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Bacterial biofilms are a major cause of harm related to medical infections and biofouling. Thus, 80% of total infections are caused by biofilm-forming microorganisms. Consequently, knowledge of biofilm formation stages is crucial to develop effective treatments to prevent their formation in medical implants, tools, and devices. For this purpose, quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) sensors are becoming a good alternative to analytical methods for the real-time monitoring of bacterial growth in liquid media culture. In a previous paper, the authors described an affordable multi-channel measurement instrument based on QCM sensors. However, in order to validate its correct operation, complementary experimental measurements based on bacterial biofilm growth were performed. In this work, the experimental measurements that allow the identification of the different biofilm formation stages are described. The results obtained are discussed., This research was funded by the Ministry of Science, Innovation of Spain under the project RTI2018-099938-B-I00., Peer Reviewed, Postprint (published version)

Resolved, 2022/2023, 2n quadrimestre

Resolved, 2022/2023, 2n quadrimestre

This final degree thesis consists of developing a digital communications system based on frames between a PC and a PYNQ-Z2 FPGA board. Also, a MATLAB user interface is designed and implemented, and it is used as a communications terminal, which shows the data with the objective of verifying that the communications work properly. Both the communications systems and the interface have an educational purpose and are meant to be used in the Configurable Digital Systems assignment, in the bachelor?s degree in Electronic Engineering and Telecommunications., Este trabajo de fin de grado consiste en desarrollar un sistema digital de comunicaciones por tramas entre un PC y una placa FPGA PYNQ-Z2. También se lleva a cabo el diseño e implementación de una interfaz de usuario a través de MATLAB que haga las funciones de terminal de comunicaciones y que muestre los datos con el objetivo de poder comprobar el funcionamiento de las comunicaciones. Tanto el sistema de comunicaciones como la interfaz de usuario tienen un objetivo docente, y están pensados para ser utilizados en la asignatura Sistemas Digitales Configurables, del Grado de Ingeniería Electrónica de Telecomunicaciones., Aquest treball de fi de grau consisteix en desenvolupar un sistema digital de comunicacions per trames entre un PC i una placa FPGA PYNQ-Z2. També es duu a terme el disseny i implementació d'una interfície d'usuari a través de MATLAB que faci les funcions de terminal de comunicacions i que mostri les dades amb l'objectiu de poder comprovar el funcionament de les comunicacions. Tant el sistema de comunicacions com la interfície d'usuari tenen un objectiu docent, i estan pensats per ser utilitzats en l'assignatura Sistemes Digitals Configurables, del Grau d'Enginyeria Electrònica de Telecomunicacions.

Apart from personal interest, this project arises with the idea of providing a new learning tool for the subject of Configurable Digital Systems. Specifically, this tool is an 8-bit microprocessor described in VHDL for the DE2-115 evaluation board. The microprocessor has the functionality of being able to run step-by-step, stopping at each clock cycle to be able to view the internal changes. In addition, it can be easily modified and is scalable. Moreover, a controller has been designed to allow the user to visualize various internal data on the LCD of the board, and a system based on R2-232 serial communication allows the user to rewrite the RAM without having to compile and synthesize the project again. A Python script has also been implemented to make it easier to write the programs that the user wants to load into RAM., Además de interés personal, este proyecto surge con la idea de proporcionar una nueva herramienta de aprendizaje en la asignatura de Sistemas Digitales Configurables. Concretamente, esta herramienta es un microprocesador de 8-bits descrita en VHDL para la placa de evaluación DE2-115. El microprocesador tiene la funcionalidad de poder ejecutarse paso a paso, parando en cada ciclo de reloj para poder visualizar los cambios internos. Además, puede modificarse fácilmente y es escalable. Asimismo, también se ha realizado un controlador para poder visualizar varios datos del microprocesador en la LCD de la placa, y un sistema basado en la comunicación serie R2-232 que permite reescribir la memoria RAM sin tener que compilar y sintetizar el proyecto de nuevo. También se ha implementado un código en Python para poder escribir más cómodamente los programas que el usuario desea cargar en la RAM., A part d'interès personal, aquest projecte sorgeix amb la idea de proporcionar una nova eina d'aprenentatge per a l’assignatura de Sistemes Digitals Configurables. Concretament, aquesta eina és un microprocessador de 8-bits descrita en VHDL per a la placa d'avaluació DE2-115. El microprocessador té la funcionalitat de poder-se executar pas per pas, parant a cada cicle de rellotge per a poder visualitzar els canvis interns. A més a més, es pot modificar fàcilment i és escalable. Així mateix, també s'ha dut a terme un controlador per a poder visualitzar diverses dades del microprocessador en la LCD de la placa, i un sistema bastat en la comunicació sèrie R2-232 que permet reescriure la memòria RAM sense haver de compilar i sintetitzar el projecte de nou. També s'ha implementat un codi en Python per a poder escriure més còmodament els programes que l'usuari vol carregar a la RAM.

Resolved, 2021/2022

The alteration of the educational model caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has not affected all university faculty equally. This work explores the academic, digital and gender inequalities caused by the pandemic on the teaching and research staff of a technological university for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) disciplines in Spain, the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya—BarcelonaTech (UPC). The study considers an anonymous survey with a non-probabilistic voluntary sample (n = 355). The results of the survey reveal that, over these months, the teaching and research staff of the university, regardless of gender, has significantly increased its academic activity due especially to the number of hours devoted to virtual teaching compared to its teaching dedication in a situation of normalcy. This study shows that the lockdown has strongly affected women who are more vulnerable to crisis. In particular, the negative impact on research has been higher in female faculty staff from the UPC, who already face disparities regarding promotion and, during lockdown, stated more difficulties with household work reconciliation. From the results of this study, it is possible to conclude that the COVID-19 pandemic has deepened the gender gap in the academic field., Peer Reviewed, Objectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::4 - Educació de Qualitat, Objectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::5 - Igualtat de Gènere, Objectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::10 - Reducció de les Desigualtats, Objectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::3 - Salut i Benestar, Postprint (published version)

Resolved, 2021/2022

Resolved

In this final degree thesis, a prototype of a system has been designed to assist in transcranial insonation research. The designed system is capable of generating three-level square waveforms to excite up to 8 (expandable to 16) channels of a multi-beam ultrasonic system to be used in transcranial insonation. These waveforms are burst of square signals that can be configured both in frequency and in the rest of the signal parameters, including the delays between channels, by means of a particular program. In this report are the needs and specifications to be accomplished, with the corresponding solutions adopted, each and every one of them with the most precise justifications on the validity of the same. It is due to these premises that there is an implicit visualization of the system in question, the necessary simulations and tests and, consequently, the final result obtained.

In this project we adapted the software of the BIOPIEZO measurement, developed originally with the LabView environment and programming language, to a simplest programming language. BIOPIEZO is a measurement system based on the measure of the impedance of a quartz crystal submerged in a bacterial culture which forms a biofilm upon it. Determining the variation of the impedance it can be determined the variation of the bacterial population. The language used has been C#, of the .Net platform. The resulting software is able to collect the parameters of the measurements from the user, send them to measurement system, recollect the resulting data and print them keeping an ordered and intuitive structure., En este proyecto se ha realizado una versión completa del software del sistema de medida BIOPIEZO, que fue desarrollado en LabView, en un lenguaje más estándar y, por lo tanto, conocido. BIOPIEZO es un sistema que mide la impedancia de doce cristales de cuarzo inmersos en un cultivo de bacterias que forman un biofilm sobre el cristal. A partir de la variación de la impedancia del cristal con el biofilm se puede determinar la variación de la población de bacterias. El lenguaje utilizado en este proyecto ha sido C# de la plataforma .Net. El software resultante es capaz de recoger los parámetros de la medida marcados por el usuario, enviarlos al sistema de medida, recoger los datos resultantes y mostrarlos al usuario manteniendo una estructura ordenada e intuitiva., En aquest projecte s'ha realitzat una versió completa del software del sistema de mesura BIOPIEZO, el qual va ser desenvolupat en LabView, en un llenguatge més estàndard, i per tant, més conegut. BIOPIEZO és un sistema que mesura la impedància de dotze cristalls de quars immersos en cultius de bacteris que formen un biofilm sobre el cristall. A partir de la variació de la impedància del cristall amb el biofilm es pot determinar la variació de la població de bacteris. El llenguatge utilitzat en aquest projecte ha estat el C#, de la plataforma .Net. El software resultant és capaç de recollir els paràmetres de configuració de l?usuari, enviar-los al sistema de mesura, recollir les dades resultants i mostrar-les a l?usuari mantenint una estructura ordenada i intuïtiva.

Resolved

Resolved

© 2020 IEEE. Personal use of this material is permitted. Permission from IEEE must be obtained for all other uses, in any current or future media, including reprinting/republishing this material for advertising or promotional purposes,creating new collective works, for resale or redistribution to servers or lists, or reuse of any copyrighted component of this work in other works., Quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) sensors are becoming a good alternative to analytical methods for the measurement of bacterial growth in liquid media culture. For this purpose, two essential resonance parameters allow monitoring of biofilm formation: the series resonance frequency shift and the change of the resistance at this frequency. Nevertheless, several problems arise in determining these parameters, as their relative variation is very small. This means that an accurate procedure must be implemented for the measurement of the QCM resonance parameters, including the automatic calibration of the frequency response effects of the measurement circuits and the automatic compensation of the static electrical capacitance of the QCM. In this paper, a novel multichannel system for on-line monitoring of biofilm formation based on QCM sensors is proposed. QCM resonance parameters are determined from the electrical impedance analysis by means of an auto-balanced impedance bridge. This configuration has allowed the implementation of an affordable multichannel measurement instrument. Obtained results, based on binary mixtures of water-glycerol measurements and real microorganism experiments, are in good agreement with the theoretical behaviour. These results show the great potential of this instrument to be used for monitoring microbial growth and biofilm formation., Peer Reviewed, Postprint (author's final draft)

The goal of this project is updating and customizing the industrial UPS of Bec Afzar company with the technology of Salicru.

Resolved

Sistema de recogida, almacenamiento y envió inalámbrico de información de sensores, The aim of this project is designs a system to be able to manage sensor networks easily by the final user. This sensor network can measuring the malolactic fermentation in wines. We porpose, design and implement a wireless system for the sensors in this project. After this, will be possible manage and get data of each of them. In addition, it will be possible to synchronize data to a database and plot data into chart. Throughout the project we will specify and justify the hardware used and the software implementation methodology. Finally, we will verify the correct behaviour of the designed system., El proyecto pretende desarrollar un sistema que permita al usuario final gestionar de manera sencilla redes de sensores que miden el nivel de fermentación maloláctica del vino. Se ha propuesto, diseñado e implementado un sistema capaz de dotar de comunicación inalámbrica a los sensores de dicha red. Gracias a ello se podrá gestionar y obtener datos del sensor. Además, mediante una APP ejecutándose en un dispositivo con conexión a internet se podrán sincronizar los datos a una base de datos y visualizarlos gráficamente. A lo largo del proyecto se explican y argumentan las decisiones tomadas en cuanto al hardware utilizado y la implementación software. Finalmente, se verifica el correcto funcionamiento del sistema., El projecte pretèn desenvolupar un sistema que permeti a l?usuari final gestionar de manera senzilla xarxes de sensors que mesuren el nivell de fermentació malolàctica del vi. S?ha proposat, dissenyat i implementat un sistema que sigui capaç de proveir de comunicacions sense cable als sensors de la xarxa mencionada. Gràcies a això es podrà gestionar i obtenir-ne les dades de cadascun d?ells. A més, mitjançant una APP executant-se en un dispositiu amb connexió a internet, es podran sincronitzar les dades cap a una base de dades i es podran visualitzar gràficament. Durant el projecte s?explicaran i justificaran les decisions preses en quant al hardware utilitzat i la implementació software. Finalment, es verificarà el correcte funcionament del sistema.

The main aim of the presented project is to lessen the temperature dependence of the BIOPIEZO measuring system towards the growth of bacterial film using quartz microbalances. To this end, an air-to-air refrigerator chamber controlled by a PID system has been built to study how the temperature influences the measurements. The ultimate goal is to reduce the temperature dependency of some devices, such as those present on the acquisition plate and the signal synthesis plate. The results of this work show that using the proposed system diminishes the dependence., Este proyecto tiene como objetivo principal reducir la dependencia con la temperatura del sistema de medida del crecimiento de películas bacterianas, llamado BIOPIEZO, mediante microbalanzas de cuarzo. Para ello se ha estudiado la influencia de la temperatura sobre las medidas y posteriormente se ha construido un cámara con un refrigerador air-to-air controlado un sistema de control PID. El objetivo final es reducir la dependencia con la temperatura de algunos dispositivos, como los presentes en la placa de adquisición y la de síntesis de señales. Los resultados de este trabajo demuestran que con el sistema propuesto se ha reducido el efecto de la temperatura sobre la medida de la impedancia de las microbalanzas de cuarzo., Aquest projecte té com a objectiu principal reduir la dependència amb la temperatura del sistema de mesura del creixement de pel·lícules bacterianes, anomenat BIOPIEZO, mitjançant microbalances de quars. Per això s'ha estudiat la influencia de la temperatura sobre les mesures i posteriorment s'ha construït una cambra amb un refrigerador air-toair controlat un sistema de control PID. L'objectiu final és reduir la dependència amb la temperatura d'alguns dispositius com ara els presents a la placa d'adquisició i a la de síntesis de senyals. Els resultats d'aquest treball demostren que amb el sistema proposat s'ha reduït l'efecte de la temperatura sobre la mesura de la impedància de les microbalances de quars.

Desarrollo, implementación y puesta en marxa de un sistema de monitorización del crecimiento de biopelículas bacterianas. Estas biopelículas, también llamadas biofilms, tienen un comportamiento peculiar y son de especial importancia cuando se desarrollan sobre prótesis ya que son de difícil eliminación. El sistema a desarrollar pretende ser una herramienta que acelere el análisis del crecimiento de los biofilms y de los tratamientos que se desarrollan para combatirlos., The ability of certain microorganisms to bind to the surfaces of various materials (plastic, metal, ceramics) and develop complex structures such biofilm, is a critical health problem. The development of these structures in medical prosthesis generates severe infections and expensive treatments. The purpose of this project is to design, develop and implement a multichannel measurement system based on piezoelectric resonators. It is destined to monitor the evolution of bacterial biofilm growth. This system is developed from the need of having a tool capable of diagnosing the growth state of bacterial films. The microbiologists will be able to use this system in the future in order to reduce the development time of new medicines. The principle of measurement and the design of the different parts of the system, both hardware and software, are presented through this work, explaining their theoretical basis and validating their operation with simulations or experimental results. At the end of the project, different experiments are performed in order to verify the properly functioning of the designed system. One of these experimental examples using the developed system is a monitoring of the growth of a bacterial film of Staphylococcus Epidermidis strain during a complete day.

This article is focused on the characterization of the lack of homogeneity in the dispersive acoustic properties of polymeric materials used in industrial pipes. Usually, the parameter of interest associated to dispersion is the variation in the propagation velocity as a function of the frequency or the temperature. Nevertheless, this paper, studies the variation in the propagation velocity, as a function of the intensity of the acoustic signal. In these cases, pipes made of PVC, PP and PVDF, which are commonly used in industrial installations, have been characterized. For each type of pipe, high and low acoustic intensity signals have been applied in order to reproduce working conditions that typically appear in the pipe wall below the transducers in commercial Clamp-on ultrasonic flowmeters (UFMs). Under these conditions, acoustic velocity maps have been created for the three materials under test. These maps reveal two effects that are not usually taken into account. The first one is the variation of the propagation velocity with the power density of the ultrasonic signal and the second one is the nonhomogeneous behaviour along the pipe surface. Finally, the acoustic maps reflect how a stronger acoustic signal produces greater behaviour differences in the materials under test. The characterized phenomenon of lack of homogeneity in dispersive acoustic properties, produces a variation in the zero flow error in Clamp-on UFM caused, so as not to fulfil the reciprocity criterion., Postprint (published version)

Ultrasound is an emerging technology that can be applied to monitor food processes. However, ultrasonic techniques are usually limited to research activities within a laboratory environment and they are not extensively used in industrial processes. The aim of this paper is to describe a novel ultrasonic sensor designed to monitor physical–chemical changes that occur in wines stored in industrial tanks. Essentially, the sensor consists of an ultrasonic transducer in contact with a buffer rod, mounted inside a stainless steel tube section. This structure allows the ultrasonic sensor to be directly installed in stainless steel tanks of an industrial plant. The operating principle of this design is based on the measurement of ultrasonic velocity of propagation. To test its proper operation, the sensor has been used to measure changes of concentration in aqueous samples and to monitor the progress of a malolactic fermentation of red wines in various commercial wineries. Results show the feasibility of using this sensor for monitoring malolactic fermentations in red wines placed in industrial tanks., Postprint (author's final draft)

Diseño de controlador PID reconfigurable con FPGA

The aim of the project is the design, assembly and testing of a high-speed data acquisition system for measuring ultrasonic signals in range of 5 MHz, which meets the needs of the Sensor Systems Group (GSS). In addition, it includes the possibility of generating signals from the same equipment. The design section of the project consists on the study and selection of components as well as the development of electrical schematics and manufacture of the board. Afterwards, it will proceed to the assembly of components in the board and finally the verification of the assembly and operation of the system, performing for that task the necessary programs., El objetivo del proyecto es realizar el diseño, montaje y verificación de un sistema de adquisición de datos de alta velocidad para medición de señales ultrasónicas del rango de 5 MHz, que cumpla con las necesidades del Grupo Sistemas Sensores (GSS). Además, se incluye la posibilidad de generar señales desde el mismo equipo. En la parte de diseño se realizará el estudio y elección de los componentes, así como el desarrollo de los esquemas eléctricos y la fabricación de la placa. Seguidamente se procederá al montaje de los componentes y finalmente la verificación del montaje y del funcionamiento del sistema, realizando para dicha tarea los programas que fueran necesarios., L'objectiu del projecte és realitzar el disseny, muntatge i verificació d'un sistema d'adquisició de dades d'alta velocitat per a la mesura de senyals ultrasòniques del rang de 5 MHz, que compleixi amb les necessitats del Grup Sistemes Sensors (GSS). A més, s'inclou la possibilitat de generar senyals des del mateix equip. A la part de disseny es realitzarà l'estudi i elecció dels components, així com el desenvolupament dels esquemes elèctrics i la fabricació de la placa. Seguidament es procedirà al muntatge dels components i finalment la verificació del muntatge i del funcionament del sistema, realitzant per a aquesta tasca els programes que fossin necessaris.

This paper presents a comparison between two algorithms for sinusoidal signal characterization applied to QCM impedance measurements. These algorithms are the zero crossing and peak detection method and the 7 parameters sine-fitting method. Simulation and experimental results from both methods are shown in order to determine which method provides the best performance in terms of accuracy. Obtaining a precise value of the QCM impedance depends directly on the precise measurement of the amplitude and phase of two sinusoidal voltages. It was found that the sine-fitting method achieves better results without an excessive associated computational burden. These results will be applied to the development of a new technique for biofilm characterization based on multiple QCM impedance measurements., Peer Reviewed, Postprint (published version)

Clamp-on ultrasonic flowmeters geometry includes four different materials in the ultrasound propagation path: wedge, coupling material, pipe and liquid. In this case, oblique incidence ultrasonic beam generated by the emitter transducer is split into several paths caused by multiple reflections in pipe wall or because of propagation mode conversion at interfaces. These multiple paths are recombined at the reception transducer aperture, producing a single signal whose amplitude and phase depend on which proportion each path contributes. The objective of this paper is to quantify this phenomenon and analyses the implications it has on the accuracy of Clamp-on ultrasonic flowmeters as a function of the fluid that flows inside the pipe. According to simulations, based on 2D ray tracing model and experimental measurements, the variations in the recombination signal at the reception transducer produces a linearity error that in case of the installation under test, Z-mode transducers configuration on PVC pipe, could reach a value of 3.2%., Postprint (published version)

This article explains how a multi-frequency ultrasonic beam path is split due to passing through dispersive materials and the implications that it has in flow measurement using a Clamp-on ultrasonic flowmeter. The importance of knowing this phenomenon is because dispersive materials are commonly used in the manufacture of transducer wedges and plastic pipes. Splitting of the ultrasonic beam path occurs when the incident angle is not normal to the surface of the pipe and a coupling wedge is necessary. The diffraction angle is produced at the boundaries among materials with different propagation velocities (according to Snell’s law), and furthermore, in dispersive materials, the propagation speed depends on frequency. Therefore, when the excitation signal contains several frequential components, each frequency travels with a different velocity. Under this circumstance, different diffraction angles are produced for each frequency at the boundaries between materials. As a result of splitting the path, the ultrasonic beam widens and the reception transducer aperture becomes too small to receive all the frequential components contained in the ultrasonic beam. Thus, when the ultrasonic beam is carried by the liquid flowing inside the pipe, the reception transducer receives different frequential contributions, producing change in its spectral composition. As a consequence of the mixing of these frequencies, the reception signal is modulated in phase and amplitude. Moreover, modulation will change as a function of frequential composition that is combined at the reception transducer. This is the origin of the linearity error in Clamp-on ultrasonic flowmeters., Postprint (published version)

The objective of this paper is to measure the zero-flow offset variation in ultrasonic Clamp-on flowmeters produced by using pipes made of materials with a nonhomogeneous and nonlinear behavior. The evaluation of this phenomenon has been tested by the experimental measurement, the experiments consist of measuring the variation in the flow measurement when in ``no-flow condition,'' the transducers are moved along the pipe. Experimental results reveal that the reciprocity criterion is not fulfilled when nonhomogeneous and nonlinear pipe materials are used. Consequently, in these types of pipes materials, it is necessary to calibrate the offset when transducers are installed, and probably will need recalibration if the transducers are displaced to another position on the pipe. However, in installations, where it is not possible to stop flow in order to calibrate, the flowmeter will have an error in the measured value and this error will depend on the acoustic characteristics of the pipe material., Peer Reviewed, Postprint (author's final draft)

© 2017 IEEE. Personal use of this material is permitted. Permission from IEEE must be obtained for all other uses, in any current or future media, including reprinting/republishing this material for advertising or promotional purposes,creating new collective works, for resale or redistribution to servers or lists, or reuse of any copyrighted component of this work in other works., This article analyses and explains the implications that dispersive materials have over the linearity in flow measurement when a Clamp-on ultrasonic flowmeter is used. This is of capital importance because dispersive materials are commonly used in the manufacture of transducer wedges and pipes. The evaluation of this phenomenon has been tested by experimental measurement. The used setup consisted of a water flow calibration facility where a commercial Clamp-on ultrasonic flowmeter was installed on it and its flow measurement was compared with a reference flowmeter. Two experiments have been conducted. A first experiment was performed to evaluate only the effect produced by the fact that the transducer wedge is made of dispersive material. For this reason, an ultrasonic flowmeter was installed on a pipe made of non-dispersive material, in this case, an INOX pipe. Linearity error introduced by the wedge was below 1%. This error complies with the accuracy specification of the ultrasonic flowmeter given by the manufacturer (±1.5%). Finally, a second experiment consisted of installing the ultrasonic flowmeter on a dispersive pipe (PVC pipe) in order to measure the worst condition (both materials, wedge and pipe, were dispersive). Under this condition, the linearity error was increased until it reaches a value of 6.4%. Moreover, in case of a dispersive material pipe, the bigger the pipe thickness is, the bigger non-linearity error is reached., Peer Reviewed, Postprint (published version)

The objective of this chapter is to introduce the technology of Microelectromechanical Systems, MEMS, and their application to emerging energy harvesting devices. The chapter begins with a general introduction to the most common MEMS fabrication processes. This is followed with a survey of design mechanisms implemented in MEMS energy harvesters to provide nonlinear mechanical actuations. Mechanisms to produce bistable potential will be studied, such as introducing fixed magnets, buckling of beams or using slightly slanted clamped-clamped beams. Other nonlinear mechanisms are studied such as impact energy transfer, or the design of nonlinear springs. Finally, due to their importance in the field of MEMS and their application to energy harvesters, an introduction to actuation using piezoelectric materials is given. Examples of energy harvesters found in the literature using this actuation principle are also presented., Postprint (author's final draft)

Nodo de medida de distancia por ultrasonidos para la red de sensores de un robot humanoide

Programació CPLD'S , microcontroladors integrats , programació ICP/IP, Las prácticas de la asignatura Sistemas Digitales I, que se impartía en el segundo ciclo de Ingeniería Electrónica, quieren introducir a los alumnos en el diseño lógico digital mediante la realización de proyectos basados en dispositivos lógicos programables. Para ello, los laboratorios docentes disponen de unas placas compuestas de una CPLD y de una serie de dispositivos de E/S para verificar físicamente el correcto funcionamiento de los ejercicios propuestos. Con el paso del tiempo, se hace necesario actualizar estas placas para adecuarlas a las herramientas presentes y mejorar sus prestaciones. En este Proyecto Fin de Carrera se ha diseñado una nueva plataforma de prácticas que integra en una sola placa todos los dispositivos de E/S y el programador de la CPLD, al tiempo que duplica la capacidad de los proyectos realizables al pasar de 5000 a 10000 puertas lógicas disponibles. Siguiendo las indicaciones de los profesores de la asignatura, se construye un prototipo inicial de la nueva placa. Después de verificar su correcto funcionamiento y realizar unas pocas modificaciones, se encargaron y fabricaron 20 unidades. Desde el año 2004 hasta el año 2011, la placa diseñada en este PFC ha sido la base de las prácticas de la asignatura. Aprovechando las mejores prestaciones de la nueva placa, se diseña y se implementa un sistema de gestión remoto que permite la monitorización y control de la placa mediante una conexión a Internet utilizando un servidor web integrado. La aplicación de Control Remoto consta de 3 programas diferenciados que se ejecutan en la nueva placa de prácticas, en un servidor web integrado y en un PC. La aplicación de Control Remoto fue probada con éxito entre un despacho de la Universidad Politécnica de Cataluña y un piso situado cerca de la plaza Lesseps, ambos en Barcelona., Les pràctiques de l'assignatura Sistemes Digitals I, que s'impartia en el segon cicle d'Enginyeria Electrònica, volen introduir als alumnes en el disseny lògic digital mitjançant la realització de projectes basats en dispositius lògics programables. A aquest efecte, els laboratoris docents disposen d'unes plaques compostes per una CPLD i una sèrie de dispositius d'E/S per tal de verificar físicament el correcte funcionament dels exercicis proposats. Amb el pas dels temps, es fa necessari actualitzar aquestes plaques per tal d’adequar-les a les eines presents i millorar les seves prestacions. En aquest Projecte Final de Carrera s’ha dissenyat una nova plataforma de pràctiques que integra en una sola placa tots els dispositius d’E/S i el programador de la CPLD, alhora que duplica la capacitat dels projectes realitzables en passar de 5000 a 10000 portes lògiques disponibles. Seguint les indicacions dels professors de l’assignatura, es construeix un prototipus inicial de la nova placa. Després de verificar el seu correcte funcionament i realitzar unes poques modificacions, es van encarregar i fabricar 20 unitats. Des de l’any 2004 fins a l’any 2011, la placa dissenyada en aquest PFC ha sigut la base de les pràctiques de l’assignatura. Aprofitant les millors prestacions de la nova placa, es dissenya i s’implementa un sistema de gestió remot que permet la monitorització i control de la placa mitjançant una connexió a Internet utilitzant un servidor web integrat. L’aplicació de Control Remot consta de 3 programes diferenciats que s’executen en la nova placa de pràctiques, en un servidor web integrat i en un PC. L’aplicació de Control Remot va ser provada amb èxit entre un despatx de la Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya i un pis situat prop de la plaça Lesseps, ambdós a Barcelona., The practices of the Digital Systems I course, which was taught in the second year of Electronic Engineering, want to introduce students to the digital logic design through projects based on programmable logic devices. To this end, teaching laboratories provide boards composed of a CPLD and a number of I/O devices to physically verify the proper operation of the proposed exercises. With time, it is necessary to update these boards in order to adapt them to current tools and improve their performance. In this Final Project a new practice platform has been designed. It integrates on a single board all the desired I/O devices amd the CPLD programmer while doubling the capacity of feasible projects by providing up to 10,000 logic gates. Following the instructions of the course’s professors, an initial prototype of the new board has been built. After verifying proper operation and perform a few modifications, 20 units were ordered and manufactured. From year 2004 until year 2011, the board designed in this Final Project has been the basis of the course’s practices. Taking advantage of the improved features of the new board, a management system that enables remote monitoring and control of the board has been designed and implemented. The Remote Control application consists of three different programs running on the new board, on an integrated web server and on a PC. The Remote Control application was successfully tested between an office of the Polytechnic University of Catalonia and an apartment located near Lesseps square, both in Barcelona.

In this paper, the design of a QCM sensor for liquid media measurements in vertical position is described. A rugged and low-cost proof holder has been designed, the cost of which is significantly lower than those of traditional commercial holders. The crystal is not replaceable but it can be easily cleaned. Its small volume permits to be used by dipping it in the liquid with the desired location and orientation. The developed design has been experimentally validated by measuring changes in the resonance frequency and resistance of the QCM sensor immersed vertically in different calibrated aqueous glycerol solutions. The obtained results show a great agreement with the Kanazawa theoretical expression. Consequently, the designed QCM sensor would be appropriate for sensing applications in liquids, and might take part of a future on-line multichannel low-cost QCM-based measurement system., Peer Reviewed, Postprint (published version)

The project aims to develop an integral hardware-software system to detect the position of an object in the near zone using a low cost ultra-wave transducer. The project will use a development board from the same author., El objetivo del proyecto es desarrollar un sistema integral hardware-software que permita la detección y posición de un objeto en la zona próxima usando un transductor de ultrasonidos de bajo coste. Para este proyecto se usa una placa de desarrollo creada anteriormente por el mismo autor., L'objectiu del projecte és desenvolupar un sistema integral hardware-software que permeti detectar la posició d'un objecte en una zona pròxima utilitzant un transductor d'ultrasons de baix cost. Per aquest projecte es compta inicialment amb la placa de desenvolupament ja realitzada anteriorment pel mateix autor.

Context: Estem treballant en un projecte nacional amb l'objectiu de dissenyar un sistema que pugui monitoritzar el creixement de bacteris en condicions de laboratori. Aquest sistema monitorització s'utilitzarà per veure l'efecte de certes accions encaminades a eliminar aquests bacteris. Tot junt servirà per dissenyar materials per a pròtesis juntament amb mètodes no invasius que permetin l'eliminació de possibles infeccions en les mateixes pròtesis (per exemple, el material pot contenir algun tipus de component que s'activa mitjançant una ona que s'excita externament.) O

A tot el món hi ha una gran quantitat de sensors i aquests s’utilitzen per molts usos diferents. Podem trobar sensors dintre d’un cotxe, als avions, a qualsevol aparell domèstic, fins i tot dintre el ser humà. No obstant, tots ells tenen en comú que es troben mesurant alguna magnitud especifica i a més, tots necessiten d’una interacció amb algú que vol conèixer el que es troben mesurant, ja que si no perdrien la seva funció. Per tant podríem dir que els sensors són un medi per interactuar amb el món exterior. Si observem un avió podem assegurar que un dels elements més importants són els turboreactors ja que sense ells un avió no es propulsaria. Com tot aparell, els turboreactors han passat per un procés de disseny i de testeig on podem estar segurs que trobaríem un gran nombre de sensors ens aquest processos. Concretament aquest document es centra en especificar i en la implementació d’un sistema que permeti recollir les dades d’un conjunt de sensors que es troben dintre de les pales dels rotors d’un avió. Per tant, aquesta eina pretén ajudar en els processos de disseny i testeig dels turboreactors per aconseguir una optimització de les pales per poder aconseguir millorar la eficiència dels turboreactors i així aconseguir un estalvi de carburant als avions. El sistema, descrit en aquesta tesis, consisteix en tres parts: 1. La interfície que es comunica amb el sensor (FEB), que porta a terme les funcions de control i adquisició de dades. 2. La interfície intermedi (IB), que controla un grup de sensors, guarda dades i les transmet a l’usuari. 3. La interfície gràfica d’usuari (GUI), la qual ajuda a facilitar la interacció de l’usuari amb el sistema. Aquest document s’estructura de la següent forma: Al capítol 1 es descriu la motivació i els objectius d’aquest projecte, a més a més de la proposta de disseny i les especificacions. El capítol 2 es centra en definir les bases del disseny de la interfície intermedi que parla amb els grup de sensors. El capítol 3 parla de, En todo el mundo hay una gran cantidad de sensores y son utilizados para usos diferentes. Se pueden encontrar sensores dentro de un coche, en los aviones, en cualquier aparato doméstico e incluso dentro del ser humano. Sin embargo, todos ellos tienen en común que se encuentran midiendo alguna magnitud concreta y además, todos ellos necesitan de una interacción con algo quiere conocer lo que se encuentran midiendo, ya que sino perderían su función. Por lo tanto podríamos decir que los sensores son un medio para interactuar con el mundo exterior. Si observamos un avión podemos asegurar que uno de los elementos más importantes son los turborreactores ya que sin ellos un avión no se propulsaría. Los turborreactores, como cualquier aparato, han pasado por un proceso de diseño y de testeo donde se puede asegurar que encontramos un gran número de sensores en estos procesos. Este documento se centra en especificar y en la implementación de un sistema que permita recoger los datos de un conjunto de sensores que se encuentran dentro de las palas de los rotores de un avión. Por lo tanto, esta herramienta pretende ayudar en los procesos de diseño y testeo de los turborreactores para conseguir una optimización de las palas para mejorar la eficiencia de los turborreactores y así conseguir un ahorro de carburante. El sistema, que se describe en esta tesis, consiste en tres partes: 1. La interfaz que se comunica con los sensores (FEB), que se centra en las funciones de control y adquisición de datos. 2. La interfaz intermedia (IB), que controla un conjunto de sensores, guarda los datos y los transmite al usuario. 3. La interfaz gráfica de usuario (GUI), que intenta facilitar la interacción del usuario con el sistema. Este documento se estructura de la siguiente manera: El capítulo 1 describe la motivación y los objetivos de este proyecto, además de la propuesta de diseño y las especificaciones. Capítulo 2 se centra en definir las bases del diseño de la interfaz intermedia que habla, Around the world there are a lot of sensors and they are used for different uses. Sensors can be found inside cars, on airplanes, in any domestic appliances or even within the human body. However, they all have in common that they are measuring any specific magnitude and they need also interaction with something that want to know what it are measuring, otherwise sensors lose their function. Thus, we could say that sensors are a means to interact with the outside world. If we see a plane, we can ensure that one of the most important elements is the turbojet because without them it will not be propelled. Turbojets, like any machine, have gone through a process of designing and testing where you can ensure that we find a large number of sensors in these processes. This document focuses on specifying and implementing a system to collect data from a set of sensors located inside the rotor blades of an aircraft. Therefore, this tool aims to help in the process of design and testing of the turbojet to achieve an optimization of the blades to improve the efficiency of turbojets and thus get fuel savings. The system, described in this thesis, consists of three parts: 1. The communication interface with the sensors (FEB), which focuses on control functions and data acquisition. 2. The intermediate interface (IB), which controls a set of sensors, stores the data and transmits it to the user. 3. The graphical user interface (GUI), which aims to facilitate user interaction with the system. This document is structured as follows: Chapter 1 describes the motivation and objectives of this project, in addition to the proposed design and specifications. Chapter 2 focuses on defining the basis of the design of the intermediate interface that it talks with the sensor array. Chapter 3 discusses the implementation of the intermediate interface. Chapter 4 describes the assembly and verification processes of the intermediate interface. Chapter 5 focuses on the implementation of the program