The goal of this lab is to work out small details with the rigidity of the design of the AEV and to finalize the code to ensure the best possible performance in its mission. The team will produce the most efficient runs during this lab as they are fine tuning the code. The team can also plan out the production of the AEV video that will be used as extra credit.
With the last lab, the AEV was able to pick up the R2-D2 model and return it, while still stopping at the specified areas without assistance from a team member. Though this was successful, there was some inconsistency with where exactly the AEV stopped at the gates. With the upcoming lab, the team hopes to eliminate these inconsistencies in order to have the most capable and predictable performance of the AEV. The team will be ironing out small details in the programming, which could take much time, though currently, the AEV could perform the task, though with the risk of inconsistent performances.
Although the AEV was able to pick up the R2-D2 unit and complete its mission, there are still small issues with structural integrity of the AEV and balance. The mounting of the battery creates some inconsistencies with the balance of the AEV, and often the nuts were loose on the screws holding the battery bracket onto the AEV. Inconsistencies in the battery’s placement could cause a great deal of error in a final run so the team needs to make sure that the battery stays in place. With the revising of the the battery mounting, inconsistencies regarding balance and performance can be fixed.
With little work left to do for the programming and design of the AEV, more attention can be focused on creating the AEV video, for extra credit. The team decided to do this extra credit and completed the preliminary work for it earlier in the semester. Some filming of the AEV has been done in lab, showing the vehicle’s performance on the track, though editing must be done and many other parts of the video remain untouched. The team will have to devote some time to filming more scenes for the video, or recording monologues from each group member to discuss what is necessary to complete the video. Much of this cannot be accomplished in lab, however, so the team will have to meet up outside of class to continue work on the video.
In conclusion, the team’s work on the AEV is nearly complete. Small inconsistencies with performance and balance of the AEV must corrected, though this work will be minimal, and it will allow the team more time to continue work on the extra credit video assignment.