1st Configuration
Motors Placed Underneath the Base
The team decided that the configuration that the AEV is in now should be a trial because if changes need to be made it’s better to know now than later. This will be a reference for all of the other configurations. It will allow for the team to compare which configuration is better suited for the way the team as decided to design the AEV.
Observations:
We observed that the AEV acted as expected and was able to travel a great distance with little complications.
Power vs Distance
Power vs Time
2nd Configuration
Placing the Motors on top instead of underneath, in the same general spot as the 1st Configuration
The hypothesis is that if the motors were placed on top instead of underneath nothing would change, but it’s important to find out if it’s possible that less power is needed than more. The propellers will still rotate the same way, still be aligned with the center of mass of the AEV, so logically it seems that no change would appear on the graph. But assumptions need to be investigated to better understand the importance of placement of the motors.
Observations:
The second graph compared to the first graph was the same and matched our hypothesis.
Power vs Distance
Power vs Time
3rd Configuration
Flat propellers, On the bottom
The team is unaware how the difference of propellers will function due to the fact that all of the designs use the curved propellers. The current propellers have more of an arc in the wingspan and taking the knowledge from 1181 and the Wind Turbine lab the curved propellers should produce more power. Logically, the more power the propellers can generate the less battery power that is required, helping energy costs. The team wants to test this hypothesis and make sure that our assumptions are correct.
Observations:
The AEV barely moved. The graphs match each other but what was observed on the track is different. The AEV barely moved due to the propellor change.
Power vs Distance
Power vs Time
4th Configuration
Placing them on the wings
Changing the orientation whether the wings are placed at an angle or placed horizontally should create a difference in the amount of power needed to move the AEV. The power that is generated from the propellers should be placed colinearly where the center of mass of the AEV is to optimize the power that it is producing. This hypothesis must be deemed correct or incorrect to insure that the AEV is as efficient as possible.
Observations:
The motors barely moved, however, moved more than Trial 3.
These results match our hypothesis.
Power vs Distance
Power vs Time
Takeaways for this Lab Experiment
Division I was in charge of testing which motor configuration is the most efficient. For the first configuration, the motors were placed underneath the base of the AEV. Tests were run and data was collected. Afterwards the group detached the motors and placed them on top of the base. Tests revealed that it did not matter whether or not the motors were placed on the bottom or the top as long as they are placed on the rear of the base. After the tests were complete, the motors were once again detached and reattached on the wings of the AEV. When the motors were placed on the wings, the AEV was not nearly as efficient. For the last configuration, the motors were placed back in the default position, on the bottom of the base. This time flat propellers were used instead of curved propellers. This trial showed that the flat propellers were not as effective as the curved one. The information gathered from the research and development session will factor heavily into the final AEV design.