User:Alan9487/ENES-100/project 2

Problem Statement
The project that our team will be working on is the Useless Box. The Useless box will be designed to perform many different tasks and while it will look simple from the outside the inside workings that will make it do all of these functions will be complex.

Project Plan
During the second cycle (Next 4 weeks) of the Useless box project the project plan will be enhance the level of professionalism in creating the project. With most of the Conceive process completed this cycle will be spent designing and implementing the team's ideas. At the end of this cycle of the "Useless Box" project, the goal is to have a working box that is electronically and mechanically capable of performing the functions that have been decided upon.

WEEK 5
This weeks tasks consisted of writing code for arduino, in order to have a PIR motion sensor detect movement as well as turn on and off an LED light or a buzzer. This will be crucial in the final attempt at the "Useless Box" as the group would like to have some sort of motion sensing effect to make this appear to have a mind of its own.

Wiring the Arduino/sensor/LED

Arduino and sensor coding

Next Steps

The tasks accomplished this week will be very helpful to the Useless box project going forward, and will help to give the project an added dimension of interest. With the completion of the wiring setup and the coding the next steps will be to combine this function with the other functions of the project, for example, having the motion detection cause the door to open, or turn itself on/off, and sound an alarm. In addition, the original plan for the week consisted of creating a technical drawing and getting certified to solder, and due to the fact that those tasks were not completed they will be pushed back and completed next as well.

WEEK 6
The goals for the week have been to gain the tool certifications needed to move this project forward. It has been decided that the group will use 3D printing (Makerbot, either replicator 2 or 5th gen) to create the box and its parts, for example the arm which will turn the switch on and off, as well as the lid and any mounting brackets for the arduino, motor, and switch. In addition to the Makerbot certification, Soldering Certification is also necessary for this project, therefore completion of the soldering certification is also imperative. This week both tutorials have been reviewed and quizzes have been completed.(scores of 100% were achieved on both). Along with reviewing tutorials and completing both tool quizzes, the motion sensor needs to be in working order, the motion sensor was connected and the code sketch was uploaded into the arduino, however it is not in working order as of yet.

Next Steps

Due to the fact that the motion sensor is not working, it has been determined that the actual PIR sensor is not working,(must buy a brand new sensor to be sure that the sensor works). Next step in tool certification is to get hands-on certification from an instructor in class. Also, after obtaining the go-ahead from an instructor to use the 3D printer, it will be time to begin the printing process.

WEEK 7
During this week in the project cycle 3D printing using the Makerbot has begun:

The "tub" for the box has been printed:

Next Steps