Performance Tests

Performance Test 1

The goal of the first performance test was to move the vehicle through the gate. The team tested two designs, one with the motors place on top of the base and the other with the motors attached to the bottom of the base.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Using the code labeled Performance Test 1 in the Arduino Glossary both designs were able to successfully complete the test. During testing the team noticed that after many runs the battery would lose charge and this would affect the motor performance. In order to keep consistent the team switched out the old battery for a fully charged one after many runs.

Performance Test 2

The goal of the second performance test was to move the vehicle down the track to attach to a caboose and then leave the loading zone. The team decided to move forward with the design where the motors were placed on top of the base for the remainder of the performance tests. This design seemed to be more consistent when using the reverse function to brake the AEV. During Performance Test 2 one of the propellers on the AEV kept detaching mid run. The team solved this by replacing the propeller with one that fit the motor better. The AEV was able to successfully complete the test with the code labeled Performance Test 2 in the Arduino Glossary.

Performance Test 3

The Final Performance Test required the AEV to traverse the whole track, attach to the caboose, and come back to the starting point. The team was able to successfully perform this run within 3 trials. The team ran into motor inconsistency due to loss in battery voltage during the second run and had to switch out the battery for the third run.  The final and successful run took 52.33 seconds and used 220.092 Joules. The Power vs Time graph for the final run is shown below: