Zachary Czarnecki

Bio: Zachary Czarnecki is an academic researcher from Assiniboine Community College. The author has contributed to research in topics: USB & Shock and vibration data logger. The author has an hindex of 1, co-authored 1 publications receiving 2 citations.

Miniaturized low cost wireless data logger for vibration recording of physiological activities

Abstract: This paper presents the development and testing of new Wireless sensor telemetry system designed specifically to be mounted on different parts of the body and record useful motion signals. In this work, a miniaturized USB packaged Wireless data-logger was constructed by a low-power System-on-chip device (CC1111) utilizing 433 MHz ISM transceiver to record body accelerations from multiple sites. The wireless setups reduce the inconvenience for free-moving due to the line connection between sensors and the central data processing recorder. The proposed system is measuring acceleration of range from ±2g to ±16g. To enhance the desired performance, the system is provided with Antenna fault and free-fall detection features. The recorded vibration signals were demonstrated in our experiments, while the subjects performed a series physical moving activities, free-moving, simulated falls and postural changes. In this system, a secure digital MicroSD flash was used to store measured acceleration providing extra data storage.

Heterogeneous wireless network based on Wi-Fi and ZigBee for cattle monitoring

Abstract: The combination of using Wi-Fi and ZigBee technologies in an application to monitor cattle has the potential to increase the range of the network when the animal herd is roaming out of range of the sink. This paper investigates combining a Wi-Fi and ZigBee transceiver on the same sensor node to reliably obtain data of mobile cattle in a field. The solution proposed is a hybrid network conjoining the IEEE 802.11b/g and IEEE 802.15.4 protocols. Cattle as herd animals always roam in a herd manner. It has been observed that when the herd moves far away from the sink, the link between the herd and the sink breaks because there is no relay node in the middle. In order to maintain the link between the herd and the sink a heterogeneous network is proposed. The proposed solution extends the range of a ZigBee network used for cattle monitoring by pairing with the IEEE 802.11b/g protocol. In this paper, we implement two protocols IEEE 802.11b/g and 802.15.4/ZigBee in a hybrid network. The nodes have been designed to avoid interference between the two protocols and ensure good coverage of 802.11b/g in the area where the cattle moves. Moreover the design had to be cost effective so it could be useful for small to medium or large commercial farmers who are most susceptible to cattle theft.

Parametrization of Piezoelectric Vibration Energy Harvesters for Low Power Embedded Systems

Abstract: Matching an embedded electronic application with a cantilever vibration energy harvester remains a difficult endeavour due to the large number of factors influencing the output power. In the presented work, complementary balanced energy harvester parametrization is used as a methodology for simplification of harvester integration in electronic applications. This is achieved by a dual approach consisting of an adaptation of the general parametrization methodology in conjunction with a straight forward harvester benchmarking strategy. For this purpose, the design and implementation of a suitable user friendly cantilever energy harvester benchmarking platform is discussed. Its effectiveness is demonstrated by applying the methodology to a commercially available Mide V21BL vibration energy harvester, with excitation amplitude and frequency as variables. Keywords—Energy harvesting, vibrations, piezoelectric transducers, embedded systems, harvester parametrization.