Matthew Guenette - Design Notebook
Digitization of physical notebook coming soon...
9/07/2011
Meetings will be Fridays from 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm
Possible Design Protocols:
Use RC Car as base. (motor driving rear wheels, basic steering control)
-Autonomous function?
+complete a task +Arm with gripper +Paintball gun
-Web cam possible for user control -basic obstacle avoidance -Navigate a route
9/28/2011
Made block diagram
Webcam options:
+Run through board +separate interface +Run to micro-controller boards (one for cameras, one for driving
Micro-controller selection:
+Texas Instruments +ARM +Arduino +PIC +Beagleboard
09/30/2011
- Missed meeting due to Motorcycle Trip*
-Will get meeting notes from Jason
10/18/2011
Decided on Vehicle Platform: Tank
+Simple Drive controls
+Large (1' x 2.5')
-Good for mounting electronics
+Turret
-Shoots airsoft pellets
-Good mounting for webcam
Will buy two so as to tear apart one
-Reminder: Ask Dr. J about finances
10/19/2011
Got keycode, computer, and locker in ECE477 lab
10/21/2011
Components that need to be decided on:
+Development board
-What features do we need
+wireless Tranceiver
+sensors
-What functionality goals do we have for this robo-tank
+accelerometer
+GPS module
-Use google maps
10/25/2011
Couldn't make meeting (GRE) REMINDER: Catch up with Jason
10/28/2011
Missed meeting, broken ankle REMINDER: Email Dr. J
11/01/2011
VIP meeting
-Design presentation next week
-WiFi interface
Website Design: Csharp vs Java
Disassembled Tank
-ridiculously simple components -Plenty of room to put PCBs
Tank controller
No variable speed
each control lever is actually a SPDT switch -if necessary, connect micro-controller to remote, quite simple
fixed broken controller
11/04/2011 Meeting
11/10/2011
Video Conference with Hong Kong
Met with team, discussed Hong Kong's ideas
-Motor controller -Hacked Wifi Module -Successfully sent serial data wirelessly over 802.11 network.
-Meetings will occur more often as semester winds down
Idea: Antennae Sensors
Problem: push buttons as proximity sensors will require significant force, and very specific direction. May not prevent damage to tank
Solution: Antennae
I
I
( I )
Conducting probe, rubber covered conductive base. That way, gentle taps will complete the circuit, notify the tank without it having to crash into things
11/11/2011
Design Review Presentation Met at 4, practice presentation
While researching components for ECE362, found superior IR sensor for our obstacle avoidance.
http://www.sparkfun.com/products/8959
11/15/2011
ECE 311 Exam - Couldn't attend meeting
11/17/2011 Skype meeting with Hong Kong -Discussed communication protocol -Start byte and end byte to certify purity of command packet
+Status request? (Vehicle returns status to user) +Specify request by sending packet with alternate start and end byte
-Set up dummy webpage to implement control designs
Hong Kong using CGI script (Python) for website control
11/18/2011
Weekly meeting
-task: Determine final communication protocol
-Checksum in Panda Board?
11/28/2011
Meeting
-Camera working (slowly)
-serial data successfully sent
-worked on serial port transmission
-Deciding on protocol
-Checksum on panda board might be a bit excessive
12/01/2011
Teleconference
-Agree on simple protocol
-Use central server?
++ Collaboration -- Latency
Use website to send data to vehicle's control site, control that way -Decide on server setup by next week.
