Research

Singularizing - this function individual selects the skittles

Detecting Color - this function determines the color of the skittle

Sorting Into Bin - this function sorts the skittle into its correct bin

Sketches

The Code Description

The first picture of code shows the libraries my partner and I imported. It also shows the servos and the pins that match. The second picture of code shows the stop function of the sorter wheel servo and the while true statement of this servo with the sensor colors. The last picture of code shows the if statements. The if statements tell the ramp to move to a specific angle when a certain color is sensed.

Skittle Journey

First the skittle is dropped into to the funnel to be sorted. Next the sorter wheel or grabber moves the skittle to be sensed. The sensor will determine the color of the skittle. Depending on the color the sensor will direct the angle of the ramp servo. After the ramp moves to the appropriate angle the skittle is moved one more time in the sorter wheel. Lastly it drops down into the ramp that  leads to the matching color bin.

Finished Product

Reflection

This project was definitely most challenging I have done the past 2 years. During this project I had to truly understand what the code meant and how to use it because we were not given as much guidance than before. The skittle sorter also uses multiple components that have to go hand and hand to operate with one another. A technical challenge I have overcome on this project was the ramp. I had to make many different adjustments to the ramp because the skittle would fall out, not reach the bins, or get stuck. The first ramp was an inch wide and skittles would fall out so I made the ramp 1.5 inches bigger. After that change the skittles would not make it to the box because the ramp was too wide. The next change I made was making the ramp a circle at the top and an inch wide path to the bin to solve both of these problems. A nontechnical challenge I had to overcom was working with a partner. Due to my previous projects being individual task I was not used to collaborating with someone else. My partner and I were not always on the same page when it came to make decisions about our skittle sorter. In the end we used trial and error to determine the best method to solve a problem. The design was one of the main things we agreed on, making it what I am most proud of.

Brief

Digitally Fabricated Tools

Finished Product