Alongside my considerably long name, I also go by shorter easier nickname, "Fri". "alifanfri" is the combination of the two names. Being in embedded systems means living in both hardware and software world, simply put I do both electronics and programming.
I'm an engineer first and foremost, tinkering and problem solving is my cup of tea. However, despite being in very analytical job, I also like to exercise my right brain and be creative. Because I believe design and art goes hand in hand with technology; and the marriage between the two will create the best products.
I would say one of my greatest attributes (beside engineering of course) is having multiple interests. The yearning to explore many things, having multiple hobbies give me more ways to have a view on things. And being abroad and in international environments expand my perspectives and be more open-minded on things.
What would electronics major be without knowing how to design a circuit. My skillset focuses even more on sensor and IoT systems electronics design.
Nowadays electronics and programming goes hand-in-hand. Knowing how to write the bare metal firmware to run it and computer software to interface with it are my core strength.
Have been designing PCBs from 2013. 9 years later, multi-layer PCB, interconnecting PCBs, and manufacturable PCB are just routine work.
Signal would be worthless if it not treated properly. Hardware filtering, software filtering, and DSP are one of my skillsets.
A believer of data collection means nothing without data analysis. Finding the best algorithm to make sense of the data is part of my job. Next stop, getting used to statistical model.
Not an avid CAD modeler, yet. But working with hardware and product design on daily basis means I've picked up quite a lot of things already.
There are many ways to program an embedded system, but I prefer it to be low-level, close to the metal. While not Assembly, C with low-level access to the hardware pins, I/O, and memory gives me the tingle. I like having the freedom in building the architecture, system flow and protocol without any limitation. Hence why despite having only been learning "it" for 2 years so far, with more complex or critical systems, I prefer going to "RTOS".
Many people have asked me on what is sensor engineer. It sounds very specific, making an impression that the field is very limited. On the contrary, because sensor is everywhere, my forte can be implemented on almost anything. Sensor is the window of electronics into our world, it's their version of our 5 senses, but a lot more. While there are a lot of sensors, acceleration, distance, light, moisture, bio-signals; what makes it special is how to apply the sensor. Using vision sensor (camera) as people detection, or magnetic field sensor as rotational position are what the job exists for. And currently in healthcare is where I currently making my contribution.
As an embedded engineer, home lab where I can store a plethora of my components and solder them is crucial. But that only covers hardware needs. I was never big on IT things, however, after my family's commercial NAS system died due to an ending product support, I have to find another NAS solution. I decided on DIY it and making my own server running Nextcloud in one of the Docker container. Since then, the makeshift server goes beyond NAS, now also software home lab to test VMs and container images too.
While engineering is mostly analytical, I also like to be creative; I mean I made this website myself. While usually engineering is functionality over anything else, I work in prioritising design and aesthetics. I believe engineering can be approachable and intuitive, where not only engineers but general people can appreciate it without understanding it. I tend to integrate this approach on my works, either a piece of code, a communication protocol, or PCB layout. I also like to combine my other creative skills to my engineering world. One example would be my attempt on making a low-cost 3D printed face mask to help combat COVID-19 and spread awareness that everyone can help, where I use my videography skill to showcase the engineering behind it.
I have been holding a camera since 2011, easily fell in love with it. Initially only photography, but vidoegraphy followed suit. I joined my highscool's media club in photography section, and continue this in my university by becoming the head of media division before leading as the president the following year. I also joined Groningen's Indonesian Student Association (PPI Groningen) in documentation and marketing division. Though as typical as it goes, university and work life took over I hang up my camera. In 2018 I picked it up again. Starting with dance videography, and then branching to Instagram Stories for regularity. Not long after, I got back on photography as well, this time with photo editing, alleviating my work. Sometimes I took offer in gigs and projects as photographer, videographer, or editor.
Defying how usually engineers are depicted, sport is an essential part of my life. I have been active since I was a kid, and the adrenaline-seeking desire is still with me growing up. In elementary school I compete in swimming, from Junior Highschool to Highschool I joined baseball club to make it my main sport and compete in club and school levels. Around this time running long distances also become a hobby, I even joined in on 10K run. In university I joined local baseball club in Assen and compete in class 4 national tournament. I also joined Groningen's Indonesian Student Association (PPI Groningen) futsal team to compete on sport festival tournaments. Even though I cannot commit as much time in sport nowadays, I moved to be a gym junkie and do yoga regularly.
Yumen Bionics is a company that builds devices to support people with Muscular Dystrophy (MD), mainly Duchenne. Our main product is a passive upper-body exoskeleton to enable them to move again. I was responsible in making the cloud-connected limb motion measuring system. Inclusive E-sports game controller is also one of several projects I was a part of.
President of Sensor Tech Society (2015-2016)
Head of Media of HIT Society [previous name] (2014-2015)
Hanze University graduation project with Yumen Bionics to develop a sensor system for exoskeleton for Duchenne patients. The system tracks the arm movement of the patient and log it for further analysis by researchers. It allows researchers to study the arm movement of the patient in their daily activity remotely.
Vice President of Genesys [english club] in External Affairs (2011-2012)
FelPro is a prototyping company that focuses on developing a low cost automation solution for small businesses. They do rapid prototyping to move idea quickly to actual product. I was mainly involved in automatisation of point-of-care device for damaged organ testing among few other projects that were medical and or biology-related.
