I've just started my first real prototype of a traffic light controller.

It's made using a Lego Mindstorms set. The controlling software is written in Esterel, which is one of the languages I want to use in the real projects too. However the hardware is 'just' a processor, not an FGPA.

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An 'artist impression':

A week after I made these pictures there is no ice anymore in the Spaarne.

In the Nieuwe Gracht you can still see some ice though (click on 'Read More' for a picture).

Compare this with the second picture in this article.

Unfortunately the appointment in Eindhoven didn't go on. Today I'm reading "Computers as Components" by W. Wolf, about embedded computing system design.


The building here is decorated for Christmas. Some quick pictures.

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	The halway.
	Christmas tree.
	The elevator.
	My desk, with Christmas lights.

Yesterday and today I've been thinking about a scenario to use for my internship. It shouldn't be too complicated (due to limited time) but at the same time it must be complex enough to make comparisons of the various methods possible.


My current plan is to make a small-scale traffic light controller: a crossing of two roads with tiny traffic lights that are operated using the system I'll develop.


I spoke with my supervisors at Chess today and they liked it, although it still needs some refinement. Tomorrow afternoon I'll go to Chess in Eindhoven to meet a few people there.

A nice clock.

Yesterday evening we saw Aïda -- and what a magnificient show! The voices, music, decors and actors were all great. We had a wonderful evening.


The show took about 2,5 hours and we were home around 1:30 o'clock. There is a fan website that has a very nice Flash intro that shows a few highlights of the evening.

"Er ligt een poedelnaakte princes in haar bed te wachten en jouw naam te roepen. Welk onderdeel heb je nou niet begrepen?!"

("There's a buck-naked princess lounging in her bed, calling your name.What exactly didn't you realize?!")


My favourite character was Zoser, the father of the main character. An evil guy :)






"Jazeker, onze zeer solide

Zoon van Isis legt het af.

Bouw maar gauw een pyramide

voor een waardig koningsgraf!"

Tonight we'll go to the musical Aïda, in the Circustheater in Scheveningen. I'm really looking forward to it.

Mieke gave us tickets for the musical (thanks a lot!). I just read the story, it's rather complicated but everybody says it's a great show.

A while ago I've spent some time looking for an online version of the Srebrenica report. There is a special website about this (huge) report but the whole version is only for sale in bookstores.


However, the report on Fortuyn's security is completely online, a few hours after it's official presentation. You can find it here.

I have now 3 methods to investigate for my internship:

1. Polis (Esterel)
   
2. SDL
   
3. ForSyDe (Haskell)
   

Today I gave an informal presentation about these methods and my internship schedule (PDF or Powerpoint). My ambition is to be ready with my internship in week 11 (March 14th, 2003). Tomorrow I'll look for a decent scenario to use, so that Wednesday I can start with the first method.

I'll start with Polis because this is the most commonly used system. Therefore there is a lot of documentation and there are a number of case studies available which can be quite helpful.

A 10 euro note after being in the laundry.