Through the preliminary and advanced R&D labs, our team has become more comfortable with using the Arduino board and coding system, the motors, the LiPo battery, and the reflectance sensors. We have brainstormed some basic designs for an AEV, which can be seen under lab 3 concept sketches.

We went through 3 major designs throughout the AEV design process and they are as follows.

Here is our initial design for the preliminary labs:

This is the design suggested at the beginning of the design process for the research and design labs

• Very complicated and expensive
• Arm is not very stable
• Uses more energy
  • Not as aerodynamic
• too many parts, so too expensive and not stable enough; eliminated immediately

Prototype 1 for CDR/ performance testing:

• Simple design
• stable arm and base
• propellers in front pulling air which is not as effective
• worked 1 out of 5 times and on average used more Joules of energy

Prototype 2 for CDR/ performance testing:

• Same simple design
• Stable t-shaped arm and cross base
• Propellers on back, pushing air
  • Uses less energy
• Inexpensive and efficient
• worked 3 out of 5 times and on average used less Joules of energy

Final Design:

• Decision: Prototype 2
• Description:
  • Cross base, L-shaped arm, propellers facing the back on the wings of the base
• We chose prototype 2 because:
  • Stable, low maintenance
  • Few parts, so it is inexpensive
  • Propellers pushing air is more aerodynamic and efficient
    • Less time and energy

• Cost of final design:  $156,920