In Design Optimization, the objective that Team B was trying to figure out was which design used less energy overall for the first distance that we had to travel. Which ever one came out to be the most efficient would be the design that Team B would continue to use for Code Optimization. For this, they created a single code that would be ran on both of the AEVs. After each run, they would collect and analyze the data from the each design. The task of the code is to have the AEV travel to the gate, wait for the gate to open, and then go on through.
Design 1: Drive Wheel
For the first design, Team B chose to use the drive wheel propulsion method for testing, to see if it was the most efficient design. They decided to use the drive wheel because it was the teams original idea that performed the best for the previous trials.
Graph of Design 1: Energy Consumed
For the first design, the AEV had an average energy consumption of 6.8177 joules per meter, which can be seen in the graph above.
Design 2: Drive Wheel with Rear Propeller
For the second design, Team B used the drive wheel propulsion method and a propeller. They chose to add the propeller to hopefully allow better breaking and acceleration. This design used the same code as the first design. Then the data was compared.
Graph of Design 2: Energy Consumed
The second AEV design, had a average of energy consumption of 12.756 joules per meter, which can be seen in the graph above.
After running and analyzing both designs, Team B found out that going with Design 1, drive wheel only, was the best option in terms of average energy consumption. One possible explanation for this is that using the propeller was more effective at its’ task of accelerating and braking, but the use of an extra motor was not worth it in terms of energy used. This design will be used to further optimize the AEV.
Code Used:
Refer here for information on command functions.
| Code | Explanation |
| motorSpeed(4,25);
goToAbsolutePosition(315); brake(4); |
Sets all motors power to 25 percent. Then the motors runs until the vehicle count 315 marks from its starting position. Then brakes. |
| motorSpeed(4,0);
goFor(8); |
This sets all of the motors power to 0 percent and is ran for 8 seconds. This makes sure that the vehicle stops for 8 seconds before continuing. |
| motorSpeed(4,25);
goToAbsolutePosition(365); brake(4); |
Sets all motors power to 25 percent. Then the motor runs until the vehicle counts 365 marks from its starting position. Then brakes. |