Engineering Concepts

Engineering Kit

.Today in engineering I got a chance to open my kit. The kit included cool items such as Bluetooth modules and an Arduino Uno. As soon as we opened the kits we had to label everything for organization purposes. We also needed to see if I had everything that was supposed to be in the kit. The picture on the left is a labeled and complete kit.

Project Brief

Today we learned that our project will be about automation! We are going to design a rolling robot!

Project Plan

Above is how we will progress through the project. We will use what we we learn in this rolling robot for our next project too!

Circuit Diagram

Today we learned what circuit diagrams are. They are for engineers to communicate circuit designs.

Circuit Picture

Today we learned what a circuit picture is. A circuit picture is a way of representing a circuit diagram for the engineers.

Servo Based Robot 1

This is the first servo robot I found using google. This robot is a rolling robot powered by arduino and servo. This robot has a sensor on the front to detect different thing such as distance and objects. It also has rubber tires and a body cover.

Servo Based Robot 2

This is the second rolling robot I found. This robots body is a little bit smaller in size but still does similar things as the first one. It has a big sensor on the front and is also powered by servo and an arduino. This robots body is made out a metal but the top cover is plastic.

Servo Based Robot 3

This is the third rolling robot I found. Just like the other two, it has the same features and has the ability to do the same things the others do. The one thing that is different about this robot is that this one has a bigger sensor than the other two.

My Plan(Idea Development)

This Configuration

I am going to build my initial prototype using this configuration. I will use foam or cardboard to substitute for the plastic.

Correct circuit diagram of your robot wiring

Today we created circuit diagrams of the fully autonomous robot. This diagram has includes two servos, a breadboard, and Arduino Uno and a ultrasonic sensor.

Robot Design Constraints

All Electronic Components Must be Enclosed (includes everything but the servo horns and the wheels).

Function requirements/constraints

Needs to function (can’t bee too heavy).

No slipping allowed.

The weight must balance equally-- needs to be stable, not having the body of the robot touching the ground.

Select materials that are rigid enough for their intended function (not sagging).

Usability Constraints

Have some type of easily removable door/cover/etc?

Easy battery Access

Easy access to Arduino 5V

Easy access to breadboard Red Row

Easy access to the reset button.

Easy access to the “B” end of the Arduino A-B Cable port.

Aesthetic Requirements/Constraints

Size--not bigger than a microwave.

Covering is colorful and neatly crafted / uses any materials that you have at home.

Craftsmanship--

Neat

Clean Glue edges

Pieces and parts match up (edges fit together).

Robot 1

I love how most of the components are in a closed box and I feel that the height of the robot is perfect. There are a lot of things to love about this robot , but one thing I would change is the configuration of the sensor. I feel that it is too high, they could have also made a cut out for it in the box.

Robot 2

I like how this robot is small and looks like it can move around without any problems. I also like how sturdy the robot looks and how the servos are closer to the sensor opposed t the back end of the robot.

Robot 3

I love how the robot uses the sensor as eyes and it looks cool. I love how the 3D printer made the robot look neat and clean. The only thing I would change about this robot is the size. I feel like this robot is too small and all the wires would not fit into the body of the robot.

Thumbnail Sketch's

Here are my three possible options for my robot. In this image I have three robots. One robot is a circle shape with wheels on the side, my second robot is a longer wider flat piece. My last robot is a rectangular shape.

More Detailed Sketch

This is a more specific sketch for my cardboard box design. The sides will be anywhere between 4 or 5 inches long and wide. It has two servos on the sides and a lid for easy access on the top.

Above are three pictures from my robot shell building process. This shell has a cut out at the bottom for the servo wires to go through. It also has a box at the top for any small items you want to take to you or someone else. It is soon to have a small shopping cart like ball at the end to help with balance and speed.

Final Robot Video

This is the final video for my robot!

Entry Event!

Brief

Project Brief-Define the problem

Today we learned that our project will be about mechanical motions and power!

Project Learning Goals

These are our 2021 engineering learning goals for the moitions project.

Project Constraints

Here are our project constraints for the 2021 motions project.

Research

IMG_6738.mov

How do we convert rotational into linear motion?-Collect

A cam is a rotating or sliding piece in a mechanical linkage used especially in transforming rotary motion into linear motion. The pencil going up and down is a linear motion and the second pencil at the bottom is a rotational motion. The purpose of this part of the project was to familiarize myself with different linear motion that would be later used in the kenetic sculpture.

Inskape Funny Face, Intro to Inskape - Collect

Here is a list of tools I used to create this crazy face

Circle tool
Rectangle tool
Select tool
Edit paths by nodes tool
Draw Bezier tools
Color fill tool

This was also a part of the collecting information part of the design prcoess because when I made this. The purpose was to colloect/experiment information with inskape and familiarize myself with the site. We did this because it made it much easier to navagate through inksape when creating my gear because I was familiar with the site.

Gear Design-Brainstorm

.Here is one example of a gear design I was thinking of. It is inspired by a fishing hook. This is the brainstorming and analyzing portion of the design process. The goal of this phase of the design process was to brainstorm ideas for a gear design. This portion was important because it allowed me to get feedback from my teacher on what would and wouldn't work. In this phase I designed a design for a gear that I would hope to use in my kenetic sculpture. I drew a circle to represent the gear and another circle inside to represent the cut out in the middle. Then I drew designs stemming from that circle.

Gear Design in Inskape

I used these tools to create this gear in Inkscape

Circle Circle tool
Select tool
Edit paths by nodes tool
Draw Bezier tools
Color fill tool
Resize tool
Path - set to top
Path - set to bottom
Align vertically
Align horizontally
Path - Union
Path - Difference
Combine
Clone
Raise to top
Delete
Undo

Second Decorative Gear-Brainstorm and Analyze

To create this is using a variation of path tools such as union and path on path. In this part of the project I was in the develop portion. In this portion of the project I began to build 3d model to get a more realisic reference to what the gear would actually look like in real life. So in this portion of the project I used tools stated in the beginning of the paragraph to create a model on Inskape. This model would allow me to see if certain design didn't fit in hte sculpture or if they were perfect.

IMG_0057.MOV

Getting to know my gears-Develop

In this video I explain how I got my drive and driven gear to go in the same direction. I also got my driven gear to turn my driven gear 1/2 the speed. When I did this I was still in the development portion of the design process. In this process I built a test model to see what my problems were going to be for my final one. In this part of the project I finished my Inskape designs and I went on and received all my gears from my tecaher. I assemble all the gear and put it on cardboard as a platform. I built a hand crank for it because the sensors and motors were in the works.

IMG_0124.MOV

Getting to Know My Cams-Develop

This is an example of linear motion because the avocado shaped peg is flicking the carboard piece upwards. In this project I would put a slot to hold the carboard piece in place so that the piece function smoothly as well as move in a linear motion. I would also add a mechanical slot that would be controlled by the cardboard piece and move in a linear motion as well. In this portion of the project I was developing new skills that I didn't know how to do before, this also what like a trial and error project to see how friction could conflict with design in real time.

Dancing Digits - Brainstorm and Analyze

In this picture you can see that there are gears, controlled by a motor, moving in a rotational motion. The gears are being pushed and touched by the driveshaft, then the digits come down by gravity. This makes the digits move in mechanical slots in a linear motion. This project is being moved by little motors on the side. This is all being captured on a tri cam. This is more of the analyzing part of the design process rather than the brainstorming part.In this assessment the purpose was to gather information about motored motion and how things looked opposed to how things actually work. In this assignment I didn't physical or digitally make anything rather than identify and explain.

IMG_4296.MOV

Ms.Whites Kinetic Sculpture-Brainstorm and Analyze

In her sculpture she has one drive gear and multiple drive shafts. She is moving her drive gear with a peg and it is moving all the other gears in opposite directions. On the inside, she has lazer cut designs that made an illusion like hypnosis. She also has layers of gears aka the drive gear has 3 layers. This is more of the analyzing part of the design process rather than the brainstorming part.In this assessment the purpose was to gather information about flued motion and how things looked opposed to how things actually work. In this assignment I didn't physical or digitally make anything rather than identify and explain.

IMG_0455.MOV

Prototype Plan-Improve your Design

Over the past few days in class, we have been working on our prototype plan for our gear project. In this project I chose to have multiple gears going in opposite directions and layers of gears. In this process I built a test model to see what my problems were going to be for my final one. In this part of the project I finished my Inskape designs and I went on and received all my gears from my teacher. I assembled all the gear and put it on cardboard as a platform. I built a hand crank for it because the sensors and motors were in the works.

Code for Motor

/* Control Speed of a DC Motor from serial monitor

More info: http://www.ardumotive.com/how-to-drive-a-dc-motor-with-transistor.html

Dev: Vasilakis Michalis // Date: 13/7/2015 // www.ardumotive.com */

//Transistor 'Base' pin or input pin of motor driver ic to Arduino PWM Digital Pin 3

const int motorPin = 3;

int Speed; //Variable to store Speed, by defaul 0 PWM

int flag;

void setup()

{

pinMode(motorPin, OUTPUT); //Set pin 3 as an OUTPUT

Serial.begin(9600); //Init serial communication

//Print a message:

Serial.println("Give a number from 50 to 255."); //Why minimun value 50? Because with values below 50 the motor doesn't spin ;)

Serial.println(""); //Blank line

}

void loop()

{

//Check if incoming data is available:

if (Serial.available() > 0)

{

// If it is, we'll use parseInt() to pull out only numbers:

Speed = Serial.parseInt();

flag=0;

}

//Valid range is from 50 to 255

if (Speed>=50 && Speed<=255){

//Send PWM value with analogWrite to Arduino pin 3 and print a message to serial monitor

analogWrite(motorPin, Speed);

//Print message only once

if (flag==0){

//Print PWM value

Serial.print("Motor spinning with ");

Serial.print(Speed);

Serial.println(" PWM");

flag=1;

}

delay(1000);

}

Circuit Diagram-Development

This is a circuit diagram I made using tinker kad. This is a digital representation of what I physically made. The diagram includes 5 wires, a moter, a arduino, a breadboard, and peg in pins and a transistor a well. In this part of the design process I created a circuit diagram to visually see how and I was going to configure my electronics. This really helped a lot with basic configuration and understanding of how the motor, breadboard and the arduino actually worked.

IMG_0757.MOV

This is a video of the motor I have wired and connected to a computer through a Ardunio and a breadboard to get the motor to spin. The motor can spin fast as well as slow, I coded this motor using a software called Arduino. This is also apart of the development portion of the design process because in a sense I made my diagram come to life with the help of the circuit diagram. The goal of this circuit was to see how the motor clearly works without the distraction of other things like the kinetic sculpture.

My full acrylic alonside my gear layout-Develpment

This is a close - up image that shows my full acrylic with my gears laid out on top of the acrylic as they will be. When the gears and shafts/pegs are lazer cut this is what the final product will look like. We will add to the project later with sensors and motors.This was a crucial part of the development process because this was the final file that I would turn in the get my gears printed. The overall goal of this was to finalize the electronics and move onto the final thing.

My final design with all parts-Development

This includes items that will be cut out on wood and items that will be cut out on the acrylic. This is the final file that will be submitted which included several copies of each gear. It also includes shafts and other small parts so that I will be able to construct my layout when it is cut. This was a crucial part of the development process because this was the final file that I would turn in the get my gears printed. The overall goal of this was to finalize the electronics and move onto the final thing.

Code for Motor and Ultrosonic Sencsor

const int motorPin = 3;

const int trigPin = 9;

const int echoPin = 10;

long duration;

int distance;

int speed = 255;

int flag;

void setup() {

pinMode(motorPin, OUTPUT);

pinMode(trigPin, OUTPUT);

pinMode(echoPin, INPUT);

Serial.begin(9600);

}

void loop() {

digitalWrite(trigPin, HIGH);

delayMicroseconds(2);

digitalWrite(trigPin, LOW);

duration = pulseIn(echoPin, HIGH);

distance = duration*0.034/2;

Serial.print("Distance =");

Serial.print(distance);

Serial.println(" PWM");

speed = 8*(255/distance);

if(distance <= 243.84){ //8 ft

analogWrite(motorPin, speed);

}else{

analogWrite(motorPin, 0);

}

IMG_0923.MOV

Both Working! - Development

This is a video of my ultrasonic sensor and motor woking at the same time. In this video you see the motor spinninrg at diffrenet speeds because of the distance I was away from the sensor. In this part of the design process I created a circuit diagram to visually see how and I was going to configure my electronics. This really helped a lot with basic configuration and understanding of how the motor, ultrasonis sensor, the breadboard and the arduino actually worked.

Circuit Diagram- Development

This is a circuit diagram I made. I already had the motor wired so all I had to do was color code and wire the sensor onto the circuit. This is also apart of the development portion of the design process because in a sense I made my diagram come to life with the help of the circuit diagram. The goal of this circuit was to see how the motor clearly works without the distraction of other things like the kinetic sculpture.

IMG_1048.MOV

In this video I show you how when I put an object closer to the sensor. The motor starts to spin faster. I have the ultrasonic sensor code to the right and the diagram is right above. This is also apart of the development portion of the design process because in a sense I made my diagram come to life with the help of the circuit diagram. The goal of this circuit was to see how the motor clearly works without the distraction of other things like the kinetic sculpture.

Ultrasonic sensor controlling the motor w/ code - Development

const int motorPin = 3;

const int trigPin = 9;

const int echoPin = 10;

long duration;

int distance;

int speed = 255;

int flag;

void setup() {

pinMode(motorPin, OUTPUT);

pinMode(trigPin, OUTPUT);

pinMode(echoPin, INPUT);

Serial.begin(9600);

}

void loop() {

digitalWrite(trigPin, HIGH);

delayMicroseconds(2);

digitalWrite(trigPin, LOW);

duration = pulseIn(echoPin, HIGH);

distance = duration*0.034/2;

Serial.print("Distance =");

Serial.print(distance);

Serial.println(" PWM");

speed = 8*(255/distance);

if(distance <= 243.84){ //8 ft

analogWrite(motorPin, speed);

}else{

analogWrite(motorPin, 0);

}

My Movie 4.MOV

Assembled Sculpture with Hand Crank-Devlopment

Here is is a video explaining how I use my hand crank to control my sculpture. I verbally use all the vocab words and I also show you that the sculpture turns smoothly. Once I add in my electronics then I can make the finishing touches to the sculpture. In this part of the project I was getting closer and closer to the final product. In this portion I did the same thing I did with the hand crank before, but I just did it with the final gears. The goal of this portion was to experiment with functionality and get your sculpture to run smoothly.

IMG_1099.MOV

My Kinetic Scuplture is Working!-Feedback

Here is a video of my kinetic sculpture moving on its own using a motor and detecting how far away I am. The sensor determines if I am in range and if I am it slows down but if I'm not it speeds up. It is sitting of a piece on acrylic. In this portion of the design process it was time for feedback, I received feedback on how I could make my sculpture more likable and more durable. In this part I actually connected all of my electronics to my final gear and recorded it. This was the best part because I got to see how everything I did on the side came together and made a sculpturs.

My Movie 5.MOV

Final Kenetic Sculpture with My Ultrasonic Sensor! !-Finalized

In this video, I show how I made my kinetic sculpture and how I got it to function on its own. I also showed you how it is starting from stopped, and increasing speed as you get closer. I gave you a "tour" of my sculpture which included the front and back, showing the enclosure I created, the craftsmanship of the enclosure, and where the wires go in and out. This was it, this was the final kinetic sculpture, I explained above what's going on in the sculpture as well as explaining in the video!

S T E AM!

My ultrasonic sensor relates to science because ultrasonic sensors transmit acoustic waves have a frequency between 25 and 50 kHz, always above the human hearing range. So the transmit waves are what detects motion to spin the motor in different speeds.

This kinetic sculpture literally screams technology. From the motor, computer, wires, sensors and breadboard tot he arduinos and connection cables. This project has technology written all over it.

This project incorporates engineering because I had to go through the whole design process. I also has to piece to together how I was going to get the sculpture to function smoothly and I had to build enclosures to hide things like the electronics.

This project incorporates art becuase I had to design gear in inskape and also draw and design gears on with pencil and paper. I tried to make the gears a artistic and unique as possible. This project also incorporate mate because I had to calculate the distance in to which I want the motor to spin faster or slower.

Final Engineering Concepts Reflection

This school year was the year of COVID. Its crazy to say that I have excelled and completed a whole year and a half(including 9th grade) of virtual learning. The most challenging part of engineering this year was not being able to have hand on hand lessons with my teacher and troubleshooting by myself at home. That was especially hard because all the information being taught to me was brand new but that also help me grow as an engineer. It sharpened my common sense and taught me to make some information out of nothing In the end I am proud of how I was able to come out of engineering a more shaper and overall a better student. I am proud of myself by overcoming many many other obstacles besides covid like technology issues that I couldn't get fixed on the spot. Overall, this year was not the best year but It was a reflection, I did have a lot of fun though.

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