Vacation update #1

Hello!

Good things happened till this point of time. I learned few important aspects of AVR MCUs like fuses, code efficiency and makefiles. I had to struggle with making makefile to compile and get the hex file out so that it can be uploaded to the chip with AVRDUDE. I also made a permanent 'seat' for my atmega328. Inserting and removing the chip from breadboard endangers its pins.

Had a minor surgery on right toe today at my hometown. Doctor commanded bedrest for 10 days. That is really bad but still I can read something. Now I am on quest to learn AVR C. That is all I can do for the next couple of weeks. I also need to allocate budgets for some projects yet to be done like kvasar, Piano tiles machine, waking machine, USBasp and quadcopter.

Much yet to do!

Goutham

Plans for the vacation

Another chance is coming and this time,

I am going to be the busiest being on the planet

At least for a month.

Seriously........

That's my one month vacation which comes once in a semester and I've got lots and lots of plans. Before discussing plans, let me update you with what happened to me recently.

After the post 'Hitman Blood Money', interesting things happened. Two months ago I bought a microcontroller board called Arduino. It's a PCB board with all support hardware needed to do physical computing, more specifically building embedded systems. These can be classified as computers for real life application as they need very little memory and few megahertz of clock cycles at very affordable cost to develop. The software to program Arduino can be downloaded free of cost. The best thing about Arduino is its wide spread fan community and hardware support from many third party vendors. 

Surprisingly after a month I stumbled upon a book titled 'Make: AVR programming' in books section of Arduino site. Before this I spent few weeks reading about how to program and how this board works. I also know that the chip they say is its heart is Atmega328. This chip does all core functions whatever the board does. This means you can simply use the chip and without any need of the board. Best thing about dealing just with single chip is bare minimum cost of the chip and its support hardware. 

Then I decided to get into this transition from third party-aided development to bare chip development and started learning embedded C(variant of C language structured for microcontroller purposes). Two weeks ago I had to head out of campus to buy an AVR chip and breadboard(I am still angry on my teacher for not returning back the semester project which I did on my most cherished breadboard). Also I bought inertial measurement unit(IMU) for my upcoming quadcopter project(I may face funding problem here...... I am not rich).

The above mentioned book is really great and it opened my eyes. I started right away and the night after returning back, I 'flashed' my first C program into the chip's memory. Below is the result. LED next to the chip was blinking and I jumped. Next step is following the book and learning to get to know everything that can be squeezed out of this microcontroller. Doing this can help me create whatever I can imagine. There are no limits for Imagination.

Here I use Arduino to act as communication  interface between my AVR microcontroller and computer 

Now we come to plans. Yeah plans....

>Learn AVR programming.
>Make an ISP device to replace Arduino in the picture above.
>Make and test induced lucid dreaming machine what I heard being called Kvasar.
>Learn to make custom PCB designs with EAGLE and try my hand in PCB fabrication.
>I have problem waking up at right time. A waking machine can help me do that.
>Build head mounted magnifying glasses that magnify using motor control. Fine adjustment.
>Make a prototype of something that solves piano tiles android app, substituting human fingers.
>Quadcopter(should go smooth if there is no funding problem).

These should keep me busy for a month I guess.
I will keep updating about the progress here.

Goutham

Internet of Things

        Before we start discussing the above topic I want you to realize that we as civilization have advanced very rapidly in the last decade, mainly in fields of telecommunication, healthcare, composite materials, automobiles, efficiency and cost of electronics, etc. There is plethora of technologies surrounding us that we take for granted. All these made and continue to make our lives easier in making and managing huge amounts of data. Without our knowledge, data like calendars, email and memos in our smartphone gets synchronized with data on internet which prevents us from updating once again on keyboard. This collective system of knowledge is now referred to as “cloud”. Cloud computing is ubiquitous now. It is the backbone of every large organization. That’s why more attention is being given to a ‘secure’ cloud since privacy and security come first.

The cloud apparently is a part of internet. Internet is now a widespread thing. Back at starting of 2000’s, having a LAN connection at home used to be a privilege. Now, a decade later we get data allowance of 25MB on mobile phones for a day at five rupees. It has become a necessity for everyone to stay connected.

Now, we just have devices like mobiles, tablets, servers and PCs interconnected across vast networks. These devices have input-output capabilities in a very limited way. Your laptop can derive input from human interfaces like mouse, keyboard and joystick, networks and protocols like Bluetooth, WiFi, Ethernet, etc. and data storages like SD card, Compact disk and hard drives but cannot seek input from real time events like reading temperature, recognizing sign language, sensing human presence. In a nutshell, a microprocessor cannot directly interact with the beautiful analog world. It needs special devices primarily Analog to Digital Converter (ADC) to sample signals from real world and this is where signal processing, microcontrollers (uC) and physical computing come in. A uC is designed to be robust and for low cost applications where you need just low power 32KB, 16MHz rather than an excess 2GB, 2GHz.

Connecting the world

We have been hearing things like smart homes, smart grid and smart traffic. Now we are about to know what makes these to be prefixed ‘smart’. The above mentioned low cost and minimal power devices can change the way we live if they are interconnected and programmed to behave in a way to communicate and cooperate with other devices. Many Facebook users skip breakfast but don’t forget to check number of likes the last uploaded selfie got. What if a box called ‘like counter’ is build which takes feed from phone’s FB app in background via WiFi and shows it in a mechanical odometer display? You now need not log in again as you observe the digits turning up by themselves. A RFID tag can be placed inside pet dog’s collar. With this thought there are many possibilities like tracking movements with receivers placed at fixed spots, opening an automated door just when the dog near its tray so the food doesn’t get spoiled and even tweeting whenever the dog barks with piezo microphone placed below its jaw.

The picture below gives rough picture of what ‘Internet of Things (IoT)’ means.

There is a well known contemporary relevant saying. “Don’t just keep staring at the screen. Shut it and look up. The world is much more real and beautiful”. The purpose of today’s technology is not to engage us more in gadgets but to reduce time in managing data and save time to build real relations and focus on our jobs. To achieve this aim more effectively, IoT is the next technology revolution which connects objects right from books in library to vital monitoring wearable computers of health conscious morning walkers, from pickle jar lids to toilet seats. Kevin Ashton, editor, RFID journal quoted “The Internet of Things has the potential to change the world, just as the Internet did. Maybe even more so”.

In large scale and more serious applications like integrating Bluetooth enabled pacemakers in heart patients, log their activity and upload them to a huge database where surveys and studies can be made. In worst case, the nearest ambulance can be alerted if a person suffers from a cardiac arrest. In other case, temperature and moisture sensors inside soil of a greenhouse powered by this technology can be fully automated where sprinklers and thermostats can target specific plants to be watered and maintained based on their location.

As of now IoT is only confined to specific environments such as homes and electricity grids in Europe and America. With microcontrollers and wireless networking devices, we as individuals can develop prototypes and devise special protocols for Machine to Machine (M2M) communication and be at forefront of this second wave of internet(of objects rather than computers) which may have greater impact than what (first) internet did.  

Hitman Blood Money

Hello!

I recently copied this game from my roommate. I was always a Hitman
fan since I played Hitman 2:silent assassin in 4th grade and this game
not like those run and shoot games like Call of duty, Counterstrike
and Medal of Honor. This is a stealth game which means logic comes
first before action. Great game it is and I completed it in one
week(very easy mode). Next I wish to play the next game of the series,
Hitman: Absolution. But that will take a long time from now I guess.

RIP Mandolin Shrinivas

|| Mandolin U Shrinivas (1969 - 2014) ||

If you ask me whose recent death has left me bereaved....

I would answer "Mandolin Srinivas".

U Shrinivas was unique in many ways. He was a gifted child. He started playing Mandolin when he was just six years old. He gave his first concert at age of nine. He was awarded Padma Shri at a young age of 29. He is regarded as one of the geniuses in Indian classical music arena.

Before mandolin stepped into Carnatic music, only violin was considered to be comparable with the vocal sound. This is because of the fret less freedom it gives the player to make transition from one note to another, also called Gamaka. But when Mandolin came into picture, Shrinivas jaw-dropped skeptics with awe and wonder. Everyone asked "How can a child play like that?".

There is a great saying, "Fear not the weapon but the hand which yields it". Same applies here. initially this European instrument was considered fit just to play harmonics and film music. The stringent requirements of Carnatic music made even violin take close to 200 years to get adopted into it. But Shrinivas made it for mandolin under 50 years. 

I came across this person in my ninth grade when my mother bought a CD collection set featuring famous Indian artistes. One of them had well known kritis played on mandolin. My interest in him started and also I came to know that he is the one who brought and modified mandolin, a western instrument by making it five-stringed, electrified it by adding pickup and a custom amplifier.

Links: (http://www.carnatica.net/sangeet/mandolin.htm) (http://www.carnatica.net/sangeet/mandolin2.htm )

I listen to his mind blowing solos for Remember Shakti band. Most of the time I feel a form of electricity like ecstasy flowing through my body. Here I close my eyes and spiral towards heaven thinking "This is music of Gods, This is music of Gods".

Here are few links I suggest:

Bombay Makossa, probably the last album recorded featuring Mandolin Shrinivas:

http://mio.to/album/Chingari,+Etienne+Mbappe,+Ranjit+Barot,+Mandolin+Srinivas/Bombay+Makossa+%282014%29 

I get chills watching this:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=jB95clOd6v0

Just lie down and listen;

www.youtube.com/watch?v=5__bzQ8oDuE

Shrinivas leads the band with fast paced mandolin:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1lWRfiSVls

Upcoming stuff

Yes

I wanted to mention about things that went on for last two months.

I listen Remember Shakti, a band which plays Indian classical Jazz(watch this full concert at the link http://youtu.be/UfjxtcNYKz4). First time when one of my friends mentioned about this band, I watched the above video and that was when I decided to learn a string instrument and it was when I really got interested in music and its depth of knowledge. Its how the music of this band has inspired me. Its simply awesome. As I commented on the video, it is the music of Gods.

Upon asking, father rejected my proposal of learning classical music on violin, though my mother supported me(she is a very good Carnatic vocalist). I was told to concentrate on my studies and prepare for upcoming competitive exams like GATE, GRE, etc.

Since I had a bit knowledge of how a Guitar works(from first semester), I decided to craft my own Mandolin(I am a big fan of Mandolin Shrinivas, Carnatic classical mandolin exponent. He is the pioneer in  introducing Carnatic music on mandolin, a western instrument). Crafting the body is easier than neck part on which fretboard is positioned. It simply cannot be made without crafting skills and good expertise. It needs perfect curvature and correct positioning of frets(metal wires of correct alloy embedded on rosewood slice). I even tried sourcing it from custom string makers but in vain(actually no one sells just a fretboard, that sounds ridiculous). But it was worth trying.

My other interest that I recently developed was towards micro-controllers and single board computers. One of them is Arduino (www.arduino.cc), which I always wanted to own. It is a micro-controller board which gives you the power creating computers that sense and interact with external physical environment, unlike your personal computer which just interacts with you. I read all the documentation and things related to these IC's and software that is used to program the IC. This IC is heart of the intelligent system which accepts ,stores, processes and gives output as it is said.

Now I have one. Received it yesterday by courier. Overwhelmed by number of things possible with the green thing shown below. Its Arduino Uno R3:-)

My new Arduino Uno R3 with laptop computer
Compare the two processors. The board's and that of the computer's.

I will keep exploring and never stay still. Staying still is a nightmare.

Goutham

CT 2 OVER!

Hello!

With today's aptitude test, the second cycle test got completed.

Earlier I mentioned about my disappointment about my performance in the first one. This time It is better but though not up to mark. Few subjects were really better but others went not as I expected. Below is discussion of how this came about. It is an Introspection.

I dreamed of many things before entering 2nd year. Some of them are

-Learning everyday and every hour something new

-Indulging myself in good activities and good relationships

-Trying good ideas and doing really good projects which I sometimes dream

-Blogging about myself and my interests more often(now, I am posting after long time)

Overall, I should say that I am not leading a totally efficient life like I have done in my first year. Something is holding me back. I seem to live in a dogma, constrained, restricted to my inner self.

This can be boring for you to read but I share these feelings to introspect myself. This blog is a reflection of me. I write here like this when I find no hope in myself to change. It has been two months and a week since third semester has started and for me, life seemed normal all the way till now.

Now, the exams are over and don't return for atleast a month. Now its time for phase II. This phase of life involves unleashing myself. Unleashing my talent in whatever I am good in. The next post tells how this is done.

So, its time to rock!!!

Let's ROCK!!!

Goutham

I fell down

Dear readers

This post by me comes after a week action and a week regret. As its my duty to post aleast once a month, I am obliged to share my harrowing experience with you.

The first week after entering 2nd at college went very well as I got adjusted to the new hostel and new roomates. After that my time was not well as I was suffering from toe infection. Many things came along. I liked few and I didn't get with others. I also admit I was lethargic when it came to revising and practising lessons and I postponed the major portion to 'just before' the first exam. Then life hit me( I mean I hit myself). Marks in two subjects were devastating and others were just fine. This kind of scene is unusual for me.

For now, No Regrets.

The next exams are just eleven days away and I need to prove my mettle before I am shot down by life once again.

The next post is only after I have completed my next exams and will report you whats next to happen....

Goutham

I am a 'Senior" now and more

Yes

I already became a senior when I turned 18 earlier this year.

But this is of real significance. Now I am feeling more free at the
same time, more responsible towards what I do. Be it studies or more
general things like controlling money flow out of wallet. I completed
one year out of four of my undergraduate studies in electronics
engineering. I am still a hobbyist and no professional engineer. I
play with IC's and few discreet components on breadboard now and then.
This generally includes timers, counters, single chip amplifiers,
transistors and distortion, motors, LED's, logic gates and
voltmeter(most essential one). Nothing serious about it yet. I just
watch voltages rise and drop as planned and never did serious study
like real circuit design and experimenting. Even in the summer
vacation I just took rest reading about interesting stuff like
human-computer interface, electroshock weapons, guitar effects, 3D
printing, exoskeleton and lucid dreaming but did not try to bring them
to life. Though learning is a prerequisite to do wonders we cannot
always keep on learning things forever. Its time to test and prove
that these are indeed possible to do by a layman(like me).

Every dog has his day and also every hotshot does. Well, so its time
to be a hotshot. Of course, one cannot become a hotshot overnight. It
needs pure perseverance and love towards what you do.I have been
blogging for almost four years and this really helped me to become
good at writing random stuff, also to drain all the feelings and cool
my mind. In addition, I started listening fusion music of bands like
Remember Shakti. It comprises of musicians having superhuman
creativity and speed that inspires my awe everyday.

Closing in, the place where I study is not really filled with
intellectual stimulation. There are very few people here who have an
open mind and guts to follow their passion. Many others just hangout
in the campus. We need more geeks in India now. I mean more real geeks
whose hearts ache when they find themselves fooling around aimlessly
or gaming more often.

Goutham

Greatest gift of life is also the toughest to use

This post comes after a long time of thought, experience and repent.

Hello !

Take this seriously. Do you know the real value of freedom? Real value of time? Ask an ex-prisoner who was sentenced in prison for 40 years.

40 years is half an average human life. One can become a billionaire, a four time olympic gold medallist, an acclaimed genius, nobel prize winner, politician and even a president. In short 40 years is a life in itself and this person above has spent his 40 years of lifetime confined to a single place. Imagine yourself in his shoes. Imagine how you would have spent all these years in prison, every second. Thats why even prisons have their inmates do something useful and social like reading, sports,handlooms and sometime movies to chill.

Of course its not worth comparing life in prison with that of outside but just think of the pain you suffer if you were time conscious.

You dream of many things at work or at college about what you would be doing in a rare upcoming vacation. When the time comes you veer off from designated goals. Say that is non-ideal behaviour caused due to lazyness, lethargy,etc. This is a clear proof that freedom is the toughest thing man gets gifted. It is when you do what you like the most and gain experience. Be it any hobby or study you like to do.

Life is limited. Use the best.

Goutham

This is a great website!

Hello!

I found this website on Quora yesterday. Its truly inspirational...
filled with posters that charge you up and get you going.

www.zenpencils.com

Goutham

Do it yourself

Hello!

How do you feel when you make a pizza in your kitchen rather than buying it from Pizza Hut?
When was the last time you felt happy after cooking something on your own and sharing it with dear ones?
How did you feel when you make something that you can say as 'truly belongs to you'?

This feeling can be cherished long after and acts as morale booster somewhere in future.

Doing something yourself gives you confidence and makes you feel independent. Many things can be self-made, like indoor fixtures, daily use accessories, fashion wear like wrist bands, chains, cloth mods, musical instruments, gadgets involving useful electronic circuitry and many more things. You name it. I have seen tech nerds making their own web servers, quadcopters and even guitars(I made one).

This electric guitar was made by me and my friends
in first semester as part of an exhibition

People who follow this trend seriously are often addressed as 'DIY enthusiasts' or 'DIYers'. This is a great culture and helps in stuff getting recycled, thus eco-friendly. The categories range from punk albums to high altitude ballooning. Sometimes, you need not spend much on trivial things like key chains, paper weights or even soap bubbles.

The electric guitar you see on the left was made for the college science exhibition(1st prize). It is made of single plywood plank with a thin wood sheet for the tuning pegs. Strings and pickup were bought. The amplifier part was made of a single IC on breadboard connected to an 8 ohm speaker. We encountered lot of noise but it turned out to be an advantage as it attracted more people to our stall.

This is my toothbrush stand
made from soda can

Making and experimenting is a part of learning. I can also say that this blog is a website of that sort. I write to share what I went through and also to develop my skills. I would like to share a website here that motivated me to step into the business of DIY-synth. We all know what synthesizers are and also how expensive those complex things are. This website emphasizes electronics hobbyists to make own analog synthesizers, as the poster below says.


There is a movement going around the world to cut down costs and innovate cheaper ways to progress. Be it any way. This is called DIY sub-culture or even the Punk culture.

One of the best examples of DIY enthusiasts I can give you, Steven Wozniak. He built his own calculators, watches, timers, audio equipment and often played pranks on people unaware of his genius. When he was about my age(seventeen), he mastered Boolean algebra and started making computers. People like this person change the perspective of  innovation in the eyes of society and the world itself.

Experience is the best teacher, also a hard one. Nothing learned practically is forgot. Doing things on your own is the single best way to apply knowledge you have been storing.

The website shown on the right says these words:
Keep imagining, keep inventing, stay ingenious!

Thanks