every Internet users do and Tablet provides the best way to consume the Internet content. Though we might still be working on a Laptop, Tablet will be the way to consume digital content.

Bpl Modem

         

BPL modems use silicon chipsets specially designed to handle the work load of pulling data out of an electric current. Using specially developed modulation techniques and adaptive algorithms, BPL modems are capable of handling power line noise on a wide spectrum

The device transforms your house´s existing electrical wiring into a ubiquitous networking infrastructure, it will easily extend your Cable/xDSL broadband connection or existing LAN to any other electrical outlet in any room of your house without new cabling.

provides an easy way to set it up, just simply connect one adapter to your router, plug it into your existing power outlet, and then it could help you to build up the whole house network connection and provide Internet access

Modulation & FSK

  Modulation and Demodulation Technique
There are many modulation techniques available for our requirement, but we have opted to use Frequency Shift Keying (FSK). FSK has much better performance compared to amplitude modulation and frequency modulation, with minimum losses. Although techniques like OFDM would give better performance, but it is out of our scope to implement it as it involves lots of mathematical theories.

 Frequency shift keying

Frequency-shift keying is a modulation technique used by modems in which two different frequencies in the carrier signal are used to represent the binary states of 1 and 0. Using FSK, a modem converts the binary data from a computer into a binary form in which logic 1 is represented by an analog waveform at a specific frequency and logic 0 is represented by a wave at  a different specific frequency .The diagram below represents the phenomenon.

Frequency shift keying is a form of frequency modulation in which the modulating shifts the output frequency between predetermined values. Continuous phase forms of FSK exist in which there is no phase discontinuity in the modulated signal. The example shown below is of such a form. Other names for FSK are frequency-shift modulation and frequency-shift signaling

 Bit representation in FSK

Windows Phone 7 OS

The Final Version of the Windows Phone 7 Development Kit is expected to release on 16 September 2010. The Beta Version of the Windows Phone 7 was placed on the Microsoft Website for the Developers to test the Platform.

According to an estimate the Beta Version of Windows Phone 7 was downloaded  300,000 times.  According to the Feedback received by Microsoft about the  Windows Phone 7 support for more Visual Tools will be injected into the Windows Phone 7 SDK.

Microsoft is organizing Training Courses, offering free videos and some tutorails to convince Developers work upon the Windows Phone 7 Platform.

A lot of Famous Companies have already started to manufacture their upcoming projects over the Windows Phone 7 Platform.

Microsoft is now in direct Competition with the Internet Giant Google over Android Platform.

Meter Interface

Meter Interface Module

The Electric Meters used in the project will be the Electro Mechanical Meters which are installed in Pakistan. The system uses the existing meters by attaching a meter interface module to it. This will reduce the cost of installing new meters. 
To send the meter readings on the power line the readings have to be converted into digital data for which the meter interface module is required. The meter interface module consists of three main components:
1.    Sensor Circuit
2.    Microcontroller
3.    Power Line Modem

AMR using Power Line Communication

 

 AMR using Power Line Communication

AMR using Power Line Communication is a method where electronic data is transmitted over power lines back to the central computer. This would be considered a fixed network type system, and is primarily used for electric meter reading. It works on the already built power line infrastructure.

Disadvantages
Power Line communication is a cost effective solution but undergoes very high losses which give us a low data rate.


    Conclusion
Out of the above methods used for AMR, Power Line Communication (PLC) is implemented in the system designed. PLC is a cost effective method as no new infra structure is needed. Another advantage of the system is that even with advancement in technologies AMR using PLC system will not require any changes.

The only problem with PLC is its low data rates [2], but the fact that the meter readings do not require high data rates compensates this problem. Data rates can further be improved by using encoding schemes.

AMR using Handheld Devices

AMR using Handheld Devices

Handheld AMR is where a meter reader carries a handheld computer with a built-in or attached transceiver to collect meter readings from an AMR capable meter. This is sometimes referred to as "walk-by" meter reading since the meter reader walks by the locations where meters are installed as they go through their meter reading route. Handheld computers may also be used to manually enter readings without the use of AMR technology.

Disadvantages
Handheld devices are better than the conventional way of going to every house to read the meters, but it still requires a person to go near the Electric meter and read the meters.

AMR using fixed network

AMR using Fixed Wireless Network

Fixed Network AMR is a method where a network is permanently installed to capture meter readings. This method can consist of a series of antennas, towers, collectors, repeaters, or other permanently installed infrastructure to collect transmissions of meter readings from AMR capable meters and get the data to a central computer without a person in the field to collect it.
There are several types of network topologies in use to get the meter data back to a central computer. A star network is the most common, where a meter transmits its data to a central collector or repeater. Some systems use only collectors which receive and store data for processing. Others also use a repeater which forwards a reading from a more remote area back to a main collector without actually storing it. A repeater may be forwarded by RF signal or sometimes is converted to a wired network such as telephone or IP network to get the data back to a collector.
Disadvantages
The cost of installing the infrastructure for the wireless system is very high.

Theoretical Background OF AMR

   INTRODUTION
In this section the Automated Meter Reading Systems implementation for Electric Meters is discussed.

    AMR USING RADIO FREQUENCY
Radio frequency based AMR has many forms. The more common ones are Handheld, Mobile, and Fixed network. There are both two-way RF systems and one-way RF systems in use that use both licensed and unlicensed RF bands.
   AMR using GSM

 AMR using GSM Network

GSM works on 900/1800 MHz [1] and sends the meter readings in short text messages every time the meter is paged. The meter readings are collected at the Data concentrator unit where they are processed to generate bills and provide facilities.
Disadvantages
Using GSM for AMR means that the network of the mobile operator has to be used. Every time a SMS is sent we will have to pay for it and hence will become very expensive. Besides this the system will be heavily dependent on the mobile operator. Any upgrades in the mobile network would require changes in the AMR system as well.

Smart Grid

The SMART GRID is a utility operations solution that has advanced capability and provides automation of electrical grids. It has three components:
·    Intelligent physical devices that are either part of the grid (such as capacitors or automatic meter readers), or connected to the grid (such as remote cameras)
·    A 2-way BPL communications network that connects the physical devices to the control centre where the data is stored.
·    A set of applications and algorithms that process the collected data to provide high level, high value information and can control the physical devices.
The diagram below (AMR Architecture) shows how consumer meter readings are collected by the Data Collector and then transmitted back to the Operations Centre via BPL and fiber backhaul. Relays or remote ON/OFF devices connected to the network can also be actively controlled.

AMR Architecture

BPL (described in the previous section) is an enabler for the SMART GRID, providing the communications from the data collector to the control centre, allowing data collection as well as remote control of the intelligent devices.

Broadband Over Powerline Grid Operations

BPL AND GRID OPERATIONS

An important principle of BPL technology is that it does not affect the normal operation of the Grid, or the transmission and distribution of electricity to the consumer. BPL equipment is designed with this in mind, and both theory and practical tests have shown that BPL does not affect normal operation of the Grid.

1.    The frequencies used by BPL technology (typically 2 MHz to 34 MHz) are outside the range that would affect the Grid, and the power used (typically 0.1Watt) is insignificant compared to the power transmitted by the SEC to the consumer.

2.    Detailed tests demonstrating that BPL does not affect the normal operation of the Grid, or the transmission and distribution of electricity to the consumer have been carried out by approvals bodies in a number of countries. Fiber Bridge Communications, Inc. participated in and observed some of these tests.

Broadband Over Powerline Applications

BPL APPLICATIONS

There are a number of basic applications for this BPL technology:
1.    BPL can provide communications connectivity for Distribution Automation applications such as remote capacitor control, automatic meter reading and remote ON/OFF capabilities, among others. These applications are covered in more detail in the next section

2.    BPL can be used to create an IP access network to solve the "Last-Mile" dilemma. Since the Grid is available throughout the country, BPL is simply an add-on to that existing electrical infrastructure which will allow every consumer to gain access to the Internet.  Customer applications such as WWW access, Voice over Internet Protocol, video on demand, telemedicine, and distance learning can be established on these systems
.
3.    Since the BPL network touches all of the electrical components connected to the electrical grid, there is an opportunity to install monitoring and security devices anywhere on the Grid that has been BPL enabled. The BPL network provides 2-way high-speed communications to all of these devices. Devices could include:

—    Security Cameras
—    Biological Contaminant detection
—    Gas / Chemical detection
—    Corrosion monitoring
—    Pipeline Monitoring

Broadband Over Powerline Solutions

BPL SOLUTIONS

There are two basic types of BPL solutions, “access” and “in-building”. Typically, access BPL connects the MV substation to the consumer’s premises, whereas in­­-building BPL is a Local Area Network replacement technology used to connect offices or units within a multiple tenant building.  Different technologies are generally used for these different solutions.

Note that in some countries, the technology discussed in this document is referred to as PLC or Power Line Communications.  This term should not be confused with the term Power Line Carrier also referred to as PLC. Power Line Carrier is a narrowband communications technology typically operating at 75bps using the 9.6kHz frequency band often used with Automatic Meter Reading and SCADA systems.

Broadband Over Powerline

THEORETICAL BACKGROUND OF BPL

The diagram below (BPL Architecture) shows IP data from the Internet being injected at the HV/MV substation, travelling through the electrical grid and being accessed by consumers using a BPL modem at their premises.

                                                       BPL Architecture

The BPL equipment injects the IP data as an RF signal into the overhead or underground power lines using ferrite cores. The RF signal is typically injected at the medium voltage (“MV”) substation, bypasses low voltage (“LV”) transformers and is delivered to the end-users' electricity sockets in their home or business.
The diagram below (Inductive Coupling Injection Technique) shows how the BPL injector converts the IP data traffic into an RF signal in a signal cable. The signal is then injected into the MV or LV cable by induction using ferrite cores. This is known as “inductive coupling” and can be done without switching off power. An alternative injection technique, known as “conductive coupling” connects the signal cable directly to the electricity cables. This technique requires the power to be switched off during connection for safety reasons.

Inductive Coupling Injection Technique

The end-user simply connects a BPL modem to any power socket in the building for access to the BPL RF signal. The BPL modem converts the RF signal back into IP data. The end-user then connects the BPL modem into a computer, server, switch, or wireless access point.

Android

Android™ delivers a complete set of software for mobile devices: an operating system, middleware and key mobile applications. The Android Software Development Kit (SDK) is now available.


Android was built from the ground-up to enable developers to create compelling mobile applications that take full advantage of all a handset has to offer. It was built to be truly open. For example, an application can call upon any of the phone's core functionality such as making calls, sending text messages, or using the camera, allowing developers to create richer and more cohesive experiences for users. Android is built on the open Linux Kernel.




Fast & easy application development

Android provides access to a wide range of useful libraries and tools that can be used to build rich applications. For example, Android enables developers to obtain the location of the device, and allows devices to communicate with one another enabling rich peer-to-peer social applications.