Performance Test 1

Performance Test 1

The group team started this lab by setting up the Arduino software used to program the AEV. This allowed the team to program basic function calls in controlling the propulsion of the AEV. these programs were then uploaded to the AEV and tested on the track to confirm that they were uploaded successfully. Another task the group completed involved becoming familiar with the external hardware components of the AEV and programming function calls for using the AEV’s external sensors regarding the AEV’s position and distance traveled, these function calls were also tested on the track. In addition, the propulsion efficiency of the AEV was also tested through wind tunnel analysis. Next, techniques for creative design thinking and brainstorming were developed and used by the group to create individual initial concept designs for the group’s own AEV. Furthermore, the team became acquainted with the design analysis tool, which was used to convert EEPROM data downloaded from the AEV to physical parameters such as time, current, voltage, distance, and position.

These physical parameters were in turn utilized to calculate performance characteristics of the AEV. Finally, the group applied concept screening and scoring techniques for design decision making in which the AEV designs previously brainstormed by the group were programmed to run the same scenario and scored based upon success criteria determined by the team and compared to the sample AEV.

Table 6: Week 8 schedule

(Graph of supplied power over time for current propeller design that is struggling to pull the caboose in lab 8)