Individual Designs:
Brandon Price
This design is designed to be simple, efficient, and realistic. The simplicity of this design lies in the structure. This design uses the T-Shape structure as its one and only base with each motor attached to each arm of the T, the Arduino Nano and Battery attached to the lengthy body of the T, and the entire structure attached to the T-Shape arm. This design is efficient because it is balanced, lightweight, and does not use more product than needed. Using the T-Shaped arm and base sets the AEV up to be well balanced on the vertical axis, as they are both centrally balanced pieces when placed vertically. With one motor on each arm of the T, the AEV becomes balanced on the horizontal axis and with the Arduino Nano and battery placed on opposite sides on the lengthy body of the T, the AEV becomes balanced on the third axis. The number of materials used in this design is close to the bare minimum and only includes the materials that are needed for the AEV to run and a base to mount them on. This makes the design lightweight and will reduce the amount of power needed for the motors to move the AEV. With the motors placed in the middle of the design, it will require less power to move the AEV because the best way to move an object is by applying force to the center of mass in the desired direction and with the Arduino Nano and battery below the motors and the arm and wheels above the motors, they are very close to the center of the AEV. This design is realistic because of how the motors move the AEV. In an ideal design with the materials given, both motors would need to be pushing or pulling the AEV in each direction to minimize the amount of power needed to move the AEV, but this would mean that the motors would need to rotate sides at each stop to be positioned behind or in front of the AEV, for pushing/pulling purposes, and this rotation would throw off the balance. Also, further testing would be required to determine whether pushing or pulling the AEV is more efficient. A design with both motors pushing the AEV in one direction and then pulling it in the other direction when switching directions would be unrealistic and inefficient because the motors would require more power going one direction than the other. With one motor positioned on each side, this design is realistic because there would be an equal amount of pulling and pushing going in both directions on the monorail which would allow for equal power output.
Materials Price Budget
Arduino $100.00 $100,000
2 Electric Motors $19.98 $19,800
2 Count Sensors $4.00 $4,000
2 Count Sensor Connectors $4.00 $4,000
2 Propellers $0.90 $900
T-Shape $2.00 $2,000
T-Shape Arm $3.00 $3,000
2 Wheels $15.00 $15,000
Battery Support $1.00 $1,000
2 Motor Clamps $1.18 $1,180
2 Slotted Strips $2.52 $2,520
Screws and Nuts $2.88 $0
Total: $156.46 $153,400
Madison Graham
This AEV design would be effective because not only is it compact and lightweight, it’s size and weight are what makes it so effective. This design takes up the least amount of space by utilizing a combined L and T shape. The L is made up of the arm and wheels that attach to the track and it overlaps with a T- shaped board that holds the Arduino, the battery, and the motors. While it is relatively tall, it is thin in width as it is only as thick as the board plus the Arduino and battery’s thickness, as well as the motors. In addition to being lightweight and compact, the AEV is designed to balance out the weight of the Arduino and the battery with the weight of the motors and the caboose- which is what will carry it from one end of the track to another, stopping and slowing down when needed. Since this AEV does not take a lot of time to build and does not require a lot of parts, it is also realistic in terms of cost and keeping within the budget.
Materials: Price: Budget:
Arduino $100.00 $100,000
Electric Motors $19.98 $9,900
Servo Motor $5.95 $5,950
2 Propellers $0.90 $450
2 Count Sensor $4.00 $2,000
2 Count Sensor Connector $4.00 $2,000
T-Shape $2.00 $2,000
L-Shape Arm $3.00 $3,000
2 Wheels $15.00 $7,500
2 Battery Supports $2.00 $1,000
2 Motor Clamps $1.18 $590
Screws/Nuts $2.88 $0.00
Total: $160.89 $164,390
Latia Tanner
The inspiration behind this AEV’s model is compact. The design consist of two 1.5” by 3” rectangles lined up in a T-shape with two trapezoids on each side of the rectangle not bisected which forms the base. On top of the base, the Arduino and L-shaped arm are set in the middle. On the bottom, the two motors are on the very edge of one of the rectangular platforms. The Arduino is close the front of the AEV. I moved the engine on top and in between the motors because I wanted all the weight in the front. The design conserves the most amount of space possible while still affording both motors next to each other. The motors being next to each other reserves power as they both push in the same direction. Having all the weight in front will counteract the additional weight of the caboose. The total cost of production would be $159.
Materials: Total Price: Budget:
Arduino $100.00 $100,000.00
2 Electric Motors $19.98 $9,900.00
2 Slotted Strips $2.52 $1,260.00
2 Count Sensor $4.00 $2,000.00
2 Count Sensor Connector $4.00 $2,000.00
2 Propellers $0.90 $450.00
2 1.5” by 3” Rectangle $2.00 $1,000.00
2 Trapezoids $2.00 $1,000.00
L-Shaped Arm $3.00 $3,000.00
2 Wheels $15.00 $7,500.00
Battery Support $2.00 $1,000.00
2 Motor Clamps $1.18 $590.00
Bulk Screws and Nuts $2.88 $0.00
Total: $159.00 $159,700.00
Jared Yoder
The primary feature of this design is the simplicity. It is designed to perform like an airplane, as the X-shape body has “wings.” The propellers that act as the engines are attached to these wings, creating and even output of thrust. There is nothing behind each propeller, which is important because there is maximum airflow. The arduino is safely kept in the middle of the AEV; the magnet will not be an issue. This model of the AEV has even displacement of weight so it isn’t pulling harder with one engine. The fact that both engines are aligned the same way will make it easier to program. Even though the least possible amount of parts are being used, there is plenty of room for the caboose to attach. Since there are such small amounts of materials, the cost is also at a minimum. This AEV design is perfect for the mission.
Materials Price ($) Cost ($)
Arduino 100.00 100,000
2 Motors 2(9.99) 2(9,900)
2 Count Sensors 2(2.00) 2(2,000)
2 Count Sensor Connectors 2(2.00) 2(2,000)
2 Propellers 2(0.45) 2(450)
X-Shape 2.00 2,000
L shaped Arm 3.00 3,000
Battery Support 1.00 1,000
2 Motor Clamps 2(0.59) 2(590)
Wheels 2(7.50) 2(7,500)
Bulk Screws & Nuts 2.88 N/A
Total 138.94 135,880
Team Design
Final Design Explanation
After brainstorming as a team, we decided to go with a simple and lightweight design as our first team design. Our group thinks that this design is a good design to start with because it is well balanced, cost efficient, and has one motor on each side which will give equal power output. We are hoping that testing this design and looking at the results will lead us to brainstorm creative designs of greater efficiency.