Alternative Propulsion


For the Alternative Propulsion Study team B2 did a similar procedure to the materials testing. First, Alternative Propulsion means different ways of moving the AEV forward and back. The types of propulsion’s that were used were a drive wheel, dual propellers, a propeller attached to a servo that would rotate, and the servo design along with the drive wheel. The Servo design is a propeller that will hang from the servo and the servo will rotate the motor and propeller 180 degrees so that the propeller would always face the way it was meant to push the air. The drive wheel design came from the sprocket and chain of a bicycle. This Sprocket and chain will rotate and turn the drive wheel to move the AEV. Each design had a similar code ran and the data gathered would be the energy usage over a distance.

Energy used over a Distance using Dual Propellers

In the first graph shown above, it shows the amount of energy consumed over a certain distance. This method of movement was Dual Propellers. This movement came out to 8.9 Joules Per Meter for the Average Energy used over a distance traveled.         

Energy used over a Distance using a Drive Wheel

In the second graph shown above, it shows the amount of energy consumed over a certain distance. This method of movement was the Drive Wheel. This movement came out to 4.1 Joules Per Meter for the Average Energy used over a distance traveled.

Energy used over a Distance using a Servo design and the Drive Wheel

In the third graph shown above, it shows the amount of energy consumed over a certain distance. This method of movement was the Servo design and the Drive Wheel. This movement came out to 10.1 Joules Per Meter for the Average Energy used over a distance traveled.

Energy over a Distance using a Servo Design

In the last graph shown above, it shows the amount of energy consumed over a certain distance. This method of movement was Servo Design. This movement came out to 8.4 Joules Per Meter for the Average Energy used over a distance traveled.

As you can see from the tables above, the drive wheel was the best form of alternative propulsion with the number being around 4.1 joules per meter. This design will be used in further testing and will be in team B2’s final design.


Code Used:

Refer here for information on command functions.

Drive Wheel Code

Code Explanation
motorSpeed(4,35);

goFor(4);

brake(4);

The power of all motors is set to thirty-five percent and it ran for four seconds. Then all motor power is stopped.
reverse(4); All motors’ rotation is reversed.
motorSpeed(4,0);

goFor(4);

The power of all motors is set to zero percent and it ran for four seconds.
motorSpeed(4,35);

goFor(4);

brake(4);

The power of all motors is set to thirty-five percent and it ran for four seconds. Then all motor power is stopped.

 

Servo Code

motorSpeed(4,35);

goFor(6);

brake(4);

The power of all motors is set to thirty-five percent and it ran for six seconds. Then all motor power is stopped.
rotateServo(180); Rotates the servo 180 degrees.
motorSpeed(4,0);

goFor(4);

The power of all motors is set to zero percent and it ran for four seconds.
motorSpeed(4,35);

goFor(6);

brake(4);

The power of all motors is set to thirty-five percent and it ran for six seconds. Then all motor power is stopped.

 

Drive Wheel and Servo Code

 

Code Explanation
motorSpeed(4,35);

goFor(4);

brake(4);

The power of all motors is set to thirty-five percent and it ran for four seconds. Then all motor power is stopped.
reverse(4);

rotateServo(180);

All motors’ rotation is reversed and rotates the servo 180 degrees.
motorSpeed(4,0);

goFor(4);

The power of all motors is set to zero percent and it ran for four seconds.
motorSpeed(4,35);

goFor(4);

brake(4);

The power of all motors is set to thirty-five percent and it ran for six seconds. Then all motor power is stopped.

 

Based Two Propellers Code

Code Explanation
reverse(2);

motorSpeed(4,35);

goFor(4);

brake(4);

Reverse motor’s two rotation. The power of all motors is set to thirty-five percent and it ran for four seconds. Then all motor power is stopped.
reverse(4); All motors’ rotation is reversed.
motorSpeed(4,0);

goFor(4);

The power of all motors is set to zero percent and it ran for four seconds.
motorSpeed(4,35);

goFor(4);

brake(4);

The power of all motors is set to thirty-five percent and it ran for four seconds. Then all motor power is stopped.