User:ClemonsLemons/project 1

Cheryl Campo

Please delete everything in italics as you follow the instructions.

Project 1
Autonomous Power Wheel

Project Preference

 * Autonomous Power Wheel
 * Escher
 * Useless box

Problem Statements

 * Make a program that will be able to tell the motor vehicle to move backwards and to avoid obstacles in its path
 * To determine the parts needed in order for the program to tell the vehicle where it has to turn based on the information provided by the ultrasonic sensor that will be attached to the back of the car

Project Plan
A sensor will be added to the back of the vehicle to detect obstacles. In order to accomplish this:


 * 1) Code will be developed to program the sensor to send the necessary commands to detect obstacles and turn the vehicle accordingly
 * 2) A connection will need to be established between an additional sensor and the vehicle
 * 3) The sensor connection will need to reach the Arduino processor
 * 4) A stable means of attaching the sensor to the back of the car will need to be devised
 * 5) Wires will need to be connected to the processor
 * 6) The code will be tested in order to determine whether it successfully directs the vehicle to avoid obstacles

Week 1: Project Planning Stage
Goals to accomplish by the end of the project
 * Add a sensor to detect obstacles in the back of the automobile while moving backwards

In order for the project to be moved forward, the objectives that need to be accomplished are:
 * Research software and hardware for the rear sensor
 * Learn how to program using an arduino in order to communicate with a rear-facing as well as a forward-facing sensor

Objectives in progress
 * Work on the programming of the rear-facing sensor to detect obstacles and relay information to the arduino uno from that sensor
 * Understand the software needed to run the arduino program that is being created
 * Procure hardware needed

Parts needed
 * Ultrasonic sensor
 * Arduino Uno
 * Breadboard

This week

The groundwork for what is to be accomplished at the end of the project was laid out. All the parts needed have been also listed and need to be obtained. Revised code will be based on previous groups' work and the focus will be on the physical aspects of the project for the time being. Because both a front- and rear-facing sensor will each need to be connected to a power source (previously 5V), this connection will need to be devised.

Next steps
 * Continue to practice arduino programming
 * Redesign previously used coding to work for the new sensor to be attached to the back of the vehicle
 * Find a way to securely attach the sensor to the body of the vehicle so as not to disrupt obstacle detection

Week2 Day 1: Sensor attaching
Week 2 goals
 * Design an attachment for the rear of the car to hold a second sensor for backwards detection
 * Obtain an ultrasonic sensor that would work for backwards detection
 * Create another program based on past groups' coding that will control the sensor placed on the rear of the car

The sensor that was obtained was slightly different than the sensor used by the previous group. The new sensor only needs three wires to connect to the arduino uno instead of four


 * Current design for attaching the sensor to the back of the car:

The sensor should be able to detect obstacles unless the holder for the sensor is knocked around. Placing the sensor on top of the vehicle may reduce the degree to which it may get jostled by potentially uneven terrain.

Design flaws
 * Doesn't allow for the sensor to turn in such a way that will allow it to pick up everything in the path of the vehicle while it is going backwards
 * Can potentially be knocked off the back of the vehicle

Next steps
 * Think of different ways to attach the sensor to the back of the vehicle
 * Attach the sensor to the body of the vehicle in the back
 * Program the sensor to detect obstacles and allow the vehicle to go backwards
 * Wire the sensor to the battery and the control board

Week 2 Day 2: Sensor placement

 * Steps to attach sensor to the surface creating from a cardboard box lid
 * 1) A cardboard box big enough to attach to the back of the car and hold the sensor level with the floor was obtained (Figure 1).
 * 2) The cardboard box lid was cut in a u-shape that wraps around the back of the vehicle creating a snug fit to make sure the sensor is not able to be moved even slightly. Dimensions are as shown in Figure 2.
 * 3) The sensor was attached to the box lid and then the box lid taped to the back of the vehicle (Figure 3).

After taping the sensor to the cardboard box surface, wires that will attach to the sensor and then later to the control interface were obtained.

Next Steps
 * Extend the wires so they are able to connect with the control interface
 * Attach the sensor to the cardboard box surface on the back top part of the vehicle
 * Attach extended wire to the control interface
 * Continue working on programming the sensor to detect obstacles in the path of the vehicle and to maneuver around the obstacles accordingly

Week 3:Sensor Implementation
Objectives Completed
 * Connect the sensor to the breadboard
 * Connect the breadboard to the arduino uno

Work
 * Searched on parrallax.com in order to find out how the sensor connects to the arduino
 * The name of the sensor used is Ping))) Ultrasonic Sensor
 * The sensor attaches to the arduino: first pin on right connects to the ground pin of the arduino, the second pin connects to the 5volt pin that gives the sensor its power, and the last pin connects to pin 7 on the arduino

Reflection
 * Instead of connecting the sensor to the breadboard and then connecting wires from the breadboard to the arduino it is better to connect the pins on the sensor directly to the arduino uno so that there is not a bunch of stuff on the back of the automobile that we have to attach to the back.

Analyzation
 * The sensor is stuck in one place which limits the range that the sensor is able to detect obstacles from, in the future it would be better to place the sensor on a swiveling platform so that it has a wider range of vision to detect obstacles

Next Steps
 * Connect the sensor to the arduino and the sensor to the back of the car
 * Create the program for sensor detection and car movement

Week 4:Sensor Connecting
Objectives that have been completed
 * Connected the sensor to the arduino through the use of a breadboard

Work
 * The sensor was connected to the arduino through the use of a breadboard. Figure 1 shows how the sensor was connected to the arduino.

Reflection
 * Current progress allows for the time needed to create the movement and sensor programming and correct any mistakes that may occur in the program

Analyzation
 * wires are taped to the seat s as to not get in the way when the tires are moving
 * Wires are organized in a way that allows us to see where each wire connects on the arduino and on the sensor

Next Steps
 * Create and test program
 * Create final project presentation