The Mobot Project: Longwood :: essays research papers

The MOBOT Project LongwoodIn modern engineering, a taxonomical approach is used in the design,operation, and construction of an object to reach a desired goal. The first lookof the process employs what is comm hardly known as the scientific method. Thenext step involves forming an interdisciplinary team of specialists from notonly the various engineering disciplines, but from other fields whose knowledge may be useful or even necessary to completing the come out. This step doesntapply to our project, due the confined nature of the class. Finally,considerations must be interpreted into account to ensure that the project isefficient as well as cost effective.The goal of the MOBOT Project was to design and get to a programmablegolem. The robot had to complete a series of four movements in four devoteddirections over a distance of at least 6 inches. office staff and weight restrictionswere applied to ensure the safety of the students and, more importantly, theteacher. As the goals of the project were made clearer, our group begandiscussing possible ideas for the design. There were almost disagreements aboutwhether we should seduce the electromechanical route or the purely electrical one.And after some deep thought, we all agreed that the mechanical way would be thesimplest to build and the most merciful on our pocketbooks. Even though we werecoming up with some good ideas, each design seemed to contain some major(ip)problems. One of the reoccurring problems dealt with the synchronization of thedriver motor and the steering system. Finally the team came up with a designthat allowed the drive and steering controls to be autonomous of one another,but still allowing each one to be link up in time. This design has now becomewhat is known as LONGWOOD.The Longwood is split up into devil main parts 1) communicate system and 2)logicboard. As the engineer, I was responsible for motion design. Therefore, thatwill be the focus for the remainder of this section.Th e main components of the motion system consist of a curriculum, three cycle per seconds, a wheel embodiment, two motors, and two contact switches. Two of the wheelswere connected to a motor and attach at the front end of the platform. Thesewheels were only allowed to move simultaneously in either a forward or reversedirection. The third wheel was hooked up to the wheel frame and free to rotate more or less 45 degrees in either direction. Figure 1.1 shows an illustrationof how the wheel frame works. The wheel frame and third wheel were thenattached to the platform completing the basic assembly.