The motor optimization portion of the AR&D is testing that is conducted to try different amounts of power being applied to the motor over varying times to obtain the distance and the amount of energy being used to get from point A to point B. The code for each test run can be located in the Arduino Code section under Arduino Advanced R&D Motor Optimization tab.
Figure 1: Distance(m) vs. Time (s)
Referring to figure 1, there are moments where the distance is increasing and levels out for a period of time and then continues to increase and level out again for another period of time. The leveling out occurring is due to the fact that the AEV is decelerating to a stop and having the motor brake for a few seconds. Currently, the design of the AEV and it’s bulky in weight and will most likely fall off of the rail system if it isn’t slowed down before stopping abruptly. The extra time is added in case the AEV needs to be quickly removed from the rail system.
Figure 2: Distance(m) vs. Time (s)
In figure 2 it shows the total energy used over the distance traveled. The biggest spike in energy used is when the AEV is set to reverse and travel down the track. With the current design of the AEV, it takes more energy to travel in a backward than it does to travel forward. Reducing weight and friction caused by the AEV would require less energy needed to travel down the track.