Gail Myers

Gail Myers
Project Development

Homework: Complete your final project, tracking your progress.

raceraceracerace


TASKS TO BE COMPLETED
Design START and FINISH text 5/31/15
Vinyl cut START and FINISH text 6/5/15
Laser cut race structures for START and FINISH 6/3/15
NEW--Cut center divider to make it a 2 lane raceway 6/9/15
Design 3D cases to hold LCD and boards--change of plans6/9/15
Cut 3D6/15
Design LCD board--2nd try--did one for Output week and was unsuccessful--change of plans6/9/15
Change of plans--LEDs and phototransistors 6/15/15
Get components ready for boards6/8/15
Populate and program microprocessor board to be put at finish line6/15/15
Design and make phototransistor and LED boards for START and FINISH6/13/15
Program boards6/20-21/15
Wiring boards together6/22/15
Assembly6/22/15
Design and print 3D "blinders" to cover phototransistors6/22/15
Add sound to finish line IF TIME--may not happen...not gonna happen6/23/15


Bill of Materials List for Final Project
  1. phototransistors 1206--2
  2. infrared LEDs--2
  3. ATTiny 44--1
  4. capacitor--1
  5. 1k resistor--1
  6. 10k resistor--2
  7. 2 pin connectors--2
  8. 4 pin connector--1
  9. 6 pin connector--1
  10. ABS plastic sheets to laser...could use acrylic
  11. vinyl for vinly cutter
  12. 2 red LED pin lights
  13. 9 volt battery and holder
  14. appropriate cabling
  15. FTDI and ISP for programming


    16. racesketch
    Sketch #1 Race Timer




    WHAT HAS WORKED...


    *Designing in Corel went very well. I was able to apply the skills I have learned since January to design independently.
    *Vinyl cutting using Cut Studio was easy and weeding, using transfer tape, and measuring to get my lettering perfect was FUN!
    *I independently worked the laser many times during my final project.
    *Designing in Eagle is much easier after you've practiced it A LOT! It still stumps me, though.

    oopsoopsoops


    WHAT HASN'T WORKED AND QUESTIONS TO BE RESOLVED...Don't forget to group objects!

    oops



    Is my structure stable AND it needs a track to keep the car going straight!


    *My first LCD board that I made during input week DID NOT work. I think the traces were too small and it seemed to have a short. I designed it with the intention of using it for my final project.
    *I have a couple weeks until I present and I have a lot done, but I am struggling with the electronics. I've spent a lot of time today researching and I'll just have to adjust my attitude tomorrow. I'm unsure how to free up some pins so that I have enough available for inputs and outputs.
    *I'm not sure if I'm going to need 2 boards with microprocessors or more......


    finaltrack
    Sketch #2 Race Winner Only

    raceracerace

    I HAVE LEARNED....
    *Document as you go! I'm so much better at that now than I was at the beginning of the semester.
    *Using the Vinyl Cutter is easy!
    *I've become more proficient in Corel Draw and AutoCAD. Beginners should focus on finding a limited number of programs and get to be proficient in THOSE before learning more. I struggled with the pace of the class in that regard because every time I tried to learn something new, another new program or task was presented and I felt like I never got to be really good at anything; however, now that I'm nearing the end, I'm amazed at how many things I HAVE learned!
    *Tinkercad is an awesome 3D program for kids! I've gotten to play with it this June at a STEM training and it's awesome and easy to understand.
    *ASK FOR HELP MORE THAN YOU THINK YOU SHOULD! Worrying, researching, worrying about your researching, worrying about your failures.....gets you NOWHERE!
    Learing on your own is definitely admirable in some cases, but the learning process and the design process BOTH require collaboration.
    *Keep it simple until you're ready for more. I often put pressure on myself to be perfect OR others want you to go beyond what is really necessary. Learning is a work in progress. and I try to teach my 3rd graders that every day.
    *Don't ever give up! There were many times during FAB Academy that I told myself I didn't belong and I felt like quitting, but here I am in late June finishing up my work to be evaluated. The truth is, I want to graduate more than anything, and no matter what the result is, I KNOW I gave it my best effort and I learned more in 6 months than I have learned in a long time.....Maybe ever.

    NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD ACHIEVE THIS IN JANUARY......MOVING FORWARD? I used a simple code for my final project, and my race winner indicator worked BUT the ambient lighting was sometimes an issue depending on what room I was in. I used electrical tape to "shield" the light AND I designed some 3D "blinders" to put over the phototransistors to block out unnecessary light. I am currently working on modifying Neil's helloreflect code which should make the detection more reliable. I have included a link for that code as well.




    blinders
    blinder Solid Works

    Our new STEM school and FAB Lab open for students on Wednesday, August 19, 2015. We are having an OPEN HOUSE on Thursday, August 13, 2015. I can't wait!
    SOI logocollaboration



    Code
    Gail's Arduino Race Code
    Neil's Helloreflect C Code

    Design Files
    Race Structure Files
    Start and Finish Labels
    Race Structure Corel Files
    Race board
    Race schematic
    Race satellite board
    Race satellite schematic
    Photo blinders stl
    Photo blinders Solid Works