Function
The sensors are placed facing the front wheel (towards the aluminum foils – as can be seen above). Because of their position, when the sensors are connected to the Arduino board, they are able to track the behavior of the wheel. The sensors can tell, by the direction in which the wheel is moving, whether the vehicle is moving forward, or backward. This will only work if the sensors are connected correctly, and the sensors test is done to verify them. The sensors display in the computer program, negative numbers, and positive numbers. If the sensors were connected correctly, when the AEV moves forward, the numbers will go from negative to positive (increasing).
Importance
The sensors have an immense importance, in making the AEV actually work efficiently. The sensors will be the component of the AEV, that will allow analyzing the distance that the vehicle has traveled. In other words, when the code for the AEV to run, is created. Including in it, how far the vehicle has to go until the motors should stop, and when the AEV should go backward. The sensors are what will make the code work, by measuring the distance the vehicle travels (wheel revolutions) and passing this information to the Arduino board, in order for the code to run properly and execute the commands assigned to it. The sensors will there for allow, for the control of the behavior of the AEV.