Elevators Monitor MEF (Finite State Machine)

Description

Elevators Monitor MEF synergizes cutting-edge software engineering with embedded systems, showcasing a sophisticated simulation of elevator operations using a Finite State Machine (FSM). This project uniquely combines a Qt-based application and an STM32F103C8T6 microcontroller, embodying advanced concepts in computer science and engineering.

Key Components

1. Qt Application: Developed in C++, this application benefits from the language's robustness and versatility, making it ideal for high-performance GUI applications. C++ is renowned for its efficiency and control, crucial for real-time systems and complex simulations.

2. STM Microcontroller: This component utilizes the STM32F103C8T6, a microcontroller celebrated for its reliability in embedded systems. The microcontroller executes the FSM, managing the dynamics of elevator movements with precision.

Technical Highlights

• C++ and Embedded Systems: The choice of C++ for the Qt application stems from its high performance and object-oriented capabilities, essential for developing complex GUI applications. The integration with the microcontroller highlights the versatile application of C++ in both software and embedded systems.

• FSM Implementation: The project employs a Finite State Machine, a concept fundamental in automata theory and computational models. FSMs are instrumental in representing sequential logic and controlling execution flow, making them ideal for simulating elevator operations. Reference: Hopcroft, J., Motwani, R., Ullman, J.D.: Introduction to Automata Theory, Languages, and Computation, 3rd ed. Pearson, Boston (2007).

• Peripheral Synchronization: Utilizing USART for communication, the system exemplifies complex synchronization requirements in embedded systems. This aspect underscores the importance of precise timing and resource management in microcontroller programming.

• Real-Time Data Handling: The implementation includes meticulous data management to ensure seamless real-time communication between the microcontroller and the Qt application, showcasing the advanced use of buffers and data streams. For an in-depth look at the microcontroller part of the project, please see the STM Project Repository on GitHub.

Objectives

• To develop a technically advanced program that reflects state-of-the-art practices in software and embedded systems.
• To demonstrate the practical application of FSM in simulating real-world systems.
• To provide a comprehensive interface for visualizing and controlling the FSM-based elevator simulation.

Practical Conclusions

• Communication protocols are optimized for each state, ensuring data integrity and real-time performance.
• A 34-byte buffer in Qt is strategically implemented to prevent reading errors and maintain data consistency.
• Detailed parameter definitions facilitate modular programming in the embedded system, allowing for flexible and scalable code architecture.

References – Bibliography

1. Hopcroft, J., Motwani, R., Ullman, J.D.: Introduction to Automata Theory, Languages, and Computation, 3rd edn. Pearson, Boston (2007).
2. You, J. (2013). Software-based Finite State Machine (FSM) with general-purpose processors [PDF].
3. CRC Computation in C. Pololu. Available here

Annexes

Annex 1. Finite State Machine Diagram