STONY POINT HS -- ROUND ROCK ISD
Machine Control Design
Project 3.1.7 – VEX and RobotC
Connor Jebaoui]
3/20/2014
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................................... 2
Design Brief ........................................................................................................................................................................... 2/2
Design Process .......................................................................................................................................................................... 4
Pictures ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 5
RobotC Code .............................................................................................................................................................................. 6
Discussion Questions ............................................................................................................................................................. 7
Recommendations Page........................................................................................................................................................ 8
INTRODUCTION
Every machine that is controlled by a computer bases every
operation on data and instructions that were designed by an
engineer, technician, or end user. Designers must think through
every contingency and all that can go wrong. In addition safeguards
must be in place so that people and equipment are not damaged.
Problem 3: Automated Guided Vehicle (Hardware Level 2 Software Level 4)
An assembly plant would like for your team to design an Automated Guided Vehicle, AGV,
to drive in a straight line back and forth to deliver batches of parts. The vehicle must travel
back and forth based on closed loop control. The AGV will not start until a button on the
robot is pressed. When the same button is held at the end of a cycle, the robot will stop
after completing a trip back and forth.
DESIGN BRIEF
Client Company:
[Connor and Leonard Motor Company]
Target Consumer:
[People who want a nice car that can deliver parts.
Particularly for people who drive big trucks to deliver
materials or machinery. ]
Problem Statement:
[We are trying to get this vehicle from one end to the other
by pushing a switch. The problems we had were, we didn’t
agree on how to set up the tracks for the car to go on. Then
we had to create a car and design it to fit the tracks and make
wheels to drive on the “road.” The last problem was to
control the car and slow the speed down for it to go to the
end of the track and come back.]
Design Statement:
[First we gathered sketches and thought about how were
going to create the car and tracks for it to go on. After that,
we gathered materials and got screws and started building.
Leonard screwed the power vex and bump switch, and I put
together the tracks. After all that was done, we set up the car
and attached motors on both ends and started to program.
We then started to program and typed up codes for the car to
go back and forth.]
Constraints:
[Some constraints are how many tracks we are given to
create a road and what to use for the vehicle. We only have
limited supplies to create things. Another constraint is what
is needed to be accomplished. The only thing that can be
done is for the car to move back and forth that’s it.]
DESIGN PROCESS
1. Define Problem
Problem
Valid and
Justifiable?
N
Y
2. Generate Concepts
Needed
Technology
Exists?
N
Scientific
Research
Needed
Y
3. Develop a Solution
Product
Innovation
Is Solution
Valid?
N
Y
4. Construct and Test
Prototype
6. Present
Solution
Is Prototype
N
Valid?
Y
5. Evaluate
Solution
N
Solution Solves Y
Problem?
PICTURES
[Should include pictures taken of your final product. Include at least one overview pictures, then close ups
to show all the parts. This may be more than one page.]
ROBOTC CODE
[Cut and paste copy of code. Be sure that you have properly DOCUMENTED ALL YOUR CODE FOR FULL
CREDIT]
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
[Answer the conclusion questions here. Use complete sentences with proper grammar and spelling.]
1. What was the most difficult part of the problem?
The most difficult problem was probably trying to figure out how to slow down the car because it was
going out of control and was un-proportionally balanced. We couldn’t quite understand how to fix it ,so the
car only moved about a few inches back and forth.
2. List and describe two features that were not part of the design problem that could be
added to improve your design.
Two things that could be added to improve our design was our car. It was a poor representation of a
vehicle and wasn’t that creative. Another feature we could’ve improved was the tracks. They didn’t work so
good for the car because the motor kept falling off because nothing was holding it in balance.
RECOMMENDATIONS PAGE
[What recommendations would you make for this project next year for the teacher to change?]
I would recommend for the teacher to give maybe like a week more of time and have more steps on how to
do the projects.
[What recommendations would you make to a student in this class who must do this project next year?]
I would recommend for a student to not fool around and use time wisely in class. Fully understand how to
build and program well. It will be an essential tool for this project and in engineering.