Ed-Co

Vision: To produce a product which is both fun and useful To rule the world

Members:Scott Ferrell – Sensors and CommunicationsJeremy Griffin – MCU and GUIAric Kalynchuk – Software Development and ResearchDaisuke Kubo – Power and MCUChad Shaffer – CommunicationsBrent Thompson – Sensors and MCU

Overview

System Concept and Components Background and Market Research System Descriptions

Control Radio Frequency (RF) Direction Finding Communications and Graphical User Interface

Cost and Schedule Project Future

System Components

Extremely mobile user interface Personal digital assistant Nintendo Game Boy

Radio Frequency Beacon Mobile RF signal generator

Small autonomous car Modified remote controlled car with a

microcontroller unit and sensors

System Concept

A mobile controller transmits drive parameters to vehicle

The mobile controller receives sensed data from vehicle

Two modes of vehicle operation Vehicle can track a RF beacon Vehicle can follow waypoints

Mode Concepts and Reasons

Track Will locate and follow a RF beacon To show all of our skills

Point to Point For vehicle testing Allows for future scalability

Market ResearchCompeting 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 racing, based on

pre-programmable behavior.

Computer controlled sensor

platforms. →

Market ResearchLargest Markets

Safety “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

Scientific Research The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (H.V.O.) is a good example

of an organization that regularly monitors and studies volcanic activity

Entertainment 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

RF beacon Vehicle

RF receiver Vehicle controls Wireless comm.

Base station Graphical user

interface (GUI)

Beacon

Transmission Signal Originator

RF Transmitter

Base Station

Vehicle

User Interface

Output Screen and Logs

Input Buttons

IEEE802.11b Transceiver

IEEE802.11b Transceiver

Primary Vehicle Control

Motor Control

Motor

Turning Control

Turning Servo

Beacon Location Processing

RF Receiver

RF Transmission

IEEE802.11b Wireless Connection

RF Direction Finding

Horn antenna gain pattern consists of a single beam with minimal sidelobes

Allows for a very simple RF direction finding algorithm Measure received

power from both antennas

Turn in direction of antenna with greater received power

RF Beacon

Horn 1

Horn 2

Vehicle Speed Control

Speed Demand Determined based on the distance to the beacon

Motor Speed Controlled by switching the motor supply “on” and “off” very

quickly Responds only to the average effect

Longer “on” – speed increase Longer “off” – speed decrease

Speed Demand

PWM generator MOTOR

Rotor position detectorSpeed feedback

Drive circuit loads

Vehicle Direction Control

Turn Demand Determined based on position with respect to the beacon

Turning Control Two servo motors on the front wheels control the direction Pulse width modulation (PWM) determines the angle of

rotation of the motor Longer pulse – motor turns more Shorter pulse – motor turns less

Turn Demand PWM generatorTurning Servo

Rotor position detectorTurn feedback

Drive circuit loads

Vehicle Microcontroller Unit

ATmega32 MCU I/O

32 programmable I/O lines Operating voltage

4.5 V ~ 5.5 V Speed grades

0-16 MHz Power consumption at 1 MHz, 3V, 25ºC

Active mode: 1.1 mA Idle mode: 0.35 mA Power-down mode: <1μA

Choice of Communication

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 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

Mode 1: Manual Control of Car and Sensors

Wireless Communication

Drivers

Operating Mode

State of Machine

Distance From Object

Angular Position Of

Wheels

Current Speed of Car

Four Modules To Control Car and Tracking System

Mode 2: Diagnostical Testing of Individual

Components

Mode 3: Automatic Tracking of a Mobile Object

Mode 4: Upload Software to Car

Visual User Interface

Project Schedule

Project Schedule

First half of winter quarter:Building components

Second half of winter quarter:Integration/programming/debugging

Everyone works in all areas, but responsibility focused for concurrent work

BudgetSystem 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

BudgetDevelopment 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

The beacon tracking mode Hunter-seeker applications

The waypoint mode (greatest potential) Games Data sensing in hazardous areas Security patrols

Questions/Comments

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