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Team Blog #14

Progress for this week:

Controls Team:
The controls team continues to make progress toward a functional BLE that communicates the Arduino to the iOS app. The plan is to get a working BLE in 2 weeks' lead time. The pixy2 cam had arrived and the team became familiar with it. Numbers have been assigned to the camera to be recognized, but the team decided that a barcoded identification of station numbers will be more accurate and easier to program to the Arduino, see figure 1. Some example Arduino codes with pixy cam has been explored.
Figure 1: Barcode recognition by Pixy2

Guideway Team:
The guideway team made progress on determining how the track will be supported and what materials we will use to build it. As explained per last week's blog, an attempt was made to laser cut plywood at Makerspace, but there was no success due to the quality and thickness of plywood we have in hand. Taking away from Bill James' guideway assembly, a decision was made to use MDF wood. The thickness had to also be reduced from 0.5" to 0.25" to be able to cut out pieces of the track. Other progress that was made included designing the stands for the track. For now, the idea of using rods, PVC pipes, and connectors, washers and nuts for the stands. the placement of these rods will be included in the next update of the CAD model for the track and base.

Figure 2: Bill James' track assembly with PVC pipes
Figure 3: Example of PVC pipe connected to a wooden base

Bogie Team:
The first part of the pod was successfully printed as seen in figure 4 below. Other parts are in progress. An updated bogie CAD designed is complete, seen in figure 6. The two platforms are designed to be able to swivel was out any interferences.  The team has been working on a gearbox design that fits the bogie platform.
Figure 4: 3D printed pod wall
Figure 5: 3D printing pod top and front in progress


Figure 6: Integrated CAD design of pod and bogie


Plans for Next Week: 


For controls, more progress has to be made toward the BLE connection with the app. Also, the pixy cam should be integrated into the master Arduino code to recognize all station barcodes. For Bogie, good progress should be made toward designing the gears. By next week, all parts of the pod should be printed and completed pod should be assembled.  For the Guideway, new plywood would be purchased for a second attempt in laser cutting it. More progress should be made toward a completed CAD model of the track.


Written By:
Asmaa Darwish


February 13th, 2020

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