The purpose of the lab is to complete the first of the four performance tests from the Test Readiness Review (TRR). The TRR will determine the capability of the students to complete the test procedures and their compliance with the test plans and descriptions according to the Mission Concept Review (MCR). For this lab, the students will be testing two Advance Energy Vehicle (AEV) designs and evaluate these designs in terms of two specific concepts that will be discussed later in this document. Several tasks involved in completing this lab included providing two different AEV designs, developing the Arduino code for the designated AEV and testing the AEV on the track with the developed code. With these tasks, the team was able to compare the efficiency between the first and second AEV designs in order to choose the one that will provide more energy efficiency. This lab will help the students to determine which design that will satisfy all the descriptions provided in the MCR.
In Performance Test 1 lab, two different AEV designs were built based on the input and knowledge gained from prior labs. Both designs were tested on the assigned track using the same Arduino code developed beforehand. The purpose of this performance test was to determine the final AEV design that will operate with the least energy cost under the same Arduino code and scenario on track. Quantitative data gained from the actual testing of both designs on the track will be analyzed by the students in order for further decisions regarding the AEV design to be made. The students will be tested and evaluated in terms of their experimental process, problem-solving, and data-analysis skill in this performance test.
Prototype 1 with angled wings from the body
Prototype 2 with wings perpendicular to the body
Based on the yielded data and observations, it was concluded that there were many factors that could be factored in the determining the most energy efficient AEV prototypes, and the knowledge from past labs were integral in order to achieve the goal of this lab. From the lab, the team had concluded that the most energy efficient AEV design was Prototype 1 with angled “wings” and 2 propellers that were in the 3030 pusher configuration when it began moving on the track. The knowledge gained from this lab can be used for the next lab in order to create an accurate Arduino code that will work with the chosen AEV. Teamwork and problem solving skills will be fully utilized in order to prevent any errors. See executive summary below for further information.