User:Dpatel5391/enes100/Helicopter 2

Link to project Helicopter 2 team page.

Give instructor top 3 project choice list
My top three project choices are Helicopter, Airplane Float, and Model boat. I chose to continue working on the Helicopter project.

Write problem statement
I was working over the same project since past 4 weeks, and I am close to completing my task for creating a sketch to operate Quadcopter. There're still some problems related to writing a sketch since arduino UNO does not support the motor control shield and prototype shield both at once. We are also missing the design of Quadcopter. We are looking forward to build a simple unique design which supports the entire system, including batteries and still be able to fly in each direction.

Assign Task1
I was assigned to figure out how to write or get a sketch that makes Accelerometer ADXL335 to indicate the direction of motion using LEDs.

Compare actual work done to Task1
The work I completed in Task1 was really helpful to me in figuring out which sketches should I upload to the Arduino UNO that will function Accelerometer ADXL335. I found a similar sketch, which works great and also written in detail.

Week1 Narrative
The accelerometer library is already included in the software, so you may not need to download it. Using the library, I was trying to write a sketch that I can test using LEDs; however I didn't know what variables, setup, and loop to include in the sketch.

Ideas
Over the weekend, I though of writing down some ideas that might be helpful to me in figuring out what should be done in order for accelerometer to function the way I want it to. Here is what I was really interested in.
 * Writing down a code that makes it easier to setup the accelerometer.
 * Testing the accelerometer by using LEDs (just like the one in Video).
 * Determining what happens when I tilt the system over the x,y, and z axis.
 * Expanding the written sketch to accelerate and decelerate each motor also shown in the Video.
 * Using LEDs with each motor that will provide me the direction in which the system is tilted.

The main idea here is to figure out how to write or get a sketch that makes Accelerometer ADXL335 to indicate the direction of motion using LEDs and to accelerate (or decelerate) the motors.

Now I know exactly what I needed to do. I began looking for a sketch that proved accelerometer to be working using LED-test. Here's one of the codes: Then I began to setup the Arduino UNO, Prototype shield (with white breadboard), Accelerometer ADXL335, and LEDs & wires. Here's the picture of how it should look like once you're done. (Note: I only used one LED for the first test.) My video explains the rest of it. The Code is working great. Now, I am going to test using 5 RGB LEDs. So here're the Pictures and My video explaining how everything works. Now, I am going to present it to my class ENES-100.

Besides finding sketches for the accelerometer, I also found a sketch which uses a switch to increase or decrease the brightness of it. Here's My video, and it shows everything.

Week1 Peer Review
My comment was regarding to how Sunny did a great job in uploading the previous works, but missing Week1 Peer Review.

My comment1 was regarding to how Dammy should document as much as possible

My comment2 was regarding to how Darnelle should document his Week1 Narrative and Peer Review.

Assign Task2
Now, I am planning to use a new, complex device, which is 5DOF IMU/Dual axis gyro. The device is way different from Accelerometer ADXL335 and includes many different features and applications.

Compare actual work done to Task2
The work I have completed for Task2 helped me understand how I can actually combine two different codes and have several devices running through arduino at once. Previously, I had two different sketches: 1) Accelerometer sensor using prototype shield, and 2) 4 DC-motors running through motor control shield. For this task, I combined prototype shield and motor control shield to arduino board. Then, I wrote a sketch and made two of the devices work at the same time. After completing my work with accelerometer, I moved onto 5DOF IMU Gyro and learned its basic concept and how it actually differ from accelerometer.

Week2 Narrative
My previous sketch of 4-motors running at once. Here, I am explaining what each variables do.

My previous sketch of Accelerometer sensor using LEDs. Again, I am explaining how to read the following code.

Here's how I combined two of the previous sketches together and have LEDs and motors running at once.

I was also looking for a sketch that will turn a motor on or off using a switch, and I found a similar sketch that brightens an LED when pressing a button for 5 times, then turns off. Here's how to read the following sketch.

Week2 Peer Review
My comment was regarding how Damilola Kukoyi should keep up with the arduino and learn more.

Assign Task3
I am planning to learn more about Gyro 5DOF and also keep on working with the accelerometer adxl335, so that way I can learn the visual differences between the two devices and also learn the differences in writing their codes.

Compare actual work done to Task3
The work I completed in Task3 helped me understand the gyro sketch and also developing a circuit with led's that blink for the gyro.

Week3 Narrative
Here's the code, which I used to test the 5ODF- 5 Degrees of Freedom IDG500/ADXL335. The code was really complex and took me a lot more time to learn while explaining it.

IMU Calculations Demo, by Starlino IMU Guide: http://starlino.com/imu_guide.html Acc_Gyro Board: http://www.gadgetgangster.com/213
 * Tutorials:
 * Convert ADC value for to physical units see http://starlino.com/imu_guide.html for explanation.


 * For accelerometer it will return g  (acceleration), applies when  xyz = 0..2


 * For gyro it will return deg/ms (rate of rotation) , applies when xyz = 3..5


 * Note: This last part is also a part of the sketch, so don't forget to include the code below.
 * Note: I didn't get enough time to record a video or pictures of the work I did, but I will include them in Week4 activities.

I also found a link to "norfolk model helicopter club". This club makes so many different types of helicopters and experiment on each. They have so many pictures of all the work they did so far.

Week3 Peer Review
My comment was regarding to how Darnelle did great job in posting the pictures, but I thought he should also explain the activities related to each picture.

Assign Task4
Now, I am going to work with serial port monitoring software, including processing and arduino serial monitor. By using USB connection with my computer and arduino, I will be able to check if serial readings of the gyro 5DOF works according to the code.

Compare actual work done to Task4
The work I completed in Task4 involved printing of serial data by using arduino with the computer, getting different sketches to have an idea of how the accelerometer differs from Gyro in C++ language. I learned a new library, "import processing.serial" which uses processing software to read the serial output from arduino. I also learned different commands and variables, such as serial Inputs/Outputs- Serial.print{};Serial.analogRead{}, and Serial.list{}.

Week4 Narrative
Here are my videos and they basically explains everything I did this week. -Note: I couldn't talk much because of hoarseness so the videos are without voice; however instead of talking I basically wrote down the notes using Notepad.
 * Arduino Accelerometer ADXL335 Serial Data


 * Arduino Serial Monitor


 * Arduino Serial Chart

Here are my pictures showing how to setup the hardware system:


 * Picture 1


 * Picture 2


 * Picture 3


 * Picture 4


 * Picture 5


 * Picture 6


 * Picture 7


 * Picture 8

Tutorials:
 * Accelerometer vs. Gyro(5DOF)
 * Gyro Video
 * Sketch for Gyro
 * A Guide to Learn Gyro
 * Discussion page

Downloads: To Download Arduino Sketch / To Download .scc file for Serial Chart / To Download Serial Chart Software.

Week4 Peer Review
My comment was about how everyone stayed after class, helped out each other, and performed individual tasks for all four weeks.

Complete Project Page
Part of the project is completed in that we all were engaged in doing something new or changing the materials from previous designs. The previous design of balancing the propellers of helicopter was missing, so everyone had to start from the beginning and think about the possible ways of making it again. We though of using wood materials since they were available in the class. We built the seesaw gimble within two-three weeks, yet we still have some problems with it which will be covered as a next part of the project. We also made the design similar to Drone; however we used really light materials, such as pencils and light propellers. We also have completed writing the accelerometer sketch to run motors and have lights turned on at once. Then, followed by using Gyro-5DOF (5 Degree of Freedom) which measures the acceleration of all dimensions up to 5. The measurements were done using a new software called "Serial Chart." It is similar to Serial Monitor from arduino software but it also plots graph according to your Serial.INPUTS/OUTPUTS in arduino sketch/library.

Start Next Project Week0 activities
The next part of the project will include the following:
 * Completing the Gyro-5DOF sketch to fly helicopter in all dimensions while using the GPS signals sent via remote controller.
 * We still have some problems with see-saw, since the wooden stripe we used to balance propellers is really light and bends when you place the propellers on top of it.
 * We have not made four similar types of propellers/motors - that are almost equal in weight, make less noise, and spin really fast.