PROJECT OVERVIEW
The MECH307 design project for spring 2002 has the following broad objective: design, build, demonstrate and document a mechatronic system that can be used to accurately position a rotatable disk autonomously. The disk will have a direction indicator on its periphery (an arrow) that must start in one 60 degree sector, move (1 to 6 rotations) in the cw or ccw direction, and stop accurately within a second 60 degree sector. The number of rotations is to be displayed numerically and incrementally as they occur.
Each MECH307 design group must design and control the device using a PIC microcontroller, other digital or analog IC’s, and other discrete components. Your design must contain the following minimum set of functional elements:
1. A switch to activate the system, which then must run autonomously.
2. A sensor designed to track a light or motion
3. An actuator to move part of the system
4. A display to indicate rotations
5. A part that will produce sound
Your group’s grade for the project will be based on the level of performance that your device achieves, your design notebook and report, and several scoring adjustments as described below. As stated at the outset of the course your project grade will contribute toward 15% of your final grade.
PROJECT SPECIFICS
Your design must permit the input of the following data using switches, a keypad, a push-button or other input devices:
number of rotations (1-6)
direction (cw or ccw)
stopping sector (1-6)
Once the design is completed and tested, it will enter the competition.
At a competition trial, a dice will be thrown three times in succession to determine:
1) The starting sector (1-6), even # cw, odd # ccw
2) The number of rotations (1-6)
3) The terminal sector (1-6)
You will be permitted to enter the data with switches, a keypad or push-buttons, push the start button and stand back and watch the action. Success implies completion of the above. One competition run per day will be allowed of each group. Extra bonus points will be given as indicated below. A sketch of the concept is on the downloads page.
Levels of Performance
The levels of performance along with their corresponding base scores (based on a scale of 100) are:
Level -1, i.e. minus 1 (-15% of final grade)
a nonexistent “the dog ate it” device
Level 0 (5% of final grade if accompanied by a design notebook and final report)
A non-functioning device.
All levels above Level 0 must have a device, accompanying design notebook, and final report (the latter by 1 week following success).
Level 1 (70)
Data can be entered, the disk starts, rotates and stops.
If it does not stop at the correct sector, or execute the proper number of rotations, or display the rotations, or make a sound, this is the maximum
score.
Level 2 (80)
Level 1 plus your device stops at the correct sector, executes the proper number of rotations.
If it does not display the rotations, or make a sound, this is the maximum score.
Level 3 (90)
Level 2 plus your device also stops at the correct sector and makes a sound on termination.
Level 4 (100)
Level 3 plus your device does something more that is quite interesting such as playing a tune, speaking, adding a termination flourish (visual or electromechanical), or has an unusually interesting display.
Grading Adjustments (added to or subtracted from the base level score)
+/- 5 for construction quality, aesthetics, consumer appeal (e.g., perforated protoboard with neat soldered wiring vs. messy breadboard; well built and attractive packaging) (-5: poor; 0: average; 5: exceptional)
+/- 5 for level of effort, initiative, and research (-5: low; 0: average; 5: high)
+/- 5 for actual construction cost and expected mass production cost appropriate for the level 3 or 4. (-5: expensive; 0: average; 5: inexpensive) i.e. using 1 time programmable (OTP) pic 16F84
+ 5 [for Level 4 only] for creativity, originality, and usefulness (0: average; 5: exceptional)
NOTE – The potential for a positive adjustment increases with the level of performance. A maximum positive adjustment is possible only for a Level 4 device.
Extra Reward:
+5 (max) for a presentation in class during the last week of the semester
(by invitation only)
Calendar Schedule: Certain deliverables are required by the following dates:
Friday March 8 submit group member list to me before 3PM, otherwise you will be assigned to a group.
Monday March 18 PIC lab finished this week
Monday March 25 Preliminary design due by 3PM in class, designs must be approved by TA’s
Monday April 1 Revised Preliminary design due by 3PM in class
Monday April 8 Final design due by 3PM in class, and inspection of design notebook
Monday April 15
Monday April 22 Level 3 success by this date +5 points bonus
Level 4 success by this date +10 points bonus
Monday April 29 Level 3 success by this date +3 points bonus
Level 4 success by this date +5 points bonus
Monday May 3 Last possible day to present the project to instructor
Additional Information:
Your TA will try to provide you with any circuit components you need (resistors, capacitors, LEDs, limited IC’s) You are responsible for purchasing other stuff (special IC’s, switches, buttons, miscellaneous mechanical and electrical accessories, etc.).
We recommend that you work together as much as possible with your group members, but the project work may be more manageable if you divide tasks among the group members. The entire group is still responsible for the work (e.g., if one group member doesn’t do their parts, the other members must take up the slack and evaluate the non contributing member accordingly). Here is an example of a list of duties you may want to distribute among your group members:
- project management (schedule meetings, plan and monitor progress, budget and collect for purchases, foster communication, etc.)
- product and component research and purchasing
- mechanical hardware design, assembly, and testing
- electronics design, assembly, and testing
- PIC microcontroller programming and interfacing
- design documentation and report writing
You will be asked to formally evaluate each other in the group at the end of the project.
Official trials will be during the Lab section meetings in the latter part of the semester and during other hours arranged by your TA (e.g., TA office hours). No trials will be allowed after the last class day of the semester. You may use multiple trials to progressively improve your Level score. A group is allowed only one official trial per day. Every group not completing a level must show their device during the last Lab section meeting for final evaluation of the grading adjustment categories.
Selected groups will be invited to present their projects to the entire
class during the last two lecture periods of the semester (see “Extra Reward”
above).
The final report is due at the last meeting of your Lab section. The report should include:
title page with title, group number, group member names, date, etc.
Design Summary: concise overview of what your device does and how it works. Include a well labeled overall figure illustrating your device.
Design Details: detailed figures (where necessary and/or helpful), circuit schematics and/or functional diagrams, and software flowcharts (if applicable). Be sure to refer to the figures and diagrams in the text and describe them completely. Include detailed wiring diagrams (if details are not included in earlier figures) and well commented software listings (if applicable)
in an Appendix and refer to them in the body of the report.
Design Evaluation: describe the level of performance and provide justifications for the grading adjustments.
Group evaluations forms are to be submitted to the TA.
After looking at the figures and schematics and after reading the BRIEF descriptions in the “Design Summary” and “Design Details,” the reader should be able to fully understand how your device functions.
Theoretically, the highest possible score (for a device and effort stupendous,spectacular, extraordinary, and amazing in every way) is 135 on a scale of 100! This percentage will be multiplied by the 15% allocated for the final project.