ODBC driver and MySQL issues

After deciding to use C#/ODBC to communicate with the database (in mySQL). The team began to make arrangements to setup the computers with the necessary drivers. The ODBC driver was installed in Angel's and Laura's computers. However, after the installation we realized that Angel's computer is missing Visual Studio 2005 for some reason. Angel and Laura emailed help@ece.uprm.edu again in order to have this installed.

Laura succesfully added the ODBC driver into her computer ( through control panel-->administrative options-->ODBC Data Source Adminstration). Eventhough Laura's computer has VS 2005 and the ODBC driver, there are still some issues with Visual Studio and the MySql library (MySQL.Data). Laura is testing different methods of adding this library to the project (adding it as a reference).

Today we expect to resolve the VS issue in angel's computer and also get the ODBC driver installed in the remaining two computers.

Hardware Testing

Today, tests were done to verify the functionality of every pin of each port found in the microprocessor, and every pin turned on successfully indicating that the soldering was not faulty.

The voltage regulators since never before used, were tested in a simple circuit to turn on a LED which would get damaged if given 5 volts. Tests were done with resistors and LED lights. A 3.3V regulator was used to intercept the voltage and output an acceptable amount of voltage that turns the led on as seen in the photos below.

Testing regulator with resistance

Testing regulator with LED

Testing the microprocessor pins with a multimeter and c language code.

Rain Storm, DB decision

Due to the severe weather classes were suspended on monday and we have not met this week. Today we will resume all capstone work.

Laura, Angel and Sylvia discussed last week the possibility of changing programming language due to the fact that it was considerably easier to make a graphical user interface with C# that with Java. After some research during the weekend and free days Laura learned that the C# interface with a database (ODBC) is similar to JDBC (the JAVA interface) and making this change would not pose any major obstacles. In fact, it was found that there is more support for ODBC than for JDBC.

Laura and Angel will begin to study how to use ODBC while Sylvia prepares to work with the user interface.

LCD additional hardware

Upon beginning the work for integrating the LCD which arrived just last friday with the microprocessor, it was discovered that an inverter would be needed to adjust the contrast to the LCD screen. Research has been done online to discover what kind of circuit exactly is needed and one was found with a potentiometer that allows adjustments to the contrast of the screen.

The parts were purchased and hopefully arrive by the end of the week to begin the implementation of the inverter design.

MySQL, First soldering, Faulty equipment

Today Laura arranged with the admins of ece.uprm.edu the installation of the MySQL service in all computer in our area. Now we can create our database and interact with it from the four computers we use.

Javier finished his first soldering experience and soldered 100 pins. While testing if the soldering had been done correctly, we found out that the multimeter assigned to us did not measure current and voltage correctly. Tomorrow we will purchase a multimeter for our team.

Phase I development

The team has begun work on the implementation phase of the Sparrow design. We are currently soldering the hardware components, finding a database space to begin implementation and also have begun to program the software interface which has been promised for the first phase.

Due to the hardware complexity, it has been decided to present an initial programmed screen before implementing all of the screens needed for eVote which will be done in the second phase.

The team also purchased the uniforms today with our logos and names on them for future presentations.

The hardware soldering has begun, below are images of the ports of the development kit being integrated with connectors.

JSAL Proposal Presentation

Last wednesday the JSAL team presented their eVote proposal to Capstone students and professors. The topics covered were:

-Team Members -Background
-Problem Statement -Current Issues
-Project Overview -Objectives
-Deliverables -Raven Block Diagram
-Sparrow Block Diagram -Team Organization
-Budget for Raven -Budget for Sparrow
-Risks - Project Impact

JSAL team ready to present proposal

Raven and Sparrow, Proposal wrap up

The team met on Sunday to correct proposal errors that were pointed out on friday by Prof. Nayda Santiago. Also, the team added sections that the proposal was missing.

The team also decided on names for the different versions of the eVote system:

Raven --> Full Version

Sparrow -> Scaled Down Version

During today's meeting the team will conclude all proposal tasks and begin practicing the presentation.

eVote Proposal Marathon

The JSAL team have been working on the proposal nonstop all week. We created a rough draft which was presented to Professor Santiago for her early opinion before the final draft. After meeting with her in her office, a scaling down of the scope of our project was discussed and many aspects were removed due to potential high costs and time constraints.

The project will now focus only on the voting module of the project with a monochrome LCD screen where the JSAL team must implement one of the three existing ballots. The governer and comissioner ballots will be implemented.

Although our project has been scaled down, we must still design a full scale version with the mindset of it being completed in one year.

The team is currently completing the proposal document to then begin work on the 20 minute presentation.

"We got a long road ahead of us and none of us has a car..."

LCD challenge

After consulting Jose Javier Rodriguez ("Dices") regarding psp LCDs, Javier Torres (who is focusing on researching the hardware) quickly realized that using a color LCD was too time consuming , expensive and complicated for the scope of this project.
A specific monochrome LCD model is currently being considered, and eventhough it is affordable, the way in which it has been built makes soldering difficult.


After these findings, we are now considering using the MSP430 microprocessor, but we are still looking into other microprocessors that have more memory space that will allow more code.

Negotation Exercise

Last Night the CSI team (JSAL) met with representatives of Humongous (VST) in order to negotiate a contract regarding an inventory control system for large chain stores. The negotiation began at 7pm and ended around 8:30pm. It was agreed that Humongous would pay a grand total of $ 2,000,000.00 for a three year contract with the CSI product, with the option of testing the system for 3 months for $750,000. 00 and an the right to cancel the contract within that period if the system did not function correctly. Both parties were satisfied with the result, and all members of CSI and Humongous attended a celebrationg dinner at the luxurious Denny's restaurant in Mayaguez, PR.

Below, some images after the negotiations were done: