Energy & Consistency Improvements

Date: 4/5/2017

Time: 4:00 pm (Face-to-Face)

Members Present: Blake Kanoy, Ashwin Rajgopal, Daniel Fahmi and Alex Beutel

Topics Discussed: Energy efficiency and dependability of different codes

Objective:

The main focus of the meeting was to discuss the energy efficiency and dependability of the coasting and non-coasting codes.

To Do/ Action Items:

– Compare the energy usage graphs of the coasting and non-coasting runs

-Discuss and compare the dependability of the different codes

-Decide on which code to proceed with going into final testing and evaluation

Decisions:

-The team decided to proceed with the non-coasting code due to its superior dependability and the energy difference not being large enough to warrant using the coasting code

Reflections:

-The team was able to come to a reasonable decision within the hour long meeting

-The team feels confident that the non-coasting code will be finalized shortly and the AEV will soon be ready for the final evaluation

Preliminary Design Review

Date: 3/26/2017

Time: 3:00 pm (Face-to-Face)

Members Present: Blake Kanoy, Ashwin Rajgopal, and Alex Beutel

Topics Discussed: Preliminary Design Review

Objective:

The main focus of the meeting was to assign tasks and sections of the Preliminary Design Review, while working to complete the PDR.

To Do/ Action Items:

-Assign sections of the PDR to be completed by team members (BK,AB,AR)

-Work on assigned sections of the PDR (BK,AB,AR)

-Determine what data needs to be collected from the AEV to complete the PDR

Decisions:

-The team decided to complete the PDR on Monday, because additional data was needed from the AEV to complete the report

-The assigned specific roles based on what team members usually work on in design reports

Reflections:

-Daniel could not attend the meeting, but participated and worked on the PDR from home

-The team was productive and the majority of the PDR was completed except for sections of the results due to the team not having the necessary data

Looking Ahead

Date: 3/9/17

Time: 6:00 pm (Face-to-Face)

Members Present: Blake Kanoy, Ashwin Rajgopal, Alex Beutel, and Daniel Fahmi

Topics Discussed:  Future labs and requirements for lab

Objective: 

The main focus of the meeting was to discuss and prepare for future labs.

To do/ Action Items:

-Review future labs and requirements for the labs (BK,AR,AB,DF)

-Discuss how the team will meet these requirements (BK,AR,AB,DF)

-Discuss what needs to be done to the AEV to meet the requirements (BK,AR,AB,DF)

PDR Presentation Review Pt. 2

Date: 3/1/17

Time: 6:00 pm (Face-to-Face)

Members Present: Blake Kanoy, Ashwin Rajgopal, Alex Beutel, and Daniel Fahmi

Topics Discussed:  PDR presentation

Objective: 

Today’s main focus was meeting to complete final preparations for the PDR presentation and to fully rehearse for the presentation.

To do/ Action Items:

-Rehearse the PDR presentation

Decisions:

-The group did not make any decisions at this meeting

Reflections:

-The team rehearsed for the presentation the whole time, time was used effectively

-The team felt prepared for the presentation

PDR Presentation Review

Date: 2/28/17

Time: 7:00 pm (Face-to-Face)

Members Present: Blake Kanoy, Ashwin Rajgopal, Alex Beutel, and Daniel Fahmi

Topics Discussed:  PDR presentation

Objective: 

Today’s main focus was on meeting to prepare and rehearse for the PDR presentation in Lab 7.

To do/ Action Items:

-Finish PowerPoint for the PDR presentation

-Review Slides for the PDR presentation

-Assign Slides to team members

-Rehearse slides

Decisions:

-The group decided to do a final rehearsal tomorrow, 3/1/17, for the presentation

Reflections:

-Fixed the slides and reviewing the slides in time

-Were able to quickly rehearse, but needed more time to rehearse

-Time was well spent and the group was productive

AEV Improvements

Time: 6:00 pm (Face-to-Face)

Members Present: Alex Beutel, Blake Kanoy, Daniel Fahmi, Ashwin Rajgopal

Topics Discussed: How to improve the AEV

Objective:

The main focus of the meeting was to take the results from the performance analysis, research how to improve the weaker aspects of the AEV, and make improvements to the AEV.

To do/ Action Items:

-Gather and analyze all performance analyses of the lab

-Determine the problem areas and what needs improved on the AEV

-Make desired improvements to the AEV

Decisions:

-Decided to reduce weight by switching the base with a smaller piece of plastic

-Decided to use the T-shaped arm instead of the L-shaped arm

Reflections:

-Changing the base reduced the weight of the AEV and reduced the battery usage due to the motors not having to run as fast

-Changing to the T-shaped arm improved the balance of the AEV and slightly reduced weight

-The AEV was slightly improved, no major improvements were made

 

 

Code Finetuning

Time: 2:00 pm (Face-to-Face)

Members Present: Ashwin Rajgopal and Daniel Fahmi

Topics Discussed: AEV Code

Objective:

The focus of the meeting was to fine tune and finalize the code of the AEV so that it would stop at the gate on the track.

To do/ Action Items:

Test current code and ensure that it works

-Research which commands would work to cause the AEV to stop at the gate

-Implement those commands into the code

-Test and evaluate the new code and commands

-Adjust the code if the AEV does not stop at the gate

Decisions:

-Decided to use the goToRelativePosition command in order to stop at the gate

Reflections:

-Researching and testing went quickly and the code to stop at the gate was finished quickly

-Initially tried a combination of start and stop motor commands, but switched to the goToRelativePosition

-The code is going well and there are few to no issues with writing the code

AEV Body Reworking

Time: 2:00pm (Face-to-Face)

Members Present: Blake Kanoy and Alex Beutel

Topics Discussed: AEV Body Design

Objective:

The main focus of the meeting was to adjust and rework the AEV body design to match the concept design that was decided upon in the team meeting on 2/817.

To do/ Action Items:

-Partially deconstruct the original AEV body

-Assemble the decided upon final design

-Inspect the new body and ensure that it matches the design

-Test the new body

Decisions:

-The group decided on the final body design of the AEV

-The group began dismantling and assembling the new body

Reflections:

-The deconstruction took longer than expected due to limitations with tools

-Only having one screwdriver and one crescent wrench limits the ability of the group to work at the same time

-Construction of the new body took longer than expected

-Team did not have time to test the new body and will have to at a later date

AEV Design Finalization

Time: 6:00 pm (Face-to-Face)

Members Present: Blake Kanoy, Ashwin Rajgopal, Alex Beutel, Daniel Fahmi

Topics Discussed: AEV Final Body Design

 

Objective:

The focus of the meeting was to decide on and sketch the final design for the AEV

 

To do/Action Items:

-Decide on the best design for the AEV

-Sketch the final design for the AEV

 

Decisions:

-The group decided on the final design

 

Reflections:

-The meeting went more smoothly since we were better prepared

-Meeting ended up being more shorted than initially thought

AEV Design Brainstorm

Time: 7:00 pm (Face-to-Face)

Members Present: Blake Kanoy, Ashwin Rajgopal, Alex Beutel, Daniel Fahmi

Topics Discussed: AEV Body Design

 

Objective:

The main focus of the meeting was to brainstorm, sketch, and discuss different designs for the AEV.

 

To do/Action Items:

-Finish AEV body sketches

-Brainstorm more ideas for the AEV

-Discuss and decide what design would work best for the AEV

 

Decisions:

-No decision on the body design was made tonight

-The group decided to discuss the topic on lab on Thursday the 2/9/17

 

Reflections:

-Creating the sketches and brainstorming ideas took longer than expected

-Need to decide on a body design soon

-Need to be more prepared before meetings