Tuesday, May 1, 2018

Week 13: Writing the PID() Code for the Suspension Assembly

This week, I was able to write the Arduino code for the suspension assembly, which utilizes the PID() function from Arduino. The Kp, Ki, and Kd constants will need to be calibrated once the suspension is built. I also 3D printed a housing for the joystick and toggle switch with help from Kevin and Brynn.

Week 12: General Meeting and Writing the Test Frame Code

This week we had a general meeting with all of ME195 to discuss the next paper that is due.

Afterwards, I was able to develop the test frame code that involves using a joystick and toggle switch to control the linear actuator for the test frame. We also went to the ME41 tech shop to fabricate a some materials needed for our suspension assembly.

Week 11: Presentation 2

This week we updated our teammates about our progress this semester through our second presentation. The presentation can be found below.




Monday, April 9, 2018

Week 10: Acquiring materials from the shop

This week I disassembled the suspension from last year to obtain the actuator the team used. This actuator will be used for our test frame. I also found leftover material that could be used for some of the parts that need to be manufactured. Next week we have our presentation, so I will be preparing for that in the mean time.

Week 9: Spring Break Progress

I was given advice by my ME106 lab instructor to use the PID() function from Arduino to account for the self-balancing logic in our main code. After researhcing and digging into multiple forums I was finally able to develop a code that could potentially work for our application. A problem that I ran into was that since the PID() function takes the error of inclination an adjusts the actuator accordingly, which requires the system to actually be built in order to troubleshoot.

Week 8: Test Frame Arduino Code

For this week, I researched methods on how we could use a mechatronic system to simulate the half-scale track with a test frame. The test frame will be used to showcase our design at Maker Faire, since we do not plan on transporting the half-scale track to Maker Faire. I figured the best way to simulate the track is with an actuator that moves a rail within a range of -17 to 17 degrees. A switch will be used to toggle between a joystick that is user-controlled and a default mode that simply traverses the track between -17 and 17 degrees in a loop.

Wednesday, March 14, 2018

Week 7: Interfacing the Motor Driver with Arduino

For this week I was able to interface the motor driver and linear actuator with Arduino. When running the program I had an issue trying to move the actuator in the opposite direction, however Dr. Furman assisted me and let me know that I needed a common ground.

I will begin to work on the self-balancing logic and code from this week on with aims to finish it by the end of Spring Break.