This week's assignment, we are to look into our Final project create a 1 page slide that describes our project and answer the following questions put forth from Neil.

1) What will it do?

My project is a collaboration with another coursemate. We aim to build an astromech that is inspired by StarWars. I would be building the Head whilst my friend would construct the body. The Head needs to have the ability to spin when activated by an input device.

2) Who’s done what beforehand?

In the USA, there is the R2 builders club, http://astromech.net/ and club members build their own astromech, most of the parts are ordered from machine shops across the country, some build their own from their own garage workshops. I hope to inspire the local Starwars Community here in Singapore that an Astromech could easily be made in a Fablab and encourage them to step forward and make it themselves. It would be cheaper and more fullfilling. It is also an inspiration to students on what are the possiblities at SP Fablab.

3) What materials and components would be needed?

Materials required could be easily purchased from an Art store of neighbourhood hardware shop. I would be using 3x A3 sheets of Acrylic, Aluminium square profiles and 3D printed parts. Filament used would be ABS /eqivalent material. Components would be fasterners from a hardware shop.

As for the electronics. The circuit would be designed on the eagle CAD and the image of the traces and border would be exported out in .png Using fabmodules, the .nc files would be generated to machine out the board. The SMD components would be stuffed on the board and testing would be done to integrate it to the mechanical system.

4) How much will it cost?

It should cost no more than $60.00. (for the head) Details of the individual parts can be found in the Bill of Materials(BOM) below

5) What parts and systems will be made?

I intend to make everything in the Fablab, except the motors, rollers and robot wheel. which I salvaged from the scrap area. I intend to build the mechanical structure of the head along with the circuit required to drive it.

6) What processes will be used?

3D CAD design, 3D printing, laser cutting, pcb milling and programming of input and output devices. Input Devices would be an input switch or Ultrasonic sensor, and the output devices would be an LED and DC motor driven by a H-bridge.

7) What tasks needs to be completed?

Programming of the motor board. building the physical interface of the electronics to the hardware.

8) What questions need to be answered?

Depending on the completion of the initial goal, I would like to explore creating a network of simple boards to carry out the multiple functions that an Astromech can do. So the question I have would be in the area of implementing network systems using i2c.

9) What is the schedule?

The schedule follows the course, as I fabricate most of the components using the technology that was introduced during that week. For example, during the week for CAD, I started working on my CAD for the head, and when i learnt about input and output devices, I thought about the circuit that I would need to make and develop it concurrently with the assignments. Hence optimizing my developement time.

10) How will it be evaluated?

My base goal, is to have the head to move upon the activation of an input device. Several progressive test plans are developed to validate the project. Theses can be be found at the last segment in the Final Project page. Further testing and improvement can be found in the Project Development page.