User:Cwoo4792/enes100/R.O.I.T Wheel Bot

This is the link to the team page. CNM

Give instructor top 3 project choice list
R.I.O.T Wheel, Robot arm, Airplane Float.

Write problem statement
Design and Build a functioning R.C. R.I.O.T wheel robot that can balance on its single wheel and is maneuverable. Must be able to fit a motor inside the wheel and create some sort of steering mechanism for the bot.

Assign Task1
Research R.I.O.T wheel vehicles and how they work. Look for possible materials in building a R.I.O.T wheel bot.

Compare actual work done to Task1
My goal was to research how the R.I.O.T wheel worked and find materials for a prototype. I was able to find out that its basic functions are to manipulate its center of gravity. Teammates are assigned to find a good wheel and possible motor. I also found that Lego parts could be very useful in making a prototype or model of the R.I.O.T Wheel.

Week1 Narrative
During week one I researched how the R.I.O.T wheel worked and started looking for testing methods for controlling the center of gravity. I was able to find out that is uses a motor that sways from 0 degrees to 90 degrees depending on the speed desired to give it more torque. I also found that it uses a counterweight attached to the frame to keep the seat upright in a steady position rather that allowing it to spin in circles with the rest of the wheel. I was able to find some pvc pipe, to possibly use as a wheel, Lego parts could possibly be used to build a fame, and figured that I may be able to use parts from a remote control car as a motor.

Week1 Peer Review
Go to each team mates weekly summary wiki page. Read their activities and narrative. Then go the associated discussion page. Say something positive on this page. Try some constructive criticism. Add your name and 1sfoerster 13:32, 28 August 2011 (UTC) to create a time and date stamp. Create a new category if another team mate has already commented here.

Assign Task2
Begin experimenting functions of the R.I.O.T wheel bot and try to make models to demonstrate them.

Compare actual work done to Task2
My goal was to be able to experiment on the functions of the R.I.O.T Wheel and make a model to demonstrate them. I was able to create a prototype out of lego create pieces, bionicle container tops, and a fishing weight to demonstrate the how the seat is able to stay stationary as the wheel turned. I was also able to fit a small electric helicopter motor into the wheel but it was not powerful enough to move the weight of the wheel.

Week2 Narrative
During week two I was able to find more parts to use for the R.I.O.T wheel and I was able to put together a prototype wheel. I was able to use two Lego tops for a wheel connected by a central axle that would connect to the outer seat and stay stationary as the wheel turned due to a fishing weight acting as a counterweight. Here is a picture of the first prototype with the remote control car in the back: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:RIOT_Wheel_model_1_view_2.jpg I then looked for a power source and way to control it and I was able to find an old remote control car with motor and radio control chip that still worked. The problem I ran into was that chip along with the batteries and motor were unable to fit into the wheel I had. In class Mr Foerster gave me a small electric that we were able to add a gear to. I was able to fit the motor into the R.I.O.T wheel but found that it wasn't strong enough to move the wheel and it burned a few circuits causing it's response to the remote control to go haywire. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Riot_wheel_model_with_motor_attached.jpg I am still exploring solutions but will most likely need to resort to a stronger motor and a bigger wheel.

Week2 Peer Review
Go to each team mates weekly summary wiki page. Read their activities and narrative. Then go the associated discussion page. Say something positive on this page. Try some constructive criticism. Add your name and 1sfoerster 13:32, 28 August 2011 (UTC) to create a time and date stamp. Create a new category if another team mate has already commented here.

Assign Task3
Search for a larger suitable wheel and rebuild a prototype with a motor strong enough to move the wheel.

Compare actual work done to Task3
My goal was to search for a larger suitable wheel and rebuild a prototype with a motor strong enough to move the wheel and I was able to find two plastic bowls to use as a wheel and use a remote control car motor to build a new prototype R.I.O.T wheel that was able to move forward and backwards.

Week3 Narrative
I set out to find suitable wheels to replace the ones I had and use a stronger motor from an old remote control car to be able to power and move the wheel. I started out looking up information about in-wheel motors but I was unable to find any useful information that I could actually apply using the materials I had. I then took apart an old remote control car and thought about how the minimum amount of parts I needed for the wheel. I realized that all I needed was the battery pack, the R.C. receiver chip, and the motor.http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Parts_of_R.C._car.jpg Now I needed to find a wheel that could fit it all. I was able to find two plastic bowls that I could easily punch holes and insert Lego single hole pieces into to use as the wheels.http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bowl_wheel.jpg After teammates and I finished prepping the wheels, putting a gear in one of them, and cutting pieces from the R.C. car I was able to use lego mind storm pieces to construct a frame for all the parts needed and put them into the wheels. The gears slipped the first time I tested it but I was able to add an extra Lego piece to make the motor sit more tightly secure against the gear of the wheel.http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:R.I.O.T_wheel_inner_structure_with_geared_wheel.jpg I then taped the two wheels together and I was finally able to get the Model R.I.O.T wheel to move forward and backwards.

Week3 Peer Review
Go to each team mates weekly summary wiki page. Read their activities and narrative. Then go the associated discussion page. Say something positive on this page. Try some constructive criticism. Add your name and 1sfoerster 13:33, 28 August 2011 (UTC) to create a time and date stamp. Create a new category if another team mate has already commented here.

Assign Task4
Make R.I.O.T Wheel more efficient by stabilizing the wheels and the balance of the outer seat. Possibly make another model of the R.I.O.T wheel.

Compare actual work done to Task4
My goal was to make R.I.O.T Wheel more efficient by stabilizing the wheels and the balance of the outer seat and to possibly make another model of the R.I.O.T wheel. I was able to make the outer seat somewhat more stable while driving by adding a small amount of weight to the seat, however during initial acceleration the seat would still rock uncontrollably up and down. Due to lack of materials and time I was unable to make another riot wheel.

Week4 Narrative
During week 4 I set out to find ways to improve the Riot wheel model made. After the Mark and Nick added the yoga mat strips to the wheels I was able to test drive it once again. As it drove, the outer seat had problems going up and down especially during the initial acceleration of the wheel. I tried separating the motor mount from the center axle and battery pack frame counter weight but when the motor was started to power the wheel, it rotated and hit a piece of the frame and caused the outer seat to make a complete rotation around the wheel. I then added a rubber band to the motor mount to keep it in place and possibly counter the initial acceleration of the motor. The results were seemingly the same as when I left the motor connected to the axle and frame. due to lack of time I then tried adding more weight to the front of the wheel to help stabilize the weight when being driven. The Original R.I.O.T wheel is able to use a counterweight system separate from the motor to so that the driver can change the position of the seat whenever the time calls for it, but this system would need more space than what left in the wheel at the moment. The extra weight helped stabilize the seat during the drive but it still went up and down during the initial acceleration. The final version of the wheel is seen in this video shot by Nick Ridings. This is a picture of the final version of the wheel:

Week4 Peer Review
Go to each team mates weekly summary wiki page. Read their activities and narrative. Then go the associated discussion page. Say something positive on this page. Try some constructive criticism. Add your name and 1sfoerster 13:33, 28 August 2011 (UTC) to create a time and date stamp. Create a new category if another team mate has already commented here.

Complete Project Page
Finishing project page.

Start Next Project Week0 activities
Start working on project robot arm.