Overview:
For the second Advanced Research and Development Lab, the group tested the effects that a LiPo battery and the prolonged use of it can have on a run. This is a crucial test because the group needs to understand how different variables affect the performance of the AEV. So the battery which will allow the AEV to run becomes increasingly important to understand how it can affect the success of any given run. So over a duration of runs, the team wanted to see whether or not the decreasing of voltage of the battery will make any noticeable impacts on future runs. Before and after each subsequent run the distance the AEV traveled and the battery voltage of the LiPo battery was measured. This was done without charging the battery after each run while running the same code and AEV design on the same test track. Thus, the independent variable is the distances traveled of the AEV, while the dependent variable is the distances traveled of the AEV.
Analysis and Results:
The Lipo battery decreases by about 0.01 V every two trial runs as shown in figure 9. This small difference shows that each subsequent run does not make any noticeable impact on the battery voltage. Moreover, according to figure 10, as the battery voltage decreased the distances traveled of the AEV remained on average the same. They did vary considerably though with about 0.1 meter distances between some of them. This can be problematic when considering consistency of runs, but as far as correlation is concerned between the declining battery voltage and distance traveled no connection can be made. A connection could be made if the AEV on average decreased a considerable amount in its distance traveled but this did not happen.
After reviewing the data collected in the battery testing, the team decided that the battery’s voltage over the course of a run will not have a negative or degrading effect on the efficiency of the AEV. This conclusion is drawn from the distance the AEV travels on the same code. Since there was no consistent decrease in distance between each run, the battery’s voltage decrease had no effect. It was also discovered that the battery depletes at such a slow rate that the run will end before any significant change in voltage has occurred. Thus, the group concludes on this basis that the declining of the battery voltage should not be considered as an additional variable. This is important to know because it means that numerous trials runs can be conducted without fear of the battery being drained causing negative impacts.
Figure 9
Figure 10
Raw Data:
Conclusion:
Battery voltage depletes 0.01 V on average after two runs. Distances oscillated between each run with no major decline in distances traveled. Error could be from starting positions on monorail, air variance due to surroundings, and measurement complications. Battery voltage depletion does not cause any major problems as distance traveled oscillated around a sustained average. No major coding challenge needs to be addressed based off of voltage depletion (as long as voltage stays above the minimum requirement of 7 V). Thus, after analyzing the results of this lab, the biggest takeaway is that the battery’s voltage decreases at a minimal rate, approximately 0.01V per two runs. Ultimately, the effect that this will have on the AEV’s overall performance is negligible, and will thus not play a significant role.