Gert van Lagen (22) is currently graduating from the bachelor Embedded Systems Engineering (ESE). For his graduation project, he is working on a patient simulator. In his case, this is a baby doll with all kinds of sensors that measures medical procedures.

“You can think of resuscitation actions such as chest compressions and ventilations. Based on these actions, automated auditory feedback is given,” Gert explains. “Real-time perception is important for the feedback. The simulator was developed by Johan Korten, lecturer and researcher at the HAN.”

What exactly is your graduation assignment?

“My assignment contributes to increasing reliability. I focus on real-time system behaviour and preventing or overcoming undesirable system behaviour. I have developed a real-time operating system (RTOS) for this with FreeRTOS. The software is divided into tasks, which are then scheduled based on priority and deadline.”

How does this work?

“The system is distributed: different functionalities are built on separate hardware modules and have their own chip. So an RTOS runs on each chip. This makes the developed system look like a team of people. Each module represents a person, who performs his tasks in real-time. At specific moments, the ‘persons’ have to communicate their results to each other or follow them up.”

Gert explains that this task planning sometimes goes wrong or something else can go wrong, just like with people. “That is why it is important to monitor system errors. In the operating system, I check whether the timing is correct and if not, the system itself can do something about it! This is called functional safety.”

Will it also have a follow-up?

“Yes, because a project group from ESE is now following up the system. By programming the data processing and other functionalities in the tasks. This is yielding interesting results, enabling errors in the system to be discovered and resolved, and ideas for improvement and follow-up development to be put forward!”

Can you name a few teachable moments that helped you in the run-up to your graduation?

“Multidisciplinary projects have given me an insight into working together. You go through a project with different methods and routes. This sometimes required good communication to avoid working alongside each other or having to wait a long time for each other.”

Gert also did an internship and a project at companies. The good thing about this was that it made the business world more familiar. It was a great way to find out which type of company suits me and which doesn’t.”

You did a minor in Applied Psychology. That’s an unusual step for an engineer in the making. Why did you choose to do a minor in Psychology?

He bursts into laughter. “I’ve been asked that question many times. Being able to understand and deal with the behaviour of myself and others is an important skill for cooperation. That is not only necessary if you work in a social sector, but also as an engineer.”

“In addition, psychology is not far removed from product development. After all, it is people who use products. So how can you ensure that products are pleasant and accessible to use? Psychological glasses are a good addition to this. I also encountered this with the patient simulator: when do people experience feedback as constructive, when as real-time, when does it have the most impact, and so on.”

Finally, Gert noticed that he wanted more social interaction within his work. “This minor was a great way to look outside my field of study.”

What will you do after graduation?

“I have been admitted to the Master’s programme in Science Education and Communication at Utrecht University. Before that, I am going to do a pre-master’s course in physics. With this master’s degree I want to become a physics teacher.

Gert finds the master’s a great way to get more direct social interaction into his future, without having to leave engineering. “I am a science person after all. Together with mathematics, physics is the closest to the ESE bachelor. I think physics is a wonderful subject because you come across physical phenomena around you every day. Think of the doppler effect or a rainbow. Or the applications, such as home automation. I think it would be great to be able to transfer knowledge and skills to others. Also from my environment, I often heard that education would suit me.

Why did you choose Embedded Systems Engineering?

“When I was about 12 years old, the light bulb went on, literally. I got hold of a battery and an LED and thought to myself that this could work together. Since then, a soldering iron, power supply, Arduino’s and the necessary boxes with wires and components quickly followed. A step to Embedded Systems Engineering was therefore a logical next step”, smiles Gert.

Do you have any hobbies apart from your studies?

“Yes, where I live, in De Klomp – a small village near Veenendaal – I can often be found in nature. Just to exercise and enjoy the life around me. For example on a mountain bike or running on running shoes. Sometimes with the camera. Then I can show and tell people what there is still to discover! And because I play the piano, I will soon be a musical engineer pur sang!

Source: HAN
Photography: Erik Rijpstra, Gert van Lagen