Thursday, February 27, 2014

Elevator

Here is the visual of the actual elavator (lots of wires)
:


Here is the Main program for the software: 




Here is the Subprogram for F1: 




Here is the Subprogram for F2: 




Here is the Subprogram for F3: 



Here is the Subprogram for F4: 

Soccer Goal

This soccer goal will turn on the red lamp on top of the goal if a goal is scored. The photoresistors inside the goal will sense when the ball passes by the lights and turn on the lamp on top signifying a goal. 

 

 And here is the software that we used to get the goal to do what we wanted.

Wednesday, February 5, 2014

3.1.6 Open and Closed Loops

1. We built the support system and track.

 2. We added the motor and gearbox. 

3. This is the program we made for the system.  

 4. N/A 
5. This is an open loop because there is nothing to provide feedback to the system.
 6. The gearbox would come to rest far to the right than it started. 
7. The process does have an inefficiency because it travels more one way than the other everytime the process is repeated. Also, if something slows the motor down one way, the motor will not adjust to keep the constant speed. 
8. Here is the flowchart.


9. This is a closed loop because it responds to feedback. 
10. This would be very precise because it would never get passed the mini-switches so it will alway have the same range of motion.
 11. Here is the flow chart for the third program.

CONCLUSION:
 1. A cell phone is an open loop system. The program starts when it recieves an incoming call and it ends when the "END" button is pressed. The system could benefit from feedback because hitting the end button ends the process and the end button is a feedback. 
2. An air conditioner is a closed loop system. The feedback it gets comes from a thermometer. If the temperature is higher than the set temperature, it will cool the house down until the set temperature is reached. If the temperature is lower than the set temperature, it will warm the house up until the set temperature is reached

Monday, February 3, 2014

3.1.5 Variable Function

 
 14. The light was on for 5 seconds.

 15.

 Conclusion: 
16. You can have a Plus 1 command and then the next step could have a Minus 1 command. That will make the variable block equal zero.
 17. An industrial or manufacturing engineering may need to keep track of how many products they place in a box. If the box can only hold 10 items, then the engineer will have to set the program so that it stops after it places 10 items in the box so that they can switch out the box. 

Monday, January 27, 2014

3.1.4 Branch Functions


1. If the mini switch is not being pushed and it is wired normally open, the program will continue through the 0 node. 

 

 3. The lamp will continuously be lit if I1 is wired normally open and the switch is never pushed. 

4. Right click and manipulate properties 5. run program 


7./8./9./10./11. Input 1 (I1) is a potentiometer with an analog range from 42-5000

 

For these 5 questions, this flowchart was only manipulated slightly. 

CONCLUSION: 

1. It is important to include branches because the program can make decisions based on actions that you perform. 
2. A normally open switch is a light switch. It is open when it is off and closed when it 
 3. A normally closed switch is a store alarm. It is constantly on until someone types in the password and turns it off.

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

3.1.3 Basic Programing


Conclusion:
 1. The best way to make sure that all of your devices are in the correct ports of the interface and have been wired correctly is to hit the test button at the top of the ROBOPro screen. 
2. The importance of labelingn block functions within a flowchart makes it easier for you to understand which motors are going and stopping.

Friday, November 8, 2013

4th Annual Mousetrap-Racecar Races!

We earned 12 ACHIEVEMENTS They are: 

Design Stage
 Brainiac: two axles, heavy, mouse trap OFF of car, mousetrap tied to black base, racecar launched from mousetrap lever, four wheels, lots of parts used, most weight in the back, traction made by black plastic wheels, focuses on weight of the car to drive it farther 
 Visualize It:

 Build Stage
 Build It - 

 The Price of Glory: It's worth $23 (23 parts)

 Test (Compete) Stage: Each car will compete in two events. Generate your design accordingly. 1) The Distance Event: Compete for the furthest distance. Teams will race one at a time and have up to 3 attempts to achieve the longest distance. We will race on the tiles of the classroom unless the class decides we need more space. Your best result will be marked with a piece of masking tape. The marked location is where the car comes to rest (cars have been known to roll back at times!). Our car traveled a distance of 15 feet. 
 2) The Acceleration Event: Cars will compete head to head in a competitive bracket. The winner of each duel will move on to the next round. The course is 24" long. Our car had a poor accelereation and was not able to be a feirce of a competitior as the other teams.

 Competitor - Compete in the 4th Annual Mousetrap Racecar Challenge.

 Feedback:
+ -it gets good acceleration and distance -it rides completely straight 
 -friction is the only thing working against the car (no strings to brake it) 
 change -make it lighter for longer distance 
 ? -How can you keep the car completely on the ground upon launch? 
 ! -make it heavier to weigh it down so all wheels stay on ground

 Iterate Stage: Re-Work -add less parts so that it can accelerate faster.

 Game Changer -ALL wheels must stay in contact with surface being raced upon -spending money ($1 per part) must be between 10-25 parts 

Name It:  
-Led foot can become "Cheetah Speed" -Heavy foot can become "Lion Speed"

 Leave it Cleaner than you Found it: Our car was completely disassembled and properly stored in the correct boxes of the parts. No leftover parts, scraps, or trash were left at our station.

Design/Build: A Design/Build process is the cycle of how solutions are designed and built. This process includes consulting, analyzing, building and financing, planning of building, and building management and delivery. This cycle is constantly repeated until the product is near perfection. How did your experience with this challenge relate to that? This challenge required consulting with teammates, analyzing possible building techniques, planning of building the racecar, actually building the racecar, and then fine-tuning your product to produce the greatest results. This process is needed and utilized in every technical innovation career. Engineers must think of how to solve the problem and then constantly revise their first idea for maximum potential.