Skip to content

1. Principles, Practices and Project Management

Final Project Idea

This section describes my final project idea.

Dual Terrain Drone

The Dual Terrain Drone is an innovative concept that combines the functionalities of a drone and a ground-based vehicle. This project aims to develop a versatile device capable of flying and rolling on the ground, offering adaptability across diverse terrains and environments.

Sketch1

Cloning My Repository

Sketch2

Cloning My Repository

Key Features

  • Hybrid Functionality: The drone can fly using its rotors and roll on the ground with wheels, making it efficient for both aerial and ground exploration.
  • Foldable Design: The arms can transform, allowing for easy switching between flight and rolling modes.
  • Integrated Camera: Equipped with a built-in camera for live video streaming.
  • Dual Motors: Separate motors for flight (brushless motors) and ground transformation (DC motors).

Why This Idea?

The Dual Terrain Drone has potential applications in a wide range of fields. Its flying capability enables it to avoid obstacles and access large structures, while its rolling functionality enables detailed ground-level inspections. The primary purpose of this project is to develop a tool for use in the industrial sector, specifically for infrastructure inspection.

Building The Website

Creating my website was an exciting journey, combining various tools and technologies. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of the process:

  1. Installing Git and Cloning the Repository

What is Git?

Git is a tool that helps you keep track of changes you make to your files, especially code. It allows you to save different versions of your work and share them with others or upload them to platforms like GitLab.

I started by downloading and installing Git on my computer.

This allowed me to clone repositories, manage changes, and push updates to GitLab.

Cloning My Repository

I encountered an authentication error while trying to clone my repository.

authentication error

I resolved the issue by creating a personal access token and using it for authentication.

  1. Setting Up My Development Environment

I installed Visual Studio Code (VS Code) as my editor. VS Code allowed me to edit the Markdown files and adjust the mkdocs.yml configuration file easily.

  1. Learning MkDocs

Before working on my website, I learned Markdown, a lightweight markup language that allows for easy formatting. I practiced basic syntax, including:

  • Headings using # (e.g., # Heading)
  • Bold and Italics using bold and italics
  • Lists using - for bullet points and 1. for numbered lists
  • Links using text
  • Images using Alt text

Markdown Cheat Sheet

I understand how to:

  • Write content in Markdown.
  • Update the navigation and structure in the mkdocs.yml file.
  • Customize the Material theme to match my preferences.

I chose Markdown for documenting my Fab Academy website due to its efficiency and ease of use. Although I had learned and understood HTML, I found Markdown to be a quicker and more convenient option for tracking my progress.

  1. Cloning a Markdown Website
    To build my site, I cloned the “student template MkDocs” provided by the fab academy. Here are the detailed steps I followed:

Step 1 : Navigate to the directory where I wanted to clone the project and Open Git Bash.

Step 2 : Clone the repository by running:
bash git clone https://gitlab.fabcloud.org/academany/fabacademy/templates/student-template-mkdocs.git
This command created a local copy of the project files on my computer.

Step 3 : Explore the files:
- I opened the project folder in a VS Code to examine the structure and contents.
- I reviewed the .md files, and other assets to understand how the website was structured.

Step 4 : Customizing the Website After cloning the repository, I explored the files and started making changes. One of my first attempts was modifying the color scheme in the file. I experimented with different colors but ultimately decided to keep the default blue theme as it looked visually appealing.

How I made new .md file

  • I opened a new text file in visual Studio Code.
  • Write my text/ code.

  • save it as markdown.

  1. Uploading Changes to GitLab

After making changes, I used Git commands to upload my work back to the repository:

```
git add .
```

```
git commit -m "Updated website content and layout"
```

```
git push origin main
```