Fresh Tech Out the Boxx

Hey Guys,

The new site is up at http://www.freshtechoutthebox.com/

Use this link to submit posts.

http://freshtechoutthebox.com/submit

Thanks!

Phil

New Technology Site

Hey Guys,

I am preparing to launch a new blog called "Fresh Tech Out the Box" and I would like to invite you guys to contribute. Fresh Tech will be dedicated to everything in the technical world, whether there are new products coming out, applications, industry concepts, career opportunities or good old open source/hacking tips. As fellow Engineering students, I know yous guys are pretty involved with the technical world and that is why I am inviting you guys to participate. Shoot me an email or reply to this posted if you are interested.

Hope Summer is going well,

Phil

Extra Lab Hours

Hey Team,
My 6:00PM class is cancelled for tonight so I will be at the lab tonight.

-Phil

Weekly Update #3

Hey everyone,

So far progress on the robot has been awesome. Although we had to make some significant changes to the initial design, it can now drop two payloads at once, in two different locations. In fact, the changes to the design were even used as a basis for Experiment #3!

Phil has nearly completed the programming aspect; the LabView VI effectively controls the joystick, only now we just need to connect it to the finished robot in order to demonstrate it's potential.

The hardware construction of the robot is also nearly complete. The new arm assembly has been completed, now it just needs to be attached to the rest of the robot, which is supported by a balance mechanism. We also need to wire everything together; luckily we were able to obtain a spare circuit this week, significantly reducing the construction time.

Ultimately, this coming week the robot will be completed and tested. Given the extraordinary progress Design Spine has made in all aspects of this project, I can only see much success in this robot's performance.

- Anthony

Experiment 3

Hey Everyone,
Experiment 3 is due tomorrow plus on top of that, we have a huge chemstry test. I have collected the data for the experiment so all we have to do is format it in a report. I leave work at 4 today so I should be back in Hoboken by 5. I am free anytime after that so lets select a time for us to meet up and finish quickly so we can study for chem.

-Phil

Mid Project Engineering Challenges

Today while we were in the design lab, the group learned that the robot has to be capable of dropping two payloads at different locations, contrary to the assumed one payload requirement. As panic nealry filled the room, the group circumvented the problem through quick thinking and strong communication.

 For starters, each member presented a different solution to address the problem. Talks were heated but the final solution is a combination of the best parts  from each suggestions. Currently, the arm design is the process of being exstended to meet the new requirement of two payloads. 

In sum then, as we tackle every new challenge, we are learning that the group must come to a strong agreement and understand, plus that we will need more Dunkin Donuts Coffee. 

   

Presentation Well done.

Anthony, I just checked. Your package is with me.

-Bismark

Sent from my iPhone

IMPORTANT: Bag Lost

Hey guys,

When we left class today did anyone happen to pick up the white plastic ACE Hardware bag? I had forgotten it in my rush to leave, and there is some important building materials in there, along with my pocketknife. If anyone has it please let me know ASAP...

Thanks,

Anthony

[Fwd: Monday]

Weekly Update

Hey guys, I will second Anthony's suggestion to meet tomorrow to practice for the presentation. I will also suggest the time to meet to be 6:00pm if that will be fine with everyone. In addition, Phil and I had the drivers for the PS3 controller so we will try that and hopefully we can finish the experiment as originally planned. Moreover, I am confident that we can finish both the hardware and software part by the end of this week.

-Bismark.

Sent from my iPhone

Sent from my iPhone

Weekly Update 4/12

Hey everyone,

Looks like so far our group has been doing fantastic. I can see us really making a good impression for the presentation.

I figured that its better if we all worked on the presentation together, that way we will be more in sync and professional (we WILL do at least one practice run), so can we meet sometime tomorrow? (that would be Monday the 13th). Also, I can't meet after 9:00 PM. sorry.

As for Tuesday, I think we should divide and continue to conquer. Me and Bismark will work on the hardware part, I will have the arm done by tomorrow, while Phil and Tom can continue to program the joystick. On that note, I wasn't able to get an Xbox controller =(, but if we really can't use the joystick I guess I find a way to get one.

I think that we should have all of the robot done (i.e. hardware and programming) by the end of this week. That way, we can relax for the last two weeks a bit, and just work on testing the thing. I know this is a bit ambitious, but I'm willing to stay after class on Tuesday (my psych class is cancelled for that day) and talking with Phil for extra lab hours. Let me know what you guys think.

As always, keep up the good work everyone!

- Anthony

Meeting 4/5/09

Hey Guys,
I'm working 5-9 tonight but I think we should definitely meet after that. How is everyone's availability for my room, 9:30PM tonight?

-Phil

Sent from my Windows Mobile Phone

Updated Status

Hey Guys,

Since we are not meeting tonight, I wanted to let everyone know that I am currently working on the Joystick program to be ready for Tuesday's experiment.

-Phil

Robot Drive Test

Team at work!

Goooo team!!!

I just wanted to tell you guys that we are doing an okay job. But we could be doing better if we had a team name. We should have one to bring us together as a team. Get on it!

Ps:Trinity is the shit
Sent from my iPhone

E122: Week 10 Update

This week, our Design team completed and submitted their Request for Proposal for the project. This comprehensive, 20+ page document serves as a full-scale summary of what the entire project entails, while serving to actively demonstrate the clear advantages the "Retrieval Arm" design has over other Search and Rescue Robots.

The RFP was completed in a timely and effective manner, with all the group members participating by working on individual parts. Phil handled the entire Project Plan section, which covered areas of time management and division of labor. Bismark managed the graphic aspect of the project, creating, most notably, a 3D model and accompanying engineering drawing of the Arm feature using the Dassault SolidWorks engineering supplement. Tom managed the financials for the project, along with a Context Stakeholder analysis and a full flowchart for the LabView program. As the Team Leader, I put the report's components together, along with fabricating a full Conceptual Design Analysis.

Of particular note is the special "logo" Phil created using Photoshop. This appears on the RFP's title page, along with being the header on the Road Map page (table of contents). Combined with our unique design (which takes into consideration environmental, cost and sustainability concerns), and our blog-based publicity machine (groundbreaking for a Stevens Design Lab, as far as we know), this gives Stevens Design Spine a special identity, a sense of character which, in my opinion, makes our group a true standout.

In terms of areas of improvement, there are few places where I can find fault in this project so far. I would have to say the most difficult part may be actually fitting the finished product to the design in the RFP; for example, we have already ruled out using a Styrofoam arch for the "shroud" instead opting for a more stable PVC shield.

This week, we are currently comparing two different "joystick" apparatus, a Logitech PC model and a USB Sony DualShock, as seen in the PlayStation 3. Phil is currently building a LabView program to test each, while Bismark is building the "shroud" of the robot, continuing its construction. For next week, we will continue work on both aspects of the project, as the joystick testing will culminate in two weeks, in the write-up for Experiment 3, due in two weeks. More information on that will be posted soon.

In terms of how our group is doing, we are on a very smooth course with no problems thus far, and I don't see any problems developing anytime soon. As team leader, I can say that I am proud to work with a group of such dedicated, insightful, and resourceful group of engineers.

- Anthony

Retrieving Arm Assembly

Designed in SoldWorks by Bismark Polley Jr.

Hard at Work

Meeting Today

Hey Guys,
Is everyone available to meet in my room tonight?

RE: Request for Proposal

Hi Guys,              

               

I’ll also be available on Monday after 12pm. I hope you all had a nice weekend.

 

-Bismark

 

Request for Proposal

Hey Everyone,

I hope all is going well this weekend. I am available tomorrow night after 9PM and Monday after 11AM. I think we should definitely meet tomorrow to get something on paper (outline/rough copy), then add the finishing touches to the proposal on Monday. Feel free to hit my cell or shoot me an email if your free.

Phil

Hi guys, We definately off to a great start. Hopefully it won't be long before we complete the entire robot. I'm thinking we work on the mechanical stuff in the fastest pace as we can so  enough testing can be done. I'll be going home this weekend so i won't be present for the report. But if i need to get any work done, email my assignment and i will get it done as soon as i possible. 

Regards,
Bismark.

Sent from my iPhone

On Mar 26, 2009, at 12:29 AM, Bismark Polley Jr <bpolley@stevens.edu> wrote:

 

 

From: Anthony Giamella [mailto:motogod99@gmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, March 25, 2009 11:09 PM
To: Philippe Pierre-Paul; togara@stevens.edu; bpolley@stevens.edu
Subject: Robot! Weekly Email

 

Hey guys,

I think we are off to a great start already with the robot. Basically, for this email I'm gonna cover whats been going on, goals for this week, and what each of us should be doing.

First off, as you guys know the Big Project Proposal is due next Tuesday, which means we gotta meet and get it done. How is this weekend for everybody? I'm willing to work on it both days if possible, let me know what you want to do.

Just as a refresher, we already have much of the robot itself complete already. Though, we need to wire stuff, and of course implement everything in LabView, I think we have a good working design, and we already have a part we can easily test for Experiment 3, which is due the week after next.

Also I have to mention Phil's blog. I think we've all signed up, and I think that is the best means for us to communicate during the project. It also makes a good talking point on the Project Proposal and Presentation.

One thing that the Proposal needs is a Front Panel. This will be a main focus this week as we work on the Proposal.

Again, is this weekend good for everyone? Also, what time and where, I'm up for anything.

Soon I'll have this posted on the blog. Until then, good luck everyone!

- Anthony Giamella

Sent from my iPhone

Intitial Design Phase

Hey Everyone,
The tasks for this week are to draft an initial design concept (Hardware/Software), complete a proposal based on Request for Proposal (RFP) requirements, and develop a test for experiment

Hardware/Software Requirements:

The USRR shall be powered by an onboard battery. The battery shall support a mission duration of one hour.

The USRR shall be run by a microcomputer capable of controlling DC motors and capable of providing digital output signals that could be used to activate ancillary devices. The microcomputer shall also be capable of performing Data Acquisition (DAQ) functions to collect analog and digital sensor data.

The USRR microcomputer shall interface to the remote operator’s control PC via an RS‑232 serial communication link. The serial communication link shall have the capability of wireless operation with RS-232 Bluetooth adapters. Wireless capabilities shall extend, at minimum, to a distance of 100 meters.

The USRR shall be a two wheeled vehicle. Each wheel shall be individually controlled by the microcomputer. Control shall include start/stop, speed and direction of rotation. The microcomputer shall respond to motor control commands received from the remote operator via the serial communication link.

The USRR shall contain two primary sensors:

• The Infrared Signature Detector (ISD) - The ISD shall detect heat and shall be the primary sensor used to detect the presence and location of survivors. The ISD shall be a directional sensor that provides an analog signal proportional to the level of Infrared energy being detected.
• The Proximity Sensor (PS) - The PS measure distance to an approaching object. The PS shall be the primary sensor used to approach a survivor once identified and located

The USRR shall use its two primary sensors to locate and approach a survivor to within approximately 12 inches, and then drop its small package.

The USRR shall contain a small package release mechanism that can be activated by the microcomputer upon receiving a release command from the remote operator over the serial communication link. The USRR and its release mechanism shall be capable of transporting and dropping a two ounce payload.Upon completion of its mission, the USRR must be capable of being remotely guided back to the origin of its mission.

Project Schedule: