User:Jamorgan3/enes100/Glorious3

Link back to team Glorious3

Give instructor top 3 project choice list
1. HoverCraft

2. Cornstarch

3. Helicopter

Write 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
Continue working on finding a power source capable of powering all the fans and the directional propeller. Look up information regarding this topic.

Compare actual work done to Task1
While I didn't find a new power source, more testing was done using the batteries my team already had, this time using resistors.

Week1 Narrative
Instead of looking around for a brand new battery, it was decided that the battery the team already had should be tested more, in different situations. So it was determined that the first situation/setup that should be used was adding a resistor into the circuit. The first test was with a 100 Ohm resistor, then with an 18 Ohm, and then a 22 Ohm, and finally a 360 Ohm. The 100 Ohm did not efficiently power the fans, and did not even move the propeller. The 18 Ohm resistor burned out when power was turned on, and the 22 Ohm smoked a bit. The 360 Ohm resistor was similar to the 100 Ohm in that it did not burn out, but rather did not turn all the fans with enough power.

At this point, the resistor testing was stopped and the team reverted back to testing the setup with just the battery. However, this was not the same battery as the one used before. This was a new battery brought in by one of the team members. When this battery was used to power the hovercraft, all the fans worked simultaneously, something which was not the case when testing with resistors. However, the issue with using that battery alone was that the propeller spun much too quickly.

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
Now that it has been determined that using only the battery produces the most efficient operation of all the fans and propellers simultaneously, while spinning the propeller too fast, a balance needs to be found so that the battery provides optimum performance. I will work with teammates to attempt to find this balance.

Compare actual work done to Task2
Continued to work on finding a balance when using the battery. Worked as much as possible in the one day of the week before Thanksgiving break.

Week2 Narrative
I worked on connecting and testing the different batteries. It was found that there were no connectors for the battery and the charger, so an email was sent by a teammate to the professor in order to set up an order.

After this, testing with resistors resumed. A 47K Ohm resistor was hooked up to the circuit and the battery turned on. I noticed that, as with most of the other tests with resistors, the fans worked just fine, but the propeller did not work at all. This may have something to do with the placement of the resistor in the circuit. Perhaps it is connected in the wrong spot. This will have to be investigated.

At this point, the resistor was removed and I tested with only the battery. After turning the battery on and observing the setup, I realized that the fans spin as well as the propeller. However, the negative aspect to the propeller working is that it spins much too quickly. This may be due to a lack of resistor or perhaps the motor is spinning it too fast, in which case a different motor should be tested. Also, testing with an electronic speed controller should be done as well.

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
As it is Thanksgiving break, not as much will get done as I'd like, but I will continue to try to sort out the issue with the battery, possible use of resistors, and possible switch of motor. Also, I will try to look into electronic speed controllers.

Compare actual work done to Task3
A new battery was acquired, as well as a new motor with model airplane propeller. These need to be tested with the hovercraft as it is right now.

Week3 Narrative
The new battery was attached and tested without the new motor and propeller at first. With the new battery, everything on the craft seemed to run well and smoothly. At that point, the motor and propeller needed to be attached and tested, but first, a housing stand needed to be constructed to hold the motor and propeller high enough to keep the blades off of the surface the hovercraft floats on.

A balsa wood housing was constructed and placed around the rear turbine fan. At that point, an outline of the motor needed to be traced onto the wood to make sure a hole could be cut to provide a snug fit on the motor. Afterward, holes for each of the corner screws were drilled into the wood and the motor was screwed onto the wood housing.

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
Currently, I've confirmed that the battery provides an efficient flow of power to all the components of the hovercraft and allows them to run smoothly. Also, the motor with the propeller needs to be tested along with the new battery. A housing stand for the motor and propeller was constructed and the motor was attached to this housing. However, it needs to be slightly adjusted in height to allow the propeller blades to sit high enough off the ground.

Compare actual work done to Task4
The battery is going to be tested with the new motor and propeller during this week's class periods. Also, the stand for the motor is being made taller as well.

Week4 Narrative
At the end of week 3, the new battery had been tested with the fans that lift the hovercraft, and it powered them very efficiently. Now it needed to be tested with the new motor a team member found as well as the model airplane propeller that comes with it. After hooking everything up and including a potentiometer in the setup to control the speed of the motor, the whole thing was tested. The motor spun very quickly, yet very powerfully. The only issue was that the propeller was blowing air downward, the opposite direction it needed to be. This propeller needs to be switched around.

The mount for the motor and propeller has been extended with more balsa wood and once it dries it will be tall enough to keep the propeller off the ground.

At this point, everything has been completed for the hovercraft itself. Once combined, the hovercraft should be able to hover, as well as move forward when the propeller is turned on. Remote control needs to be implemented now.

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
Link back to Glorious3

Start Next Project Week0 activities
The completed model of the hovercraft needs to have remote control implemented using the RC car remotes, as well as steering introduced through a rudder system.