ropbox has released a beta version of their cloud storage software. This new beta gives the unique feature of automatically uploading photos to the cloud direct from your phone, camera or alternate storage device. To get involved download the link in the first post and install it. Then plug in a device, using the windows autoplay feature select upload to dropbox.

If you don’t know what Dropbox is visit here!

The great thing about this beta version is that for the first photo you receive a free 500MB extra storage space. Then for every additional 500Mb of uploaded phtotos you can receive another 500Mb space too match. This works up to around a total of 5GB.

So go ahead and get your Dropbox beta and start uploading photos now.

So heres what you do:

• If you don’t have Dropbox sign up from here first. –> LINK
• Download the version of Dropbox you require (Windows, MAC OSX, Linux X86_X64, Linux X86) <– Beware I advise backing up your Dropbox folder first as this is a Beta  software.
• Install the file you just downloaded and progress to setup. If you already have Dropbox installed it will confirm if you want to use your existing setup, if you are new follow the instructions carefully.
• Once the install is complete you should be able to plug in a phone, camera or storage device. When the autoplay popup shows, select upload with dropbox. Then as if like magic the software does its job.
• If you wish to max out your free GBs copy some photos from your computer onto a camera or phone and then unplug and plug the device in again to add the new photos.

If you’re having any issues get in touch or visit the official help thread here.

s a nice big welcome into the new year I have been working towards the January Exams. I have been trying to keep myself sane whilst staying productive so I have been working on some CAD  and rendering the designs using Keyshot 3. The main purpose of these images was to give a functional illustration, therefore ultra realistic settings were left off, that and my computer wanted to melt into a copper ball at the thought.

Please take a look, and check out the rest of the pictures in the gallery here!

 

 

 Been back at Loughborough for a week now and work is piling up.

Lots of new projects, work and people to get stuck in with.

My final year project has been announced and we are to be looking at the RFID tagging of high value parts in Ford’s engine assembly line. The project seems interesting and allows for a lot of scope for research and systems development.

A visit to Ford next week is set to be an interesting one.

The fateful day has come, I have finsihed my summer placement and am moving back to loughborough to complete my final year for my masters degree.

The summer has been extremely eventful and full of vital learning. I have enjoyed every aspect of the last few months.

I hope that the opportunity arrives to return at christmas to help continue my work on Frostnet.

Thanks Frostechnic,

Today has been a big day for me and has been very fast coming.

Frostnet was effectively deployed across the company, well the address book functionality combined with the PCB software previously made.

The day was spent sorting employee account details and showing how access to the Adress Book could be gained.

A few bugs and software issues were immediately aparent but these were simple solutions. So far the software seems to be holding its own, even with simultaneous use.

This was an extremely satisfying day that had a lot of pressure on it, but so far everyone seems to be happy.

 

 Development has been fast so far and I am very quickly able to test basic functionality.

A lot of time was spent gathering data from all the companies’ resources into the DB so that effective testing could be performed.

Features such as user login, access rights, edit/update/delete and contact filtering have been implemented thus far with more planned (Google map integration, newsletter email ability etc…)

However further design for the ERP type functionality has been discussed and the project has been named Frostnet.

Detail in the way data is to flow through the system and how users are to interact with the software have been detailed and how business processes could change for the better.

My placement time is coming to an end but i hope to finish the address book by the time i return to university but it’s going to be a struggle.

It’s been a while since I have updated my blog but a lot has happened.

So far I have managed to complete the PCB administrations software and so far it seems to be having some great results. PCB updating, creation and ordering have become very simple. The data is also very secure and can be backed up easily through SQL database tools.

Since the PCB project was such a success the general manager has decided that an enterprise resource planning software would be of great benefit and use to the company.

Initial feelings were that this is a huge project and would take some serious planning, design and good coding techniques. After a few days of planning and brainstorming a plan of action has to be devised.

Initially the directors would like a single consolidated Address Book that is accessible from any workstation and is updated frequently by all the employees.  Currently all designers, administration staff and directors run of different address books. However when people are ill, away or generally not contactable sometimes it becomes difficult to get hold of a supplier or customer which can lead to embarrassment.

So I am currently developing a bespoke Address Book that runs from the current SQL database already setup whilst allowing future integration with other business processes such as the label, despatch and sales departments.

Progress so far has been quick and efficient with effective use of VB.NET structures, function blocks and form controls.

 During development of the PCB Software I have made a few vital decisions to the direction of the software layout and deployment.

After much research it was decided that a SQL database was needed to give the reliability, deployment options and flexibility required for a companywide software solution.

As many users could be using the software at a single time it was decided an SQl database sourced on the company’s main mailserver, would be required to ensure full functionality.

This how ever has doubled my work load as i now need to research and learn SQL database design, and software control through the use of VB.NET my programming language of choice.

Despite the daunting task for a student who has limited programming skills, I am as keen as ever and willing to tackle the task straight on!

Below is the initial Splash Screen design for the application – verison numbers and author details are go under the logo.

 Now that both the PLC project and PCB project have come to an end I have been given a new larger project.

During discussions with the general manager it has become clear it could be possible for some bespoke software to be designed to help the PCB manager to create, maintain and order PCB materials.

I better system is required to simplify and automate the parts ordering process, while communicating and being simple for the storeman to understand.

It was decided that I could start development of this software while continuing with other responsibilities that I may have.

I am very pleased to be given this opportunity, however it was stressed that my software ability was limited to one or two modules at university. Despite this development has started.

Slideshow A few weeks have passed and the Hook Norton Brewery effluent project has come to an end.

Today we commissioned the system and monitored its performance. The previous few days had been gathering data from the hardware and software to determine software variables such as water flow, tank height/ pressure and PID control variables.

The HMI was developed to allow system control over tank height and for the user to view historical data such as flow rates and overall volume output per day (required by Thames Water)

The pictures below show some of the hardware and how the HMI looks. Overall I am very satisfied with the work and we expect to be hearing back from the brewery after a few days to ensure that they are also satisfied with the system.

During the project I was given great responsibility over the PLC program and it is almost entirely my own work, only seeking help with PID control. This was quite a success as I had only worked with structured text previously in my Part C project at university so Ladder Logic programming was new to me. I am definitely looking forward to working with PLCs again in the future, as the end result is very satisfying.