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Ed-Co
Vision:
 To produce a product which is both fun and useful
 To rule the world
Members:
Scott Ferrell – Sensors and Communications
Jeremy Griffin – MCU and GUI
Aric Kalynchuk – Software Development and Research
Daisuke Kubo – Power and MCU
Chad Shaffer – Communications
Brent Thompson – Sensors and MCU
Overview
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System Concept and Components
Background and Market Research
System Descriptions
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Control
Radio Frequency (RF) Direction Finding
Communications and Graphical User Interface
Cost and Schedule
Project Future
System Components
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Extremely mobile user interface
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Radio Frequency Beacon
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Personal digital assistant
Nintendo Game Boy
Mobile RF signal generator
Small autonomous car
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Modified remote controlled car with a
microcontroller unit and sensors
System Concept
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A mobile controller transmits drive
parameters to vehicle
The mobile controller receives sensed
data from vehicle
Two modes of vehicle operation
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Vehicle can track a RF beacon
Vehicle can follow waypoints
Mode Concepts and Reasons
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Track
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Will locate and follow a RF beacon
To show all of our skills
Point to Point
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For vehicle testing
Allows for future scalability
Market Research
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Competing Technology
Remote car and sensor platforms being researched
from MIT to high school students
Most projects do not provide tracking/sensing
technology that is integrable or upgradeable with
current market technology
Computer
controlled sensor
platforms. →
← Computer controlled racing, based on
pre-programmable behavior.
Market Research
Largest Markets
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Safety
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Scientific Research
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“after an accident, the violations that frequently top the list are
failures to keep pathways clear, floors clean, and emergency
exits freely accessible”
Jan Schut, www.plasticstechnology.com
The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (H.V.O.) is a good example
of an organization that regularly monitors and studies volcanic
activity
Entertainment
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Sam’s Club is selling twenty-four different types of RC monster
trucks this holiday season…Smart Track is the natural
integration of technology that Sharper Image and Radio Shack
customers already use and are willing to buy
System Overview
Base Station
Beacon
Output Screen
and Logs
Transmission
Signal Originator
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RF beacon
Vehicle
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RF receiver
Vehicle controls
Wireless comm.
Input Buttons
IEEE802.11b
Transceiver
RF Transmission
IEEE802.11b Wireless Connection
Vehicle
RF Receiver
IEEE802.11b
Transceiver
Beacon Location
Processing
Primary Vehicle
Control
Base station
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Graphical user
interface (GUI)
User Interface
RF Transmitter
Motor Control
Turning Control
Motor
Turning Servo
RF Direction Finding
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Horn antenna gain
pattern consists of a
single beam with
minimal sidelobes
Horn 1
RF Beacon
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Allows for a very simple
RF direction finding
algorithm
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Horn 2
Measure received
power from both
antennas
Turn in direction of
antenna with greater
received power
Vehicle Speed Control
Speed Demand
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Determined based on the distance to the beacon
Motor Speed
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Controlled by switching the motor supply “on” and “off” very
quickly
Responds only to the average effect
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Longer “on” – speed increase
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Longer “off” – speed decrease
Speed
Demand
PWM generator
Speed feedback
Drive circuit
Rotor position detector
MOTOR
loads
Vehicle Direction Control
Turn Demand
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Determined based on position with respect to the beacon
Turning Control
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Two servo motors on the front wheels control the direction
Pulse width modulation (PWM) determines the angle of
rotation of the motor
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Longer pulse – motor turns more
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Shorter pulse – motor turns less
Turn Demand
PWM generator
Turn feedback
Drive circuit
Rotor position detector
Turning
Servo
loads
Vehicle Microcontroller Unit
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ATmega32 MCU
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I/O
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Operating voltage
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4.5 V ~ 5.5 V
Speed grades
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32 programmable I/O lines
0-16 MHz
Power consumption at 1 MHz, 3V, 25ºC
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Active mode: 1.1 mA
Idle mode: 0.35 mA
Power-down mode: <1μA
Choice of Communication
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Bluetooth: powerful but expensive,
complex, and power-hungry
Zigbee: developed for industrial
applications… not present in consumer
devices
Wireless fidelity (WiFi): integrated into
PDA’s Game Boy, and many handheld
platforms
Extremely Mobile User
Interface
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Has a very short setup time
Easy to pack away
Familiar technology to consumers
Able to operate while client is in motion
Possible languages and operating systems being
considered are (Visual) C++, PalmOS, Java/Flash
Extremely Mobile User
Interface
Visual User
Interface
State of
Machine
Mode 1: Manual
Control of Car
and Sensors
Current
Speed of Car
Four Modules To
Control Car and
Tracking System
Mode 2:
Diagnostical
Testing of
Individual
Components
Angular
Position Of
Wheels
Mode 3:
Automatic Tracking
of a Mobile Object
Distance
From Object
Wireless
Communication
Drivers
Mode 4: Upload
Software to Car
Operating
Mode
Project Schedule
Project Schedule
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First half of winter quarter:
Building components
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Second half of winter quarter:
Integration/programming/debugging
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Everyone works in all areas, but
responsibility focused for concurrent
work
Budget
System Components and Pricing
Item
Cost
ATmega32 MCU
$10
Lantronix WiPort
$120
WiPort antenna
$10
RC monster truck
$30*
Laser distance finder
$30*
RF antennas
**
Wiring, components
$40*
Cost per system
$240
*estimated
**own/borrow
Budget
Development Components and Pricing
Item
Cost
STK500 DevKit
$80
WiPort DevKit
$300
Laptop
**
Beacon antenna
**
Signal generator
**
Tools
$50*, **
Administrative
$150*
Cost to develop
$580
*estimated
**own/borrow
System Futures
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The beacon tracking mode
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Hunter-seeker applications
The waypoint mode (greatest
potential)
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Games
Data sensing in hazardous areas
Security patrols
Questions/Comments
?
Ed-Co Needs You!
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Your project not what you expected?
Feel like you don’t really matter?
Looking for a group with vision and a future?
We have an opening in the software
development department
Ed-Co is on its way up, join now and
become a founding partner