Setting up a Drone Programming Environment using DroneKit on Windows 7

1) Download and install APM Planner 2 for Windows.

2) Download and install Python 2.7 for  Windows. Make sure the following options are set.

1. Install for all users
2. Destination directory: C:\Python2.7
3. Add python.exe to Path

3) Open a command prompt (cmd.exe) to test if the installation was successful.

1. >python -V

4) Install virtualenv

1.  >pip install virtualenv

5) Create and activate the dronekit virtual environment.

1. >md SRG-Bots 
2. >cd SRG-Bots
3. >virtualenv dronekit_env
4. >dronekit_env\Scripts\activate.bat

6) Install the required packages. This may take a while.

1. >pip install dronekit dronekit-sitl mavproxy wget

7) At this point the required packages have been installed. Start dronekit-sitl.

1. >dronekit_env\Scripts\dronekit-sitl.exe copter-3.3

8) Open a new command prompt then run mavproxy.

1. >cd SRG-Bots
2. >dronekit_env\Scripts\activate.bat
3. >python dronekit_env\Scripts\mavproxy.py --master tcp:127.0.0.1:5760 --sitl 127.0.0.1:5501 --out 127.0.0.1:14550 --out 127.0.0.1:14551

9) Run APM Planner 2.

10) Open a new command prompt. Download and run an example.

1. >cd SRG-Bots
2. >dronekit_env\Scripts\activate.bat
3. >python
4. >>>import wget
5. >>>wget.download('https://github.com/dronekit/dronekit-python/raw/master/examples/simple_goto/simple_goto.py')
6. >>>quit()
7. >python simple_goto.py --connect "udp:127.0.0.1:14551"

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SenseDev'17 Experience

SenseDev is a five-day workshop on wireless sensor networks hosted by the University of San Carlos Talamban Campus in Cebu City last March 20-24, 2017. The resource persons were from Coventry University. Participants came from all over the country, mostly from Luzon. Before the actual workshop, we were asked to prepare a virtual machine (for VirtualBox). The virtual machine setup was automated using vagrant using a vagrant file provided by the resource persons. Included in the virtual machine are source code for TinyOS and OMNET++ for programming the TelosB mote. The first day of the conference included a field trip and socials night. The remaining days were devoted to the actual workshop. We were divided into groups where each group must develop a simple project to be presented at the last day of the workshop. Our project won the best project award.

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PCSC 2017 Experience

The conference was held at the University of San Carlos Talamban Campus in Cebu City last March 16-18, 2017. The venue for the plenary sessions is nice and the food was great. There were a lot of student participants also. Several  pre-conference workshops were hosted by different schools. I attended the Women in Computing workshop which featured talks by some of the top women in computing from the Philippines. The paper presentations were divided into different tracks. I attended the Computer Networks and Cloud Computing where we presented our paper. There were six from ICS who attended the conference. The best paper for the conference came from National University.

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Encrypting home directory in Ubuntu 16.04 after install

I will be traveling so I decided to encrypt my home directory just in case my laptop is lost or stolen.

1. Log in as target user  
2. Install required packages
• sudo apt-get install ecryptfs-utils
3. Create a temporary admin user
4. Log out target user
5. Log in as temporary admin user
6. Encrypt target user home directory
• sudo ecryptfs-migrate-home -u target_user
7. Encrypt swap partition
• sudo ecryptfs-setup-swap
8. Log out temporary admin user
9. Log in as target user
10. Record encryption passphrase
• ecryptfs-unwrap-passphrase
11. Reboot then log in as target user. Check if everything is working.
12. Clean up by removing the backup folder and temporary admin user.

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Hardening Firefox for Privacy and Security

Based on this guide, I decided to perform some adjustments in Firefox to protect my privacy and enhance security while browsing. After following the steps, my add-ons list now looks like the image below. I can use use tor-browser but I prefer to have more control on the browser settings.

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Computer Science (CS), Information Technology (IT), and Information Systems (IS) in Philippine HEI

(Source: CHED CMO 25 Series 2015)

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science

The BS Computer Science program includes the study of computing concepts and theories, algorithmic foundations and new developments in computing. The program prepares students to design and create algorithmically complex software and develop new and effective algorithm for solving computing problems.

The program also includes the study of the standards and practices in Software Engineering. It prepares students to acquire skills and disciplines required for designing, writing and modifying software components, modules and applications that comprise software solutions.

(Topics on databases: Storage Structures, Relational Algebra, Query Optimization)
(Topics on networks: CSMA-CD, TCP Congestion Control)

Bachelor of Science in Information Technology

The BS Information Technology program includes the study of the utilization of both hardware and software technologies involving planning, installing, customizing, operating, managing and administering, and maintaining information technology infrastructure that provides computing solutions to address the needs of an organization.

The program prepares graduates to address various user needs involving the selection, development, application, integration and management of computing technologies within an organization.

(Topics on databases: Setup of a RDBMS such as Oracle, CRUD using SQL, User Access Management)
(Topics on networks: LAN Setup, Network Management)

Bachelor of Science in Information Systems

The BS Information Systems Program includes the study of application and effect of information technology to organizations. Graduates of the program should be able to implement an information system, which considers complex technological and organizational factors affecting it. These include components, tools, techniques, strategies, methodologies, etc.

Graduates are able to help an organization determine how information and technology-enabled business processes can be used as strategic tool to achieve a competitive advantage. As a result, IS professionals require a sound understanding of organizational principles and practices so that they can serve as an effective bridge between the technical and management/users communities within an organization. This enables them to ensure that the organization has the information and the systems it needs to support its operations.

(Topics on databases: Student Academic Information Systems)
(Topics on networks: E-commerce)

Further Reading

• http://www.innovators.edu.pk/node/233

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