(FYP 2) Week 14 - Technical Paper & Draft Thesis Submission

This week, I prepared the writing of a technical paper that needed to be completed and submitted to my supervisor, Madam Azliza, by Friday at the latest. A technical paper is a written document that presents technical information or research findings on a specific topic or subject. It often provides detailed descriptions of experiments, methodologies, results, analysis, supporting data, and references. A technical paper aims to disseminate knowledge, share research findings, contribute to the existing body of knowledge, and facilitate further discussion and development in the field. Therefore, I compiled a detailed technical report documenting the project's abstract, introduction, literature review, methodology, results, and conclusion. Finally, I submitted it to my supervisor once the technical report was completed. In addition, I also submitted a draft thesis that I had been working on in the previous weeks to her for a plagiarism check. The thesis showed a plagiarism percentage result of 17%, below the maximum acceptable limit of 30%. Hence, for the next task, I will focus on correcting the format of the draft thesis, resubmitting it to my supervisor for grading, and preparing the hardcover documentation of my FYP at the end of the semester.

(FYP 2) Week 13 - Demonstration Day Presentation

This week, I went through the presentation of my FYP during the demonstration day held at Gemilang Hall from 9 AM to 2:30 PM. All FYP 2 and Diploma FYP students presented and demonstrated their respective projects on this day. My FYP presentation was evaluated by two assessors, Dr Sir Mohd Zaki Ayob and Sir Ahmad Basri. Overall, my presentation went smoothly as I showcased my project through the displayed poster, and the FYP prototype functioned well, allowing me to demonstrate it to both assessors without any issues. During the presentation, I received constructive criticism, suggestions, and improvements from the assessors. I welcomed their feedback as valuable input for further enhancing the project in the future.

(FYP 2) Week 12 - Final Project Testing & Troubleshooting for Demonstration Day Presentation, & Workshop 5 (Claim and Documentation)

This week, I conducted final testing on my FYP to ensure its functionality and readiness for the upcoming presentation and demonstration day. During the testing phase, I encountered an issue where the system would hang or freeze when testing the MQ135 sensor, notably when the air quality readings exceeded the set threshold. This problem didn't occur consistently upon system reset, indicating instability in the sensor's testing operation. Determined to find a solution, I meticulously examined the circuit connections and verified that the MQ135 sensor was correctly wired to the microcontroller. I also ensured the power supply remained stable and within the sensor's operating voltage range. Despite everything being set up correctly, I needed clarification about the underlying cause of the malfunction.

As I delved deeper into the issue, my suspicion turned toward the sensor. To isolate the problem, I conducted a separate test on the MQ135 sensor. Using a multimeter, I measured the voltage outputs from the sensor's pins and discovered inconsistent and erratic fluctuations. This finding strongly suggested that the sensor might be faulty. To confirm my suspicion, I replaced the malfunctioning MQ135 sensor with a spare one I had available. I repeated the test with the new sensor in place, hoping for a different outcome. As a result, the system no longer experienced hang-ups or freezes during the sensor readings. It became evident that the faulty sensor was the issue's root cause.

Feeling more confident, I integrated the newly replaced MQ135 sensor into the central system and conducted comprehensive testing. During subsequent tests, the project performed flawlessly. The MQ135 sensor provided reliable air quality data without disruptions, and the system no longer encountered hang or freeze issues. This breakthrough was significant and brought the project back on track. Finally, the project is ready to be presented, showcased, and demonstrated during the upcoming presentation and demonstration day. Additionally, I attended the final workshop session, Workshop 5, via Microsoft Teams this week. The workshop aimed to provide guidance on student budget claims for project development and the documentation that needs to be submitted at the end of the semester.