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Methodology
There were many complex components used for this project. These components
helped complete the final product. Materials such as aluminum plates, bread boards, the
Basic Stamp, and much more were used. But the most important of all were the
microphones, transistors, LM386 and ADC0831.
An Omni-directional Electret Condenser Microphone Cartridge was used. This
type of microphone is used in everyday appliances such as telephones, tape recorders,
and hearing aids. This microphone has a maximum voltage of 12 and a standard voltage
of 4.5. The microphones were tested to detect sound in a 2 foot radius.
The LM386 and ADC0831 look similar but perform different functions. The
LM386 is an audio amplifier that is used in low voltage consumer applications such as
intercoms, T.V sound systems, and cassette players. The ADC0831 converts analog
voltage into digital numbers so that the computer can read it. The LM386 and ADC0831
are standard 8 pin chips. The LM386 has a maximum voltage of 15 and the ADC0831
has a maximum of 0-5 volt input range.
Transistors were used in this project to amplify current. They are semiconductors
with three legs. There is a collector leg, emitter leg, and a base leg. Two different types
of transistors were used, PNP and NPN. When you feed a little bit of current into the
NPN transistor, it turns on to let a lot of current flow through it. The PNP transistor is
different in that you have to let a bit of current flow out of the base leg to make a lot of
current flow through it.
After a great deal of research and the completion of lab manuals, the project was
ready to begin. Since the robot would be ideal in natural disasters, legs were used instead
of wheels for better traction in rough terrain. Aluminum plates were used in constructing
the body of the robot. Two breadboards and one micro-controller were placed on the two
platforms on top of the robot. This robot also contains microphones so if it hears any
noise of sound, it will go to it.
Many ideas were thought of when it was time for special features such as adding
hydraulics, putting cameras, and even putting radar on it to detect heat. But it was soon
realized that these items were out of the budget. The final product would only contain
microphones to detect sound. In order to program the robot to detect sound, you would
have to follow the circuitries and program that are in the Data section.