Project development

What task have been completed, and what tasks remain?

At this time the design of the cart is finished and we started milling the frame and assembling it.The only problem is that we still dont have recieved the gears and the chains so I wasn't able to design the bottom part of the frame. I have finished the programming for the rfid authentication and also for the gas pedal. I have designed pedals working with a piston and a flex sensor to attach it to the cart.



What has worked? What hasn't?

So far, most of our plans have worked out very well. The electronics are working and the frame until this point seems to be as expected. My partner alessa had some problems with casting the steering wheel, the flex sensor on the gas pedal seems to have problems some times, espacially when it moves a little bit so I have to fix some bugs on that.



What questions need to be resolved?

The biggest question at this moment is, if the motors will be able to move the cart with all his weight on it. We have made a lot of claculations, but like in every section of science the theory does not underline the practical way of working everytime. Also we are worried if the frame could break because of the weight of the passenger and uneven ground.



What have you learned?

First things first I have to admit that without having alessa as a partner I would not be able to build this cart. She put so much passion into this project and we had so much discussions about different parts, which ended in even better results. It was a pleasure to work with her, helping her and getting help from her. Before I started this project I was kind of scared to use the machines in the fablab because I didn't want to break something, I wasn't really confident. But with this project I really learned what it means to fabricate something in the fablab. Not only that I learned a lot about motors and batteries, I was also able to improve all of the skills I have aquired the past months for example using the cnc machine, electronics design, molding and casting. The most important thing I have learned in my opinion is that having a plan for the whole project before even starting with the first design is the most important thing. A very important part of this project was our local instructor Ahmed Abdellatif. Every question, every problem, Ahmed really gave everything to help us out and I could not imagine a better instructor than he is. He learned us so many lessons, how to solve problems, how to change things that maybe havent worked out. I would say the most important part of the FabAcademy is to have a great team that will support you at any time and I'm happy to say that my team could not be better.