User:Hkhatun6564/robot car

Write problem/project Goal
''Our goal is to create an autonomous car and have varies of obstacles for the robot car do movement. We plan to modify an existing vehicle either one that is in the car or getting it from somewhere else. ''

My First Task
''For the first weekend, I plan to do research on the robot car project. I plan to do this research on wikiversity in order to see previous projects done by other groups. I would like to gain some information before just jumping into a project.''

Summary of actual work over first weekend
The idea about researching about the robot car changed a little bit. I had to do research on other sites rather than just wikiversity. Wikiversity did not have a lot of information on this project. Research showed that the cars come in different sizes and shapes, this information will help us with the final product when we are trying to do movements in the obstacle course. Our team page had some problems, but we ended up changing it and making it in the right format.

Week1 Narrative
For the first week, I helped with research and editing the team page for wikiversity. I did research about the robot project on wikiversity but only was able to retain small amount of information. Due to that I had to do some research outside of wikiversity. After we gathered information the group and I decided to modify a car that one of the members owned. We also came up with a back up plan, which is to use the cars available in the classroom if the first plan was to fail. The car we were planning to use is known as the NXT Mindstone. Another thing I did was help edit the team page on wikiversity. I added the links for our names on the team page. I also edited some information on the page as well to ensure it was a little more detailed. I also tried to get the team to communicate with each other. To make sure we were prepared for the presentation on Wednesday.

My Second Task
I plan to began to modify the car. Also, began to understand the programming used on the NXT Mindstone that way a proper obstacle can be created for it. Since I am not big on programming I plan to learn from this project.

Summary of actual work over second weekend
We had to change our plan for the project because the car we originally planned to use could not be used. It had several problems such as not being able to download the software on to the computers at HCC and the display screen for programming did not work. Without the display screen and the software we would not be able to program the vehicle, which defeats the purpose of the project. So we decided to use another car and just use an arduino to program.

Week2 Narrative
9/24/2012: We began to see how the NXT Mindstorm vehicle worked. However, when we were using it in class there was some problems with it. The software that ran with the program was not compatible with the computers that we had an easy access. We then began to disassemble the NXT Mindstorm trying to see what sensors we would need for the project and what we don't need. So we removed the claws and few sensors. We are now trying to see how to use the different sensors to benefit us.



9/26/2012: After changing the batteries and trying to install the software on another computer we realized that the brain of the NXT Mindstorm was not functioning. So, we decided to use an RC car instead. We chose to bring in one of our own because it was bigger and there would be room to place an arduino on top of the car. We looked at some of the RC cars in the classroom but they were very small in size. Small that an arduino could not be placed right on top of the car. We were playing on using a wireless arduino so the car could move easily around campus without being limited by an USB cable. But after researching and help from Professor Edelen, it was clear that we didn't necessarily need an wireless arduino because we don't need it to talk to the computer while it's in motion. We learned that after programming the arduino, we will just need a power source to keep the arduino running after it is disconnected from the computer. After that we began to think about how we can make the RC car better. We planned to make the car go faster so we began to remove the extra part of the car. For instance, we plan to remove the yellow framing of the car because that would make the car travel at a faster speed since it would be lighter. We are still trying to figure out the power source for the arduino. Since the car has to be powered by a power source itself, we don't know how to connect the two power sources together.



My Third task
For the next weekend, I am hoping we can start programming and figure out a power source for the arduino. I think for now our main focus is trying to figure out a power source for the arduino because that is an important part. Also, we are hoping to have the yellow frame of the car removed from the main frame of the car.

Summary of actual work over third weekend
Our plans have changed once again. We went back to the planning stage to figure out a better and faster way to finish this project. The professor and a student suggested that we hack the remote instead of the car itself. So we thought about it, and realized that it would actually be easier to hack a remote control than the car. So we started to take apart the remote control, and lucky for us there was a circuit board in the controller with resistors. This will help us hack it faster.

Week3 Narrative
10/1/2012: We continued to work with our RC Car. We took most of the screws off the car except for one. The screw was stuck and we could not get it out. It could have been from the fact that we rounded the head of the screw. This made the screw driver not be able to grip the head and turn. We finally got it off by breaking apart the yellow frame of the car from the main frame of the car. Removing the frame will give us access to the main control panel of the car. We planned to place the arduino in that location and hacking into the system.

10/3/2012: After our presentation, we realized that hacking the RC Car will be more difficult to do than hacking the remote control. One of the classmate pointed that out. Since we were behind with the project, we decided to modify the remote control instead of the car. So i unscrewed the top frame of the remote control. I had a hard time removing the part that covered the circuits of the remote control because of the controllers. So after messing around with it, we realized that the controllers could be easily unscrewed. After unscrewing the caps of the joysticks removing the top frame was a piece of cake. Next we decided to get familiar with the arduino system. So we tried to program an arduino using a program we found on the arduino website. However, the program did not work when we uploaded it to the software. There was an error message. So we decided to do research on our own at home. Then, we decided to do some brainstorm for the obstacle course for our car. I wrote the movements that we wanted the car to do, allowing us to know the movement to program in the arduino. The next day we met up. I charged the car battery to be able to have the car prepared to be used. It took hours to charge because it needs to be charged for at least 2-3 hours. I also found some cardboard and wood to use during the obstacle course.

10/5/2012: I downloaded the arduino software program onto my laptop so I can work with the arduino at home. This will help us have some what of a basic knowledge of it. I looked up the tutorials of the arduino. Some of the tutorials we already did in class and some I found online in the arduino website. I did some research trying to see how to program an arduino. I stumbled across two tutorial website. Also, I came across a video that shows the basic of an arduino. I connected the arduino to my computer and the computer was reading the arduino. I tried to use some basic codes and they were able to be uploaded successfully.

Heres a link to the first website: http://arduino.cc/playground/Main/TutorialList Heres a link to the second website: http://www.ladyada.net/learn/arduino/ Video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCxzA9_kg6s

My Fourth task
We definitely plan to have somewhat programming done with the arduino. Also, we plan to have a small obstacle course established so that we can measure the time required for the car to make a complete movement. I will continue to work with the arduino software and watch tutorial videos in order to program the movement of the car.

Summary of actual work over fourth weekend
I was able to find a program that was very similar to what we were trying to make the car move; however the program was not completely finished. I learned about some interesting thing about programming and how to soder.

Week4 Narrative
10/8/2012: I unscrewed the some of the screws of the control panel of the car. We thought that we would look inside the car's control panel to see if it would be any easier to modify. When the panel was removed, it was insane. The wires were everywhere. I figured that it would be easier to stick with the remote control. Then, I decided to look at the circuit board of the remote control closer. It caught my attention that there were little slots that the joystick rubbed against; that gave out an electric circuit connection, which allowed the toy car to move. The group and I disassembled those metal ticks that carried out the connection in the beginning of the project. I put the four metal ticks in to see what happens. Next I planned to see what happens when we substitute wires for the metal ticks.

10/10/2012: I went to grab our R.C. car. Next, I played around with wires. Placing the wires together in different slots caused the car to do a certain movement. There were four slots total but I mainly focused on working with three of them. I grabbed a small bendy wire that could be used to easily connect with two slots at a time. I attached the top slot with the middle slot with a wire. This caused the car to move forward. Then I tried it again except this time I connected the middle slot and the bottom slot with a wire. Then, I measured the voltage of the batteries to see how much power it is sending off to the wires. The batteries I was using varied in voltage power. It ranged from 2-6, but it would work better with a nine volt battery. And then I found out that, the six volt battery was giving out voltage of three to the forward and reverse slots while the center slot remained zero. The next thing that was left to do was attach the wires to the each individual slots and then connecting it to the arduino.

Complete Team Page
Fill out the Team Form (should have already copied the form, created the team page, linked to it and started filling it out).