Group Status Report #1
MAE 435: Ship Draft Project
9/27/15-9-21/15
Team Members:
David Mooney
Thomas Wheeless
David Mann
Phillip Stickle
Samuel Harpin
Devin Sample-Wright
Ashley Smith
Ashley Wilson
Devin Samples-Wright researched and implemented the Arduino coding for the Maxbotix range
sensor and the AM2315 temperature and humidity sensor. He implemented the i2c code library.
He also combined two devices to create functioning prototype. Devin tested and ensured
accuracy of range readings under room temperature and static conditions. Additionally, he also
assisted in writing the funding proposal for the undergraduate project’s financing committee.
Thomas Wheeless designed and improved the housing for the electrical components. He met
with the group to discuss enclosure spacing requirements, and then worked with David Mooney
to redesign the enclosure layout to accommodate these needs. He also worked with David
Mooney and Ashley Wilson to model the design in AutoDesk Inventor so that the enclosure
could be refined in preparation for 3d printing.
David Mann completed the modeling of the floating test structure utilizing SolidWorks. This was
then presented to Butch Brenton, our Shipyard contact, as a design option. However, it was
determined that the team will instead hang the sensor and mount over a dock or pool as a more
cost-efficient alternative test method. David also worked with Phillip Stickle and Ashley Smith
on developing a user-friendly GUI for displaying the draft, temperature, and other readings on a
computer. David is working on developing the GUI in LabVIEW. The final design will read
from Bluetooth, with the current version being tested with a USB.
Phillip Stickle made inquiries into using the ODU test pool, as a potential option for design
testing. He also worked with David Mann and Ashley Smith on developing a user interface
design for the device using LabView. Phillip and Ashley have been focusing their efforts on
establishing communication between LabView and the Arduino.
Samuel Harpin researched and requested Arduino parts from a single vendor source (Adafruit),
for faster receipt of parts. He researched and documented open source Arduino code for the
sensors. Samuel researched corrected code for the HRLV sensor that did not use a loop format.
Samuel ran the HRLV and AM2315 sensors together with researched and documented found
Arduino code. He also researched Arduino code for the Bluetooth module and human interface
LED.
Ashley Smith worked with David Mann and Phillip Stickle on developing the GUI in LabView
for displaying draft and temperature readings.
Ashley Wilson worked with Thomas Wheeless in modeling the electrical housing components
design in AutoDesk Investor, in preparation for 3D printing.
David Mooney placed orders for design materials. He set up lab storage space for the team.
David designed the mounting prototype and then 3D printed the prototype using PLA filament.
He worked with Thomas, using Fusion 360, to design an optimal electronics enclosure. David
assisted in locating usable Arduino code for use with Maxbotix sonar. He updated the team Gantt
chart (Figure 1.) and the team budget. He also created and presented a power point presentation
for the meeting with project sponsor, Newport News Ship Building.
Figure 1. Gantt Chart