User:Jamorgan3/enes100/Glorious2

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Problem Statement
We will create a Hover Craft that can be controlled by a remote control, and then will enable an autopilot system.

Assign Task1
I will continue working on remote control car receivers and transmitters.

Compare actual work done to Task1
I worked with team members to wire up fans to a circuit board powered by a 9 Volt battery, and get our model working on its own power supply.

Week1 Narrative
Once the fans were wired up to the circuit board, and the power supply was connected, we realized that the 9 Volt battery powering the two fans would not be enough. Each fan needed a 12 Volt current. We noticed that when the system was turned on, only one fan would really turn, and it would only turn slowly. When a second power source was added to the circuit, the fans received much more power, but the craft still had difficulty moving. After experimentation, we determined that if weight was added to the hovercraft, movement would be much more fluid and easy.

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 a signature Jamorgan3 00:35, 24 October 2011 (UTC) by entering four tildes in a row to create a time and date stamp. Create a new category if another team mate has already commented here.

Assign Task2
A stronger power source needs to be found, such as an RC car rechargeable batter from Radio Shack. This sort of battery is more suited for the type of craft being used, and will have a stronger voltage. Also, powerful fans need to be found for the rear of the vehicle, as well as a method for powering them and controlling them so steering is available to the controller.

Compare actual work done to Task2
I looked for more powerful batteries in stores like Radio Shack. However, until the need for these stronger batteries arises, they will not be ordered as the ones being used now may be fine.

Week2 Narrative
I looked for powerful batteries to possibly replace the ones currently used, and tested the fan used for directional propulsion. There are several types of rechargeable batteries used for RC vehicles that provide much more power than the ones used right now on the hovercraft. If efforts to improve skirt system or find a stronger, larger fan don't work, then I will try to buy these batteries to give the craft more power.

I also found several fans in the back room that are larger and more powerful than the one being used right now, such as airplane fans and computer motor fans. The problem with some of these fans is that they will likely be too heavy for the hovercraft. Therefore, before I decide to add one of these stronger fans, I want to see if the skirt system put in place improves the movement of the craft, and then add a stronger batter if needed. After that point, if neither of those changes makes a difference, I will add a stronger fan while trying to keep the weight addition down as much as possible.

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 a signature ~ by entering four tildes in a row to create a time and date stamp. Create a new category if another team mate has already commented here.

Assign Task3
I will work on the skirt with team mates and determine whether or not batteries need to be purchased and new fans attached.

Compare actual work done to Task3
I was unable to meet with team mates over the weekend to work on the skirt, but this week will be about improving the skirt design and attempting to maximize the performance of the craft in fluidity and power.

Week3 Narrative
I worked with team mates to finish the skirt around the craft. It was finally completed and put to the test. The craft moved much more fluidly with the addition of the skirt, much better than when there was no skirt, but still seemed a little slow, as though it was dragging along the floor while it hovered. This meant the craft did not move as smoothly as hoped or as far.

The design was changed to a cleaner, more precise skirt design, so that all sides of the craft had the same amount of tension on the skirt and it would evenly hover. When this design was tested, the craft moved much more smoothly, and traveled a greater distance with the same force applied. The next step was figuring out how to move the craft with the directional fan in the back and how to power that fan.

I determined that while the craft did move slightly more smoothly with a little bit of weight added to it, the fans I had found would certainly provide more thrust but would weigh the craft down significantly. I decided to put the fans aside and work with the power source and craft design instead. I looked back at the more powerful batteries I found earlier on and decided to ask my team about them. My team mates agreed that a stronger power source would likely be necessary to give our craft more thrust. It would also hopefully eliminate the need for a larger fan in the back. However, Andrew found a more powerful battery and tested it with the lift turbines on the craft, and the results were promising. The craft moved more smoothly and easily than ever before. The same procedure needs to be done for the fan in the back so that I can determine whether or not we need a new battery purchased or a larger fan that is light-weight.

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 a signature ~ by entering four tildes in a row to create a time and date stamp. Create a new category if another team mate has already commented here.

Assign Task4
I will look for light-weight fans online and at stores like RadioShack. This will allow me to have fans available for purchase if the need arises, such as if the additional battery on the directional fan is not powerful enough or the fan is not large enough.

Compare actual work done to Task4
I was unable to find any fans that would be helpful to the hovercraft. All the fans that seemed powerful enough were too large and/or heavy to work on the hovercraft, and would have only weighed it down to the point where it would not be able to move. However, I might be able to make do with some of the fans we have in the class, if only a balance can be found between the batteries and the fans.

Week4 Narrative
The team was informed that the battery being used, while more powerful, was more dangerous. I found this out for myself when, while I was hooking the wires on the fan up to the battery, the wires touched, creating lots of sparks. That, plus the fact that if the battery is overcharged, it could very well explode, is cause for concern. Another battery needs to be found or the stationary power source reused.

Also, thought was given to the idea of not using one of the fans found in the back room, but rather attaching a propeller to a motor and directly hooking that up to a power source. The only issue remaining there is getting a powerful enough power source. This is proving difficult to accomplish successfully.

The battery currently being used is an 11.1 V battery. However, this is a dangerous battery as it could explode if overcharged, and will create a large amount of sparks if the two connectors are touched together. For this reason, I believe a new battery needs to be found, one that is still powerful, but not dangerous to the project or the team's health. That, or return the the stationary power source we used at the beginning of the project to test whether or not each fan worked. This would be a temporary option that would allow more time to find a stronger, stabler battery.

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 a signature ~ by entering four tildes in a row to create a time and date stamp. Create a new category if another team mate has already commented here.

Complete Project Page
Link back to Glorious2

Start Next Project Week0 activities
Update the hover craft so that there are fans that work and are powered by a strong source that is also stable. Also, continue looking for a good replacement battery.