Mohamad Fahmi Hussin

Enhancement of bandwidth through I-shaped Defected Ground Structure

This paper discuss on a rectangular microstrip patch antenna incorporated with I-shaped Defected Ground Structure (DGS) metamaterial which exhibit an enhancement of 118% bandwidth compared to the conventional design. The antenna is designed for S-band application, resonates at 2.45 GHz. The I-shaped DGS shows the metamaterial characteristics with negative permeability, μ and permittivity, ε through Nicolson-Ross-Weir method. The circuit was designed using Computer Simulation Technology (CST) Microwave Studio. Based on the simulation, the antenna also shows other improvement in term of gain and return loss of 17.6% and 71.89%, respectively. The Size of the radiating patch was also reduced for about 21% The performance of the fabricated antenna such as antenna gain, return loss, bandwidth and directivity were also measured using the Vector Network Analyzer (VNA) for a verification.

Readability of Amplitude Modulation (AM) detector laboratory sheet

This paper discusses about the readability of the Amplitude Modulation laboratory manual used by Electrical Engineering (Communications) students. A 15 items questionnaire was developed and administered to 66 Electrical Engineering (Communications) students. It was identified that the readability factor was determined at value 55.4, which implies that those over the age of 15 years old should be able to understand the lab sheet. Further analysis indicates that many students not read the laboratory manual prior to laboratory sessions. In addition, the results indicate that 49.5% of student that did read the manual but failed to understand the lab sheet instructions. Both parametric and non parametric analyses have yield unequal distribution in reading and understanding the lab sheet, thus implying a disparity in distribution between reading and understanding the lab sheet. Following this, there are ongoing efforts to improve the current AM lab sheet.

Skills Retention in Basic Offshore Safety and Emergency Training (B.O.S.E.T)

This chapter investigates the basic offshore safety and emergency training (B.O.S.E.T) skills retention phenomena among offshore professionals. To identify B.O.S.E.T skills retention, the researchers developed a role-play scenario test which is based on brace positions and heat escape lessening posture (H.E.L.P). The test was conducted over a period of 6 months with 38 offshore professionals. Analysis of the test data suggests that B.O.S.E.T skills retention depreciate with time at a rate of 24 % within the first 6 months. Skills level was estimated to be at 70 % within 9 months from the initial B.O.S.E.T training. Further forecast analysis suggests that the B.O.S.E.T skills level will be at 50 % by the end of 3 years. The research postulates that the current B.O.S.E.T refresher system maybe sufficed to ensure that B.O.S.E.T skills is sustained at an acceptable level within the 3 years period.

Wi-Fi and GSM Based Motion Sensor for Home Security System Apllication

The Wi-Fi and GSM based home security system is a system designed to reduce the high rates of crimes in most personal housing. The overall project consists of three major parts; the input part that consists of sensors, the software part that operates the entire hardware structure, and the output part, which consists of camera, alarm system, and micro secure digital (SD) data storage card. It is based on the principle of infrared radiation generated by a human body heat which trigger the passive infrared (PIR) sensor. The microcontroller processes the received signal, then trigger the buzzer alarm, camera and alerts the home owner through an SMS. Once triggered, the camera will capture the image of the intruder and the image will be saved in SD card. As alert to the user (away), the Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) will send the Short Message Service (SMS) from the device to the users mobile phone. The image will be sent to Dropbox data cloud storage via Wi-Fi for further clarification. The prototype was successfully developed, tested and has been installed at residential area in Taman Cahaya Alam, Section U12, Shah Alam, Malaysia.

Radio frequency radiation at satellite earth station for occupational safety and health

This paper presents on Radio Frequency (RF) Radiation at Satellite Earth Station and the effect to occupational workers and members of the public. This research and measurement was requested by OSH Committee, Satellite Earth Station, Telekom Malaysia Berhad as a result of concern raised by their workers and member of the public about potential health hazard caused by the RF radiation emitted by the Satellite Earth Station. This study shall produce the Radio Frequency radiation strength at Satellite Earth Station and the measurement will include the electric field strength, magnetic field strength and power density at certain identified locations at the Satellite Earth Station. In general, results of the research indicate that the radio frequency radiation present in the Satellite Earth Station were measurable but of very low levels. The result of the measured radiations is evaluated based on the exposure limits and the recommendations set by Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and International Commissionon Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) for occupational workers and members of the public. Based on the evidences presented, the researcher is convinced that the health hazard is minimized and the radio frequency radiation at Satellite Earth Station has no adverse effect to the health, and the claim done by workers and member of the public at the Satellite Earth Station is unfounded and baseless.

Accident reporting system using an iOS application

This paper presents on development of an accident reporting system using an iOS application. Normally, accidents at workplace could only be reported on a standard paper form but there are often delays in submitting the reports, as well as difficulties in retrieving them back for analyzing purposes. Additionally, reporting via paper format consumes paper resources, which is not environmental friendly. The iOS accident reporting system application was developed using Xcode SDK 5.1, focusing on device with iOS 7 as their operating system. The mobile application allows user with iOS devices such as iPhone or iPad, to report occupational accidents, quickly. The report is sent email to the Safety and Health Officer. Hence, this application makes accident reporting task become more efficient and effective, for immediate action to be taken.

A miniaturized 878 MHz slotted meander line monopole antenna for ultra high frequency applications

A slotted meander line printed monopole antenna for low frequency applications of 878 MHz is presented. The novelty of the design is obtained by evaluating numerous slots and meander line that produces a new structure of double E-shaped meander line antenna backed by a defected partial ground plane. The operating frequency of the conventional printed monopole antenna is greatly reduced by the presence of the slots and meander line which lead to the reduction of the antenna size. The size reduction of 70% compared to the conventional reference antenna is achieved in this study. The antenna has a simple structure and small antenna size of 46.8mm × 74 mm or 0.137λ0 × 0.217λ0. The antenna has been fabricated on a low-cost FR4 substrate and measured to validate the simulation performances. Measured results display that the proposed antenna produces omnidirectional radiation pattern of impedance bandwidth of 48.83 MHz and the maximum gain of −1.18 dBi.

Miniaturization of printed monopole antenna through fractal geometry and partial cutting methods for UHF application

This paper reports an investigation on a combination of fractal geometry and half cutting methods in designing a printed monopole antenna for low frequency application. The effects of the combination of fractal shape and partial cutting methods to the printed monopole antenna performances were studied. All designs operate at the Ultra High Frequency (UHF) band. The fractal geometry was proposed in order to shift down the resonant frequency while partial cutting method helps to a further reduction of the overall size of the antenna. Based on the results, it was found that the overall size of the proposed antenna is 53.68 % smaller than the conventional printed monopole antenna at the same resonant frequency. The monopole antenna size is 70.89 × 135.82 × 1.67 mm3. It has gain of 2.72 dBi with omnidirectional radiation pattern.

Electromagnetic field (EMF) and radio frequency (RF) radiation assessment on telecommunication tower and ground station at national planetarium national space agency

The paper is to research as a result of anxiety raised by staff and workers that work in the range about health hazard potential affected by the Radio Frequency (RF) radiation Electromagnetic Field (EMF) emitted by the Telecommunication Tower and Ground Station at National Space Agency, National Planetarium. The measurement carried out on the 26th November 2014 until 5th December 2014 to embrace the electric field strength, magnetic field strength and power density at identified locations around the anxiety area using Narda Safety Test Solutions NBM 550 and PMM 8053. The radiations were assessed and evaluated against the exposure limits as stated in Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) Mandatory Standard. The results indicate that the average radiation level present at all measurement locations of the area were very low and in conformation with the current exposure limit in the MCMC Mandatory Standard for worker and members of the public.

Design and analysis of defected ground structure (DGS) in normal mode helical antenna

This paper presented a study of a defected ground structure (DGS) which affects the performances of the normal mode helical antenna. Two (2) types of helical antennas have been designed; normal mode helical antenna (NMHA) or conventional antenna and the normal mode helical antenna with defected ground structure. The normal mode helical antennas connect to the circular aluminium ground plane. This study is focusing on the effects of defection in the circular aluminium ground plane on the helical design performance. Both designs operate at low frequency in the range of the UHF band. The DGS was proposed in this study in order to shift down the resonant frequency to the lower side. It was found that by using the DGS approach, the resonant frequency can be shifted to the lower side about 17.52% compared to conventional design without affecting the antenna size.