About the Lab:
This lab progress was made toward the completion of a sample AEV design as provided in the general AEV documents. The group was familiarized with external sensor hardware components, utilizing sensors for AEV control, and became experienced with different troubleshooting techniques. The group also recorded data relating to wind tunnel testing and propulsion system efficiency.
The group successfully constructed the AEV sample design in accordance with the sample design provided in the AEV documents. The group was able to test a preliminary code on the AEV track with the sample AEV and make observations. The code written was provided in the AEV lab manual.
Take-Aways:
The lab being segmented into two parts allowed for two separate but related main takeaways from the lab. Firstly, the data taken from observing the wind tunnel allowed the group to begin to understand the power required of the AEV’s propellers to move the vehicle for a relatively efficient amount of energy. Secondly, the vehicle testing portion of the lab tested how the standard-build AEV ran with some basic code at a conservative amount of power. Observing that the power output in the group’s arduino code wasn’t initially propelling the AEV at all, the group started increasing the power output . It began making headway at 65% and more power was added until finally the AEV was consistently (though slowly) moving at 100% power. These two aspects of the lab allowed the group to see how both the results of operating an individual propeller for the AEV and how our specific AEV parts respond to standardized settings. After observing the AEV’s lack of response to the provided code, it seems that different parts will need to be cut, printed, and/or ordered in order to compensate for requiring large amounts of energy to power the vehicle. A pusher configuration of a blade will provide more thrust than a puller configuration. The EP-3030 is better at going in one direction than the EP-2510, however the EP-2510 can provide similar amounts of thrust in both puller and pusher configuration, in both directions along the track.
Schedule/Team-Meeting Notes:
This week the group members will think and sketch out ideas for the AEV design from Monday to Thursday at their own leisure. On Thursday at 5:00 the group will meet in Hitchcock Lab in order to discuss the ideas that were thought of for the AEV design and in order to work on and attempt to complete the progress report for lab 3, however due to favorable circumstances presented by the GTA the group has been notified that the progress report will not be due until the following week, so the group’s schedule will be to complete the progress report no later than 2/9/2017, however the group will make an effort to finish the progress report this week on the desired time of Thursday 2/2/2017.
The team met on 2/2/2017 in Hitchcock Lab around 5:00 pm to discuss the allocation of progress report creation and to discuss possible designs for the AEV, focusing on essentials of the design such as aerodynamics, weight, electrical efficiency, size and shape, structural integrity, speed, ability to perform the scenarios, minimizing energy mass ratio, safety, cost, operational consistency, functionality, time-delayed controls, and propulsion placement on the design. The group brainstormed these important design elements and agreed to focus on thinking of a design that met these criterias. Austin, David, and John discussed the progress report and assigned tasks among themselves, Austin answered the questions from the report, David wrote the analysis, results and takeaways, and John formatted the data tables, wrote the forward looking portion and the situation. The group decided that the progress report would be completed by 2/9/2017 at 12:00 pm and that the group would begin to think of more AEV design ideas.
