Propeller Configuration Lab
For the propeller configuration lab, the purpose of this lab was to find out if the AEV will travel the furthest when acting to push or pull the AEV and when using a 3030 or a 2510 propeller. Knowing these two properties will allow Group F to determine which propeller in the chosen motor configuration will result in the AEV travelling the furthest. This was done by having an “x” shaped base as seen in the figures 6.1 and 6.2 with propellers on each side of the base, since it was determined that the best motor configuration is one where they were positioned on both sides facing the same direction. Then, the AEV was coded for the propellers to pull as it travels forward with propellers in front of the AEV. The AEV code will then reverse so that the propeller is positioned behind the AEV to act as a pushing force. These steps were performed twice using the 3030 then the 2510 propellers. The distance and time were recorded, and the code used for all configurations was kept the same.
Each configuration used the x shaped base.
Configuration 1: Large propellers puller
Configuration 2: Large propellers pusher
Configuration 3: Small propeller puller
Configuration 4: Small propeller pusher
The code had the AEV run both motors at 25% power for two seconds to observe the propellers pulling and then ran the motors in the reverse at 25% power for two seconds to observe the propellers pushing.
Each configuration is tested on the track 3 times.
The graphs that follow show the propellers working as pullers then as pullers because both could be tested at the same time.
Configuration 1 and 2:
- Power vs. Distance
- Power vs Time
Configuration 3 and 4:
- Power vs. Distance
- Power vs Time
Conclusion
It was found that the best configuration for the propellers was having large propellers acting as pushers. From the graphs, it was determined that the large propellers being pushers made the AEV go for the furthest distance. The large propellers both out-performed the smaller ones in each configuration.
Appendix
Arduino Code