Project review

I found this project to be very enjoyable and interesting. I have learned a lot with respect to working in a team and building and designing a buggy.

Towards the end there were a few issues with the programming and design. This was due to the late completion of the design and lack of work done during the easter break.

As a whole I feel I could have contributed to the programming side. The programming was a weakness of mine which is why I had such a lack of involvement in that area. By being involved I could have improved my knowledge of programming and gained a lot more from this project.

Overall this project was still rewarding in many ways. The team worked well together and there were no major issues between team members. Seeing our buggy being successful on the test was very satisfying.

Top layer ideas

After it was decided the buggy would be made into two layers, the top layer was to be designed differently to the bottom.

Here were a few design sketches for the top layer:

Initial Design

An initial design of the buggy:

The group decided that it was best for the design to be layered and to have the LEDs and sensor on the front at the bottom.

The two front wheels will be connected to the motors and the pivot wheel will be connected to the back of the buggy.

All of the components will be placed on the bottom layer and top layer. If possible all components may be placed on the bottom layer and the top layer will act as a cover for the components.

The hole in the bottom layer is to allow wiring from the components to the LEDs and sensors.

Materials

The choice of material for the buggy is very important. As there is a wide selection of materials available each with their own advantages and disadvantages, it is important to choose the right one.

It is important that the material is:
• Light
• Easy to cut
• Easy to drill holes through for mounting components
• Looks good


Wood:
Wood is light enough to be used for the buggy but it is not as light compared to some of the other materials considered. It is easy to cut and drill holes through. Also it can be painted to give the buggy a nice finish.


Metal:
Though there are many metals generally they are a lot stronger but are not as easy to cut into shape.



Plastic:
A light material which can easily be cut into a desired shape, although it is not as strong as the other materials.


Acrylic:
A clear plastic that resembles glass. It is strong, light and easy to shape. Acrylic is generally more expensive than other plastics.


References:
http://www.scioly.org/wiki/Battery_Buggy
http://www.redrc.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/KyoInfernoMp9e-1.jpg
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-acrylic.htm

Robots used in industry

A robot is a device that can execute a wide range of maneuvers under the direction of a computer. By reacting to feedback from sensors or programming, a robot can alter its maneuvers to fit a changed task or situation.

Robots have become heavily relied upon in the industry. The main industries in which robots are being used include foundry & forging, metal fabrication, oil and gas and the automotive industry. These industries find the use of robots useful due to their ability to improve product quality, increase production and in some aspects save money. They also have their disadvantages such as high initial costs, limited functions and the need of skilled technical engineers.

As technology becomes more advanced more ideal robots can be built. This will lead to direct job losses within the industry but also create jobs for those manufacturing, supplying and maintaining the robots.

Reference:

http://www.robots.com/blog.php?tag=112

Posted by Daljinder Sandhu