CJC

My work over the last two decades has included the following:

USBC Power Delivery
Work here also included bootloader porting using PD communication over the CC line.

Cellular GNSS tracker
Complete hardware and firmware realisation of a swimming tracker. Designed for safety, the core functionality was developed around an ESP32 module running Zephyr and a PCI Express 5G cellular card from SIMCOM.

Receipt printer improvements
Work here involved testing and improvements to the print quality for a thermal receipt printer. Automated testing was developed using the Robot Framework.

RTK GNSS development
RTK supported was added to the next-generation product for the client. Using the ublox range of modules this included development of both base and rover on a PIC24, along with transmission over Lora. Verification of the accuracy and behaviour was a core part of the work.

Remote wildlife camera system
Design and development of the software, including modification of the custom Linux image, for an Iridium and Lora connected network of wildlife cameras. This uses the Microchip ATSAMA5D27-SOM1 module with external PIC for low power wake-up and features in-built WiFi and Flask server as a User Interface along with a local LCD display. Buildroot was refreshed to use the latest Linux, Gstreamer, and associated package updates. A design error in the hardware power supply was also identified and resolved with a designed, manufactured, and retrofitted module.

GaNFet development platform
Extension of existing PIC32MZ firmware to interface to revised FPGA and add USB and Flash storage. To accompany this I developed a Python GUI using wxPython to aid the configuration and download of waveforms.

Addition of BLE and WiFi functionality
Work for a multinational company to add wireless functionality to their existing range of printers. This used a Qualcomm QCA4020 based module, interfacing to an STM32 device and necessitated extension of legacy protocol.

Handheld rugged GPS products
Here I led the mechanical, electronics, and software design of a WinCE based precision and ultimately IP68 GPS product family. My technical work included platform bring-up and updates to the application.

Smart Metering products
Technical work and project lead on a family of STM32 and Linux based smart metering products. These included a large FS-LCD display, a novel connection method to incoming mains, a Zigbee Linux-based network bridge, and a power [signature] monitoring smart hub with prepayment capability.

WiFi connected water leak detector
Introduced to the market by a major UK utility, this had a battery life of two years and featured secure TLS communication using the ESP8266 module in conjunction with an STM32 processor.

Heart rate monitoring
PIC24 software for a hand-held horse heart rate monitor with bootloader and LCD display. Further work included interfacing to a large overhead display utilising RS485.

Hair styler
Safety critical firmware using PIC32.

Fire Panel Interface Software
A touch screen intuitive Qt based control panel on a custom Linux board.

Smart mains socket
A mesh-networked (Contiki O/S) controllable mains sockets with embedded sensors.

Android "Tracker" app
Maintained from and still functional on Android 2.7, designed for simple tracking, rapid retrieve, and safety of hang glider pilots. User interface designed for fail safe use in the high stress at the start of competitions.

Other work

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