Day consisted of creating the drawings needed for the parts we will be purchasing. The structure of the project has been also drawn, it consists of the way the screen stand would be mounted as well as a booth, the area in which the players should stand a design appropriate for the height of children (2-3 ft).
After creating a materials list for each section, we took a quick trip to the hardware store in where we focused on finding cost effective alternatives to build the project (wood vs PVC etc)
After looking at prices, we realized that small things added up, so keeping a better track of what is necessary vs what we would like would help us stay on budget. To finish a strong week, we need to make sure to finalize materials and hopefully order some by Thursday in order to stay on track and on time. Good week so far.
Wednesday, July 9, 2014
Electrical 7/9/14
Hi all!
The electrical team has been hard at work all day researching different ways to mount the racing rockets.
We were debating the merits of using motors over servos for the better part of the morning. After extensive back and forth, we finally decided to use servos because it can both wind and unwind without reversing the polarity and it interfaces more cleanly with Arduino.
Following that, we began to figure out how to build the pulley track. We decided to use aluminum channels for stability. The hardest part of the day was finding a easy way to hook the servo up as a motor to the pulley. We finally found a website that sold ways to mount a gear on the servo directly. Additionally, we decided to use a belt system rather than a string/single pulley system so that we had more control over the placement of the rocket as it moves up the track.
After today, I think everyone here at electrical has a lot more respect for all the detailed researched it takes to find pieces that work together. Now we can read specs sheets more efficiently!
Tomorrow we hope to finalize our parts list for the pulley system and start sketching designs for lights!
-The Electrical Team
The electrical team has been hard at work all day researching different ways to mount the racing rockets.
We were debating the merits of using motors over servos for the better part of the morning. After extensive back and forth, we finally decided to use servos because it can both wind and unwind without reversing the polarity and it interfaces more cleanly with Arduino.
Following that, we began to figure out how to build the pulley track. We decided to use aluminum channels for stability. The hardest part of the day was finding a easy way to hook the servo up as a motor to the pulley. We finally found a website that sold ways to mount a gear on the servo directly. Additionally, we decided to use a belt system rather than a string/single pulley system so that we had more control over the placement of the rocket as it moves up the track.
After today, I think everyone here at electrical has a lot more respect for all the detailed researched it takes to find pieces that work together. Now we can read specs sheets more efficiently!
Tomorrow we hope to finalize our parts list for the pulley system and start sketching designs for lights!
-The Electrical Team
Tuesday, July 8, 2014
7/8/14 Mechanical Mayham
Our group took a trip to the Microsoft store to research the new technology that comes with the Kinect 2.0.
Aside from that, we also began to look at what materials we would need to construct the mechanical portion of our project. Additionally, we began to compose a parts list so that we can keep track of our progress, and order any parts accordingly. After lunch, Christine Love visited us and gave a presentation on block diagrams, and how they can be a useful tool for planning a project. Immediately, we began work on creating our own diagrams. Tomorrow, we plan on completing our block diagram, make a trip to a hardware store, and determine specifications for our build based off of kinect capabilities. Thanks for reading. MECHANICAL MAGICIANS OUT!!!!!
Group Breakout Sessions
Electrical Report
Electrical met for the first time today. Our part will involve taking the output of the Kinect and using that to control the servos and lights. We are unsure of the capabilities of the Arduino Uno, and are considering using one or multiple boards depending on if we want to divide the processes for the lights and servos.
We learned that we must confirm the capabilities of our components before designing around them. We learned that an Arduino Uno is capable of handling multiple signals at once and can power at least 5 servos.
Tomorrow, we will continue researching components and making final decisions on hardware.
Electrical met for the first time today. Our part will involve taking the output of the Kinect and using that to control the servos and lights. We are unsure of the capabilities of the Arduino Uno, and are considering using one or multiple boards depending on if we want to divide the processes for the lights and servos.
We learned that we must confirm the capabilities of our components before designing around them. We learned that an Arduino Uno is capable of handling multiple signals at once and can power at least 5 servos.
Tomorrow, we will continue researching components and making final decisions on hardware.
July 8, 2014- Software Team
Today we researched the Kinect SDK, and the specs of Kinect
v2. We then asked a Microsoft store employee about Kinect v2 and the SDK. After
we studied the existing v1 program, and discussed how to interface with the
Arduino to be able to drive the Servo motors. Later we learned about block
diagrams, and made them for our project. Tomorrow, we are going to start testing the current Kinect's capabilities.
MSI Field Trip
Hello!
On Wednesday we had the pleasure of visiting the Museum of Science and Industry to talk more with our customer and see the space we are going to be filling. Unfortunately, our main contact Bryan was unable to meet us, but Collette was there and was able to give us a quick tour of the facility and also got us into the Energy Garden exhibit.
We visited all the exhibits that combined physical and virtual components. The main ones we looked at were the shadow garden, the butterflies, and the interactive kinect exhibit. The kinect exhibit was very close to what we hope our exhibit will be, so it was very cool to see the capabilities of the kinect. We were able to free roam the museum for a bit before lunch.
In the afternoon, we went to the Omnimax theater and watched the Flight of the Butterflies. After the show, we went back to the Future Energy and went through the presentation with the games. All the Future Energy games were powered by "kinect-like technology" and many were motion sensors instead of touch screens.
We are moving more into the design stage and planning, so we hope to be able to report more later!
-The HIP Team
On Wednesday we had the pleasure of visiting the Museum of Science and Industry to talk more with our customer and see the space we are going to be filling. Unfortunately, our main contact Bryan was unable to meet us, but Collette was there and was able to give us a quick tour of the facility and also got us into the Energy Garden exhibit.
We visited all the exhibits that combined physical and virtual components. The main ones we looked at were the shadow garden, the butterflies, and the interactive kinect exhibit. The kinect exhibit was very close to what we hope our exhibit will be, so it was very cool to see the capabilities of the kinect. We were able to free roam the museum for a bit before lunch.
In the afternoon, we went to the Omnimax theater and watched the Flight of the Butterflies. After the show, we went back to the Future Energy and went through the presentation with the games. All the Future Energy games were powered by "kinect-like technology" and many were motion sensors instead of touch screens.
We are moving more into the design stage and planning, so we hope to be able to report more later!
-The HIP Team
Tuesday, July 1, 2014
AMERICA DAY!
Hi all!
Everyone was extra happy today because it was AMERICA DAY!
In the morning, we met at Harper to go over the ideas to present to MSI. We made PowerPoints for each idea along with flow charts and parts lists.
Then before lunch it was off to Northrop for AMERICA DAY! We got to eat lunch outside, listen to veterans share there experiences, and enjoy the dancing and band of PEHS.
After lunch, Mike Day was kind enough to come and give us a refresher presentation on how to write requirements and the basics of systems engineering. Using his presentation as a jumping off point, we translated the instructions MSI gave us into concrete requirements.
We voted on which idea was our favorite and a shooting gallery style game using a motion sensor won. We are a little worried about the scope of the project though, so it will probably have to go through a lot of refining before we start building.
We are all looking forward for our trip to MSI tomorrow!
-The HIP Team
Everyone was extra happy today because it was AMERICA DAY!
In the morning, we met at Harper to go over the ideas to present to MSI. We made PowerPoints for each idea along with flow charts and parts lists.
Then before lunch it was off to Northrop for AMERICA DAY! We got to eat lunch outside, listen to veterans share there experiences, and enjoy the dancing and band of PEHS.
After lunch, Mike Day was kind enough to come and give us a refresher presentation on how to write requirements and the basics of systems engineering. Using his presentation as a jumping off point, we translated the instructions MSI gave us into concrete requirements.
We voted on which idea was our favorite and a shooting gallery style game using a motion sensor won. We are a little worried about the scope of the project though, so it will probably have to go through a lot of refining before we start building.
We are all looking forward for our trip to MSI tomorrow!
-The HIP Team
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