Hi, I'm Akos Pasztor!

STM32 RTC Scheduler

I've managed to find some time to finalize my latest project and its documentation: the STM32 RTC Scheduler project! This is an RTC-based scheduler implementation that allows applications with real-time operating systems (RTOS) to schedule and execute recurring, periodic tasks while minimizing power consumption to maximize battery lifetime.

The RTC Scheduler is demonstrated on the STM32L496-Discovery board. The example project can be compiled straight out-of-the-box with IAR EWARM, Keil uVision and GCC for Arm toolchains.

Check it out and read the documentation here:

STM32 RTC Scheduler

1-year anniversary at Sensirion

After finishing my master studies at ETH Zürich, I started working as a Hardware & Firmware Engineer at Sensirion. I'm responsible for designing hardware and developing firmware for the upcoming sensor devices and modules for consumer, industrial, medical and automotive applications, as well as custom, state-of-the-art hardware platforms used internally in R&D, testing and production.

Since I'm employed with 100% workload, this unfortunately means that I have limited amount of time to work on my personal projects. Ironically, I have nowadays more project ideas than in the past years... Nevertheless, I will definitely keep developing new ideas and side-projects, so stay tuned for upcoming updates!

IPSN 2019

The state-of-the-art geophone platform I have developed as my master thesis at ETH Zürich served as the basis hardware of a research paper which got accepted and published in the Proceedings of the 18th ACM/IEEE International Conference on Information Processing in Sensor Networks (IPSN) journal. The event was organized between April 16-18, 2019 in Montreal, Canada.

Successfully graduated from ETH Zürich!

I received my master's degree in Electrical Engineering and Information Technology from ETH Zürich in 2018.

The past years were filled with lots of events and hard work. Beside my studies, I was working part-time for the Computer Engineering Group at ETH Zürich for almost two years, continuously. Then I started my master project, a state-of-the-art geophone platform, which had remarkably great results. The developed system was even featured on SRF Einstein (Swiss TV show).

I would like to thank everyone who supported me during this challenging and exciting journey.

The Geophone Platform is featured on SRF!

I am happy to announce that the geophone platform I designed and engineered as my master thesis at ETH Zürich was featured on SRF Einstein (Swiss TV show). The part of the episode, titled "Forschung extrem: Datensammeln im Permafrost" introduces the geophone platform alongside with the wireless sensor network deployed and operated in the Swiss mountains.

Watch the video Geophone Platform

Geophone Platform

I started my master thesis titled "Event-based Geophone Platform with Co-detection" in November 2017 at the Computer Engineering Group of ETH Zürich. My work is about developing a new, state-of-the-art networked sensor platform focusing on detecting and recording micro-seismic activities to provide early warnings for natural hazard mitigation. It features ultra-low power consumption; always-on, dual-side, multi-stage triggering; co-detection and more.

I have already finalized the hardware design, and the software is currently receiving its final touches. The hardware already went into production state, and currently 50 pieces are being manufactured. They are going to be deployed and used this summer in the Swiss mountains. Check it out:

Geophone Platform

STM32 Bootloader

I developed a customizable, easy to use bootloader for STM32 microcontrollers. This example demonstrates how to perform in-application-programming of a firmware located on an external SD card with FAT32 file system. The bootloader features:

• Configurable application space
• Checksum verification
• Flash protection check, write protection enable/disable
• Extended error handling, fail-safe design
• Bootloader firmware update and the ability to perform full chip re-programming: enter ST's built-in bootloader from software (without triggering the BOOT pin)
• SWO tracing for easier debugging and development
• Easy to customize and port to other microcontrollers
• .. and more!

Check it out:

STM32 Bootloader

STM32 Circular DMA with Timeout Event

As a result of one of my ongoing projects, I created an efficient DMA timeout mechanism for peripheral DMA configured in circular mode. The concept is demonstrated on a STM32 microcontroller. This example presents how to implement performance-efficient DMA timeout mechanism for peripheral DMA configured in circular mode.

Read more:

STM32 DMA UART

Working at ETH TIK

As of May 2016, I'm working part-time (beside my master studies) in the engineering team of the Computer Engineering Group (ETH TEC) within ETH TIK.
Currently my main task is to redesign the Wireless GPS device within the Permasense project. My work involves complete hardware development, including PCB design and embedded software development.

Read more:

Wireless GPS 2.0

Continuing my Master Studies at ETH Zürich

After a lot of hard work, preparation and persistence, I got admitted to ETH Zürich which is among the top technical universities around the world. Therefore I'm continuing my studies as an MSc student in the field of Electrical Engineering in Zürich, Switzerland.

I am truly grateful to the people - especially to my parents and my friends - who helped me achieve this amazing result.

Introducing the Smart RC-Car project

I have started a new exciting project! I am designing and building an ECU (Engine Control Unit) from the ground for a 1:8 scale RC racing car.

Features:

• ECU, including: ABS, ASR, ESP
• Regenerative braking
• Object detection
• Automatic object avoidance and object following features
• Controllable from smartphone
• ... and more!

More info:

Smart RC-Car

The Home Automation System

At the end of last year I finished the hardware & software of the Home Automation System. I needed to perform some afterwork, prepare the essay and finish the documentation. I can gladly announce that the project is now completely finished.

The system consists of a Central Unit, which features:

• Two PCB-s designed to fit perfectly into an aluminum enclosure
• ARM Cortex-M4 core microcontroller
• 5" LCD touch screen
• microSD with FAT32 file system
• USB, Bluetooth, Ethernet, 2.4 GHz radio, RS-485, KNX
• LEDs, piezo
• self-designed 230V AC power supply

... and three External Units, which feature:

• ARM Cortex-M3 core microcontroller
• Modular temperature, humidity and various gas sensors
• 2.4GHz radio, RS-485, KNX
• Relays, LEDs

Watch the video introducing the main features of the system, and read the documentation here:

Home Automation System

Successfully graduated from BME!

Today I have finished my Bachelor degree with the qualification of "Excellent with Highest Honors"! It was a long and exciting journey with a lot of challenges. I would like to thank everyone who helped and supported me during my bachelor studies to achieve these great results.

Scientific Students' Association Conference

I'm really glad to announce that we achieved Third Prize at the Scientific Students Association Conference for presenting our paper about "Developing a Modular Home Automation System". Moreover we won the Rubin YOUNG TALENT Sustainability in Engineering Special Prize for our outstanding engineering work.

The paper was published at the BME-TDK website but also can be viewed under the Papers menu.

I would like to thank everyone who supported us during our work to achieve these results.

Introducing the Home Automation project

I started this work last semester as my Laboratory project and this will be my BSc. degree thesis as I graduate at the end of this term. Currently I'm in the final stage, I need to finish the software which is almost done and I've already started writing the documentation and essay. I'm updating the website and info about this project ASAP.

More info:

Home Automation System

The myPhone v2.0 documentation in Hungarian

Now you can view the documentation of the myPhone v2.0 project in Hungarian!
http://akospasztor.com/projects/myphone-v2/files/myphone-v2-hu.pdf

Read more about the myPhone-v2 project here:

myPhone-v2

The myPhone v2.0 is finished!

Today I have completely finished the myPhone v2.0 project!

I had to replace some components (eg. resistors) to everything be perfect and I have finished the software too. I'm sure there are a few minor bugs in the code but I have limited time and the device is made in order to learn a lot during the making and not for commercial use. Moreover, I have new ideas how to continue and improve the device and myself. Maybe equip it with new components like LCD touch-screen, bluetooth module, WI-FI module? Then I'm sure I need a new, more powerful processor like an ARM...

myPhone-v2

Building the myPhone v2.0

I got the PCB-s to manufacture here at the university (BME), at the ETT department. They were fast, so I could start the soldering shortly after I placed my order.
I'm soldering all components by hand. Here are some photos about the progress:

myPhone-v2

I have finished the myPhone v1.0!

Today I have completely finished the myPhone v1.0 project! You can read about the whole process here:

myPhone-v1

Now I can continue my work on the myPhone v2.0 project. This myPhone will really deserve the name "mobile" phone as it will have two rechargeable batteries for power supply. I will put the PCB in an enclosure with a small loud-speaker and a microphone. I have plans for the keypad too: a custom designed foil keyboard with cutouts on the top of the enclosure!

Site is ready!

I decided to build a website, so you can follow my projects and academic work here. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me. You can find my contact information under the Contact menu.