SPARTAN Superway Week 12

This week, I have begun learning the "Processing" language in order to research how to make a better user interface for our controls system. The legacy UI uses a mobile phone app to order the pod and give directions. However, this system is confusing both for the user and for the developer. In addition, it rarely works and needs a great deal of instruction before it is up and running. Our goal is to create a UI that is user friendly and easy to pick up.

In the coming week, I will be getting ready for our third and final presentation for the Fall semester. My part is to to the Gantt chart and milestones as well as the dependencies and contingencies.

SPARTAN Superway Week 11

This week, we got the Xbee modules to communicate with the Arduino in a range of data types. With this new breakthrough, we have a fully working prototype, with the exception of the mobile app. With this prototype, we are able to send an instruction from a computer and wirelessly receive it on the Arduino, then execute the correct tasks to travel to the destination. In order to get the mobile app to work, we have enlisted new help from a computer engineering major that is interested in our project.

SPARTAN Superway Week 10

This week, I changed the pseudo code to write directions to motors and servos instead of just saying "forward" or "backward". We are now only two steps away from having a working prototype controls system. Next week, I will focus on getting the Xbees to communicate in arrays instead of communicating in characters as we have it now. The following week, we will be concentrating on getting the mobile app up and working with our new system

SPARTAN Superway Week 9

This week, the majority of our prototype parts came in. I was able to use all of our new RFID tags to create a prototype controls code that reads the tags and navigates to a position on the track. Right now, the code only allows the user to input a destination via a corded connection, but in the coming weeks we will implement the Xbee module into our code to pick a destination via wireless communication. Currently, the code relies on functions to control the motors and servos, but I just made it say "print to serial". In the next week, I will code actual voltage commands to run the motors. The RFID tag layout can be seen below.

SPARTAN Superway Week 8

This week, I created the BOM document and then my team and I filled it out with all the parts we would need for the rapid prototype model of our control system. As of now, we have the BOM complete and we will be ordering the parts tonight. Beginning as soon as the parts come in, hopefully the beginning of next week, we will begin working on our prototype. We plan to have a working prototype in two weeks. I will be responsible for the majority of the Arduino coding on this prototype, as well as any RFID components.

SPARTAN Superway Week 7

This week, we were able to get the Xbee module to communicate with the bogie using the previous team's bogie. However, we are still unable to get the Xbee to communicate directly with the Arduino. In the coming week, we will be addressing this issue as well as creating a bill of materials to begin rapid prototyping. In our prototype, we will be using a breadboard to connect all of our electronic components. We will then ensure that the RFID reader and card as well as the Xbee have open communication with the Arduino.

SPARTAN Superway Week 6

This week, I made a simple navigation code to move the bogie around the track. It uses switch cases to take inputs and make decisions. We also got the Xbee module to talk to a bogie and Arduino. Today we will further explore this communication and utilize it to interface the mobile app. In the upcoming week, we will be trying to use the Xbee module to send a list of commands to the Arduino then execute tasks based on the commands.