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Week 1st
November 19th 2019
We did the purchase of the Microprocessor Metro Express M0.
Research and learn how the microprocessor work.
We are trying to make it work using Python language and MU editor.
Progress Log
Week 2
November 27th, 2019
We did the purchase of the tension load HX711 and LCD display 16x2.
We also did more research on the display and look for Python libraries to make it work with the microprocessor Metro Express M0.
Week 3
December 1st and 2nd 2019
We did the purchase of the power bank for the microprocessor. We borrowed an I2C display interface from Professor Jerry Reed because we had some issues making the LCD display work using MU editor for Python, getting some errors that we found out was due to the Python libraries we were using with the microprocessor Metro Express M0.
Week 4
December 12th, 13th, and 14th, 2019
We meet professor Jerry Reed for advise. We borrowed an Arduino Uno microprocessor and a Sharp IR distance sensor from him.
We did more research on the I2C display interface and look for libraries to make it work with the microprocessor. The library we found that work with the microprocessor Metro Express M0 was in C++.
Display is working now using I2C interface with its respective library in C++.
We tested the IR Sharp sensor with the Arduino Uno microprocessor that we will use to control the direction of the suit case.
IR sensor works fine. The result of the distance of the sensor tested works fine for our project, since we don't need much distance.
We did more research on the tension scale and look for libraries to make it works with the microprocessor
Metro Express M0.
To see the videos and pictures of the display click here.
Week 5
December 19th, 20th, and 21th, 2019
Since we had issues with Python libraries and our microprocessor Metro Express M0 , we decided to use only C++ language for our project.
Tension scale connections done and working.
Learned how to calibrate the tension scale.
We did more research and found a camera PIXY2 that will help us with the direction of the suit case moving it left or right.
We discussed the new option and agree to buy the device.
We did the purchase of the camera.
To see the videos and pictures of the Tension scale click here.
Week 6
December 24th, 25th, 2019
We look for libraries to make the camera work with the microprocessor Arduino Uno.
Camera assembled, tested it and working.
Working on buying the motor, driver control, battery, and adapters.
Week 7
January 17th and 21th 2020
We did the purchase of the driver control and motor, adapter, wheels, ball bearing respectively .
Week 8
January 25th, 2020
We did the purchase of the power bank for the motors.
Week 9
January 27th, 2020
We did the purchase of the Sharp IR sensor, and I2C display interface to return it to professor Jerry Reed.
We also did some testing on the camera Pixy2 to measure distance, responds using different objects and colors to create a table where we can show the results.
We made some videos and took some pictures for the report and the webpage respectively.
Web page updated.
Test:
Teaching the camera how to learn the objects. Holding down the button on top of camera. After about 1 second, the LED will turn on - first white, then red, then other colors - but when it turns red, release the button.
When released the button, the camera will enter what's called “light pipe” mode, where the LED color is the color of the object that the camera has “locked” onto. The camera will lock onto objects in the center of its video frame, so hold the object directly in front of camera, between 6 and 20 inches from the lens.
https://youtu.be/1O8ERv1MAb0
Testing the camera with a blue object about 3 inches of size, not getting good results.
https://youtu.be/FxhtnQUFEfg
https://youtu.be/JqAaFmyHqgU
Testing the camera how fast it responds to the movements with an orange object of 3 inch of size, and how far still following the object. During the recording of the video, camera detected another orange object in the background but still following the object we teach it.
https://youtu.be/1rPRtlVrvfc
https://youtu.be/5h51v2xflIw
https://youtu.be/Wm5Z8NzXt9Y
Testing the camera with a yellow object about 3 inch of size. It respond better than the other colors we tried ( orange, blue and green).
https://youtu.be/1ZC3uzUm91s
Testing the camera with no background and a blue object.
https://youtu.be/ZDYswW-GIFw
Testing the camera with no background and 2 objects ( Yellow and Orange ) at the same time.
https://youtu.be/fvVCkkZzWYE
To see the videos and pictures of the camera click here.
Week 10
January 28th and 30th, 2019
We meet professor Notash Ali, and go over webpage improvements and recommendations, asking us not to have videos in the background and fix the Engineering Specifications Table table wit correct information. He advised us to make the suitcase with a clear plastic material so the internal hardware can be visible, that way we don't have to remove things for showing, and advised us to start building it.
In the meeting we talk about the test we did with the camera and showed him some of the videos.
Professor Ali Notash advised us to have a plan B in case camera have problems following the object since the camera have the option of recognize bar codes and lines.
Webpage updated, and working on improvements.
Week 11
February 2nd , 2020
We went today to buy the materials to start building the chassis of the suitcase. As advised by professor
Notash Ali to build it with clear plastic. The price of the material was a little expensive so we decide to use clear plastic as advised, and a very thin wood, that will not weigh too much to lower the total cost since the clear plastic was more expensive than the wood. We spend less than $90.
We will meet on Monday with Professor Jerry Reed to show our progress, return borrowed pieces and more advises.
Week 12
February 3rd, 5th, and 7th, 2019
We meet professor Jerry Reed and showed him our progress. Since we already have the display, tension scale and camera working, we started working on the motors.
To make the motors work, we need to connect them to the motor control and this one to the microprocessor.
We had to look for a library to make the driver control work, and we find it in the product web page.
Up to today we were using 2 microprocessors ( Arduino Metro Express M0 and Arduino Uno R3 ) because we had some issues with the libraries that were not working with the Arduino Metro Express M0.
The display and the tension scale works with the Arduino Metro Express M0 but the camera was giving us errors when compiling the code, and for this reason we decided to use Arduino Uno R3 for the whole project.
We were able to test the motor controllers and the motors. The external battery we have was also working fine.
Now that we have the motors working, we need to make the suitcase follow the user.
The camera has attached a pan tilt that move left and right when the object in front of it moves to the left or right. One of the ideas we have is to use the output of the camera to move the front wheels left and right, basically replacing the pan tilt for 2 free wheels that will move depending on the motor that will be receiving the signal from the camera
The other idea we have is to use sensors to control the direction of the suitcase. Basically using 4 sensors in front of it, and depending of the movement the user in front of the suitcase is doing, the sensor will know if the user is turning left or right, sending a signal to the microprocessor, and this one will send a signal to the driver control, which is connected to the motors letting it turn left or right. The function of the sensors will be also to avoid the suitcase to hit the user in front of it and have always a distance, avoiding a collision.
We started building the suitcase, and during the process of building the suitcase, we found that the tension scale was a little complicated to install in the suitcase due to the little space we have. We decide to try using a load cell weight sensor instead, and see which one work better.
Arduino Uno, load cell weight sensor, cable for 12 volt battery was ordered on February 3rd and delivered on the 5th of February. We will test it soon.
On February 7 the connection of both motors were tested, doing some movements ( clockwise, counterclockwise, forward, backward, and speed). Results of the tests were OK as spectated. Once suitcase is ready, we will test weigh on it.
Next step is to combine the camera and motors code to control the direction of it.
To see the pictures of the motor click here.
Week 13th
February 10th and 14th, 2020
We tested the motors with some weight on it ( up to 30 Lbs ) and final result was as spectated, working all fine. We had to change the code to make it run smooth, since at the beginning it was making some kind of pauses ( due to some delays and speed variables ).
We are selecting for the test a speed of 40 from the total of 250, that way we don't have to run behind the device and due to the limited space we had for the test. We will increase the speed and test it in another place where we can make it run longer, to also check how the battery respond to the use. So far right now, the battery is one light out from a total of 5.
During the test, we noticed that when device was running forward, it turn a little to the right. We found out that it was due to the efficient of the motors were not even, so we had to adjust the speed of one of them to make it even.
New temporary chassis is build with camera attached while working on the final chassis of the suitcase, to be able of continue working on the autonomous part of the project.
To see the pictures of the motor click here.
Week 14th
February 17th and 20th, 2020
We meet professor Jerry Reed to continue working on the autonomous part of the project. We made some progress today, now the prototype suitcase is moving following an object as planed. We did our first test indoor with not good results. We set the speed of the motors very slow due to the limited space we had. The direction was not too good. Some times the suitcase was not following the object. We noticed that when recording the object in the camera ( connected to the computer ), the light in the room was not too good, and the object was just not detected by the camera. We decide to do the test outdoor, and the result was better. The prototype suite case was configured to stop if camera lost the vision of the object. Due to the limited time we had, we decide to continue next week.
We continued with the test during the week. We tested our prototype suitcase with the same speed and with 30lb on it, and It slow down more. We speed up the motors and we did not find any problems loading it with that much weight. The camera some time stop following the object and continue running without direction. Where the camera is located right now ( temporarily ) in the prototype suitcase, is getting loose, and is moving up and down, causing to the camera to lose track of the object.
Later the same day we did some adjustments to the speed basically and we tried again. results where much better.
In conclusion, the prototype suitcase was tested in slow and fast speed, with and without weight, and in all surfaces, smooth, rough, and carpet. The wheels responded good to all the tests as well.
https://youtu.be/4oXm9NrYjIQ
Since the prototype suitcase is getting loose, we need to start putting all the electronic devices and connections together in the final suitcase.
While continue working on the chassis of the suitcase, we will be also working on the IR sensors to place them in the front side of the suitcase to avoid collisions in case it lose control, and to attache a LED to no have problems if there is not much lights indoor.
To see the videos of the tests click here.
Week 15th
February 24th and 25th, 2020
We meet professor Jerry Reed to continue working on the autonomous part of the project. We add the IR sensor in front to make the suitcase stop if detect an object and avoid collisions.
https://youtu.be/NiHSQxThpqc
We tested a Bluetooth planning to send the signal from the weight sensor to the cellphone or make stop and start the suitcase, if time allow us.
On February 25th, 2 more IR sensors and a buzzer were add it to the code and tested. All is working good but the sound of the buzzers is not too loud. The idea of the buzzer is to alert the user in case the suitcase stopped and is unattended. https://youtu.be/PD8W9gQLg8w
Mean while we will continue working on the chassis of the suitcase, and the report.
To see the videos of the tests click here.
Week 16th
March 2nd, 2020
We are continually working on the chassis of the suitcase, the report, web page, and PowerPoint presentation.
The team decided to upgrade the interior (for more storage space), so the previous build was abandoned in order to provide a better presentation. Start testing for the Gearmotor on the actual suitcase performance on the 9th morning.
The team finds out that the freewheels on the suitcase could be an issue on the road such as bituminous concrete.
Week 17th
March 9th, 2020
We are continually working on the chassis of the suitcase, the report, web page, and PowerPoint presentation. The drilling a square on the top of the suitcase for an LCD screen placement, purchase a flip switch (for turn on and off LCD screen), solder the tension scale to HX711 (the part got damaged due to overheating), replace the freewheels on the suitcase, and also better cable manager.
Week 18th
March 16th, 2020
We are continually working on the report, web page, PowerPoint presentation, and rebuilding the chassis of the suitcase.
To see the gallery pictures click here.
Week 19th
March 23th, 2020
We are continually working on the report, web page, PowerPoint presentation, and rebuilding the chassis of the suitcase.
Working on devices installation and connections. Camera pending to be connected. After is all connected we will test it to make sure all connections are OK.
To see the gallery pictures click here.
Week 20th
March 30th, 2020
We are continually working on the report, web page, PowerPoint presentation. The chassis of the suitcase is completed.
Tension scale board was damaged and we had to replaced it for a new one.
All devices are now connected, tested, and OK.
- Tension scale working.
- Display working.
- IR sensors working.
- Camera working.
- Motors working.
Total weight of the suitcase is 30.71 Lb due to wood material we are using to build it ( the average weight of an empty suitcase is about 9 pounds ). Whatever we add to the suitcase, it will be add it to the 30.71 Lb to get the total weight of the suitcase. Max weight supported by the tension scale is 110 Lb and motors can support a load of 50 Lb Max. We can add to the suitcase 19.29 Lb more to be in our limit of capacity.
Final test should be done in an open place were we can walk more and make a final video for the presentation, but due to the corona virus and the shelter in place in our county, we cannot meet and do it for now.
To see the gallery pictures click here.
Week 21th
April 6th, 2020
We are continually working on the report, web page, and PowerPoint presentation.
The chassis of the suitcase is completed.
All devices are now connected, tested, and OK.
- Tension scale working.
- Display working.
- IR sensors working.
- Camera working.
- Motors working.
Total weight of the suitcase is 30.71 Lb due to wood material we are using to build it ( the average weight of an empty suitcase is about 9 pounds ). Whatever we add to the suitcase, it will be add it to the 30.71 Lb to get the total weight of the suitcase. Max weight supported by the tension scale is 110 Lb and motors can support a load of 50 Lb Max. We can add to the suitcase 19.29 Lb more to be in our limit of capacity.
We were not able to record a final video together due to the shelter in place order in FL due to the Corona virus. Our plan for the final test was to create a table where we can check the functionality of each component under the same circumstances in a few trials, and create a final functional analysis table.
Jose Luis had to record 2 videos by himself for the final presentation but videos were not well recorder due to the need of assistance he hadn't at the time of the videos were recorded. It was kind of hard to record the videos and do things with only 2 hands.
In the videos we explain how the Suitcase works. We divided the video project in two parts. One part is showing how the tension scale and display are working, and the other part how the IR sensors, camera, and motors are working.
We created a new page in our project webpage called "Presentation" under the design menu, where we uploaded the videos ( we also add other videos and pictures where we were able to record while working on the prototype suitcase before the corona virus. ) We also posted the Power Point presentation that we are keeping updated.
Click here to see the PowerPoint, pictures, and videos for the presentation
Week 22th
April 13th, 2020
Report, web page, and PowerPoint presentation are completed.
The chassis of the suitcase is completed.
All devices are now connected, tested, and OK.
- Tension scale working.
- Display working.
- IR sensors working.
- Camera working.
- Motors working.
Final videos are uploaded.
Total weight of the suitcase is 30.71 Lb due to wood material we are using to build it ( the average weight of an empty suitcase is about 9 pounds ). Whatever we add to the suitcase, it will be add it to the 30.71 Lb to get the total weight of the suitcase. Max weight supported by the tension scale is 110 Lb and motors can support a load of 50 Lb Max. We can add to the suitcase 19.29 Lb more to be in our limit of capacity.
We were not able to record a final video together due to the shelter in place order in FL due to the Corona virus. Our plan for the final test was to create a table where we can check the functionality of each component under the same circumstances in a few trials, and create a final functional analysis table.
Jose Luis had to record 2 videos by himself for the final presentation but videos were not well recorder due to the need of assistance he hadn't at the time of the videos were recorded. It was kind of difficult to record the videos and do many things with only 2 hands at the same time.
In the videos we explain how the Suitcase works. We divided the video project in two parts. One part is showing how the tension scale and display are working, and the other part how the IR sensors, camera, and motors are working.
Weiming also recorded a video where he covers the rest of the parts in the presentation.
We created a new page on our project webpage called "Presentation" under the design menu, where we uploaded the videos ( we also add other videos and pictures where we were able to record while working on the prototype suitcase before the pandemic. ).
Project completed.
Click here to see the PowerPoint, pictures, and videos for the presentation
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