Transcript The SFA Rover Team Project

The SFA Rover
Team Project
The SFA Rover
 Must be demonstrated at the beginning
of the last lab of the semester, Dec 11th.
 Teams can work on this project after the
normal labs are complete each week.
 Additional team meetings outside of the
normal class time may be required.
Background
 This project has been a part of the
electronics course since 1999.
 In the past we have used DC motors or
PC fans.
Background
 Modifications have been inspired by a
Randy’s SFA Rover.
 This is Thursday’s seminar topic.
Project Update
 In the past the vehicles were built by
individuals and had to travel 50-feet in a
short time.
 Now the vehicle project is a team project
and each vehicle must avoid obstacles
and travel 50 feet in 10 minutes.
A Robot with a Brain
 Each vehicle will have a programmable
integrated circuit (PIC) that will make
decision and control the motors
automatically.
 This kind of robot control is the same
kind of control that is used on Mars robot
rovers.
The Vehicle Course
6-feet
50-feet
The Vehicle Course
6-feet
50-feet
Extra Credit
Scoring
D = Distance traveled in feet in 10 minutes
(the maximum distance is 50-feet)
R = 15 if the vehicle successfully demonstrates avoiding an obstacle on
the right and 0 if it is not demonstrated
L = 15 if the vehicle successfully demonstrates avoiding an obstacle on
the left and 0 if it is not demonstrated
T = -10 each time the vehicle is touched by a team member during the
course
Grade = T + L + R + D × 70/(50ft)
Bonus: For each extra left or right obstacle avoided, 2 points of extra
credit will be earned for each member of the team. A maximum of 20
extra points can be earned in this manner.
SFA Rover Circuit Diagram
9-Volt
Battery
Voltage
Regulator
Left
Button
Right
Button
PIC
Microcontroller
H-Bridge
Left
Motor
Right
Motor
Key Concepts
Note that the parts used in the team
project are discussed in your text book.
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Chapter 7 - Logic Circuits
Chapter 8 - Microcomputers
Chapter 10 - Diodes (Voltage Regulator)
Chapter 12 - Transistors (H-Bridge)
Chapter 16 - DC Machines (Motors)
Key Concepts
Other key ideas used in this team project
include:
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Battery Power Management
Torque
Friction
Gearboxes
Beginning the Construction
 There should be 4 members on each team.
 Two team members will now work on together
on one Heathkit Digital Experimenter.
 In pairs take one motor and connect it between
0 and 5 Volts.
 Do not supply more than 5 Volts.
 Reverse the wires and notice that the motors
rotates in the opposite direction.
Beginning the Construction
 Turn off the power. Now connect the
motors to the H-Bridge chip.
 Use two Data Switches as inputs into the
H-Bridge that can be used to change the
direction of the motors. *
 Make notes about your wiring so that
you can reconstruct this circuit on a
portable breadboard later.
More Construction
 Now use the parts provided to construct
a chassis for your vehicle.
 If time permits, move you H-Bridge to a
portable breadboard and power it using
a voltage regulator and 9-Volt battery.
 If you are successful, then try to run your
vehicle straight down the course.
To be continued…
 If you did not complete the course, then
use some lab time this week to modify
your vehicle until it can complete the 50foot course.
 We will integrate the PIC microcontroller
and buttons into the circuit later. This
will allow the vehicles to avoid obstacles.