ADV R&D Coasting vs. Power Braking

To test the efficiency between coasting to a stop, and blowing the propellers in reverse to bring the AEV to a stop. We played around with the code to get the 2 runs to end at close distances. The run with a coasting stop used 28.989 joules of energy, while the run with power braking used 37.605 joules. Based on this data we can conclude that it is more energy efficient to let the AEV coast to a stop. The problem with this is that letting the AEV coast can be quite unpredictable, so we will let it coast to get near the stop, minimizing the energy used on braking while maintaining the accuracy and repeat-ability. Fine tuning the braking sequence on the AEV will make the ride smoother, and will reassure the passengers of the safety of the vehicle.