Final ReportStephen Joo and Daniel Kattan
April 16, 2010ECE 002, Group 8
Group 8
We, Stephen Joo and Daniel Kattan are Group 8 of ECE 002. Throughout the semester, we have learned many things with each lab. We have faced many challenges and through them learned a lot. The different projects in ECE 2 gave us a taste of what’s to come in the next few semesters of engineering here at GW.
Introduction
Lab introduced different types of sensors Taught how to test different sensors to determine optimal
range of use as well as how to write program using those sensors
Sensors tested: - light sensor- sonar sensor- optical rangefinder- touch sensor
These were critical in next project, creating and programming an elevator.
Sensors Lab
Provided fairly stable results over the entire spectrum
Useful for wide range of applications Can reliably detect differences between not only
white and black but also different scales of gray Can be used to detect subtle changes in lighting,
not just shift from black to white
Light Sensor results
Results somewhat unpleasant because only accurate within certain range
According to results, sensor goes haywire and gives extreme values or values that are indiscernible from those around them (i.e. nonlinear) just outside of small normal range
Makes this sensor ill-suited to all but very crude applications.
Rangefinder sensor results
Results extremely accurate and precise When we made graph based on data, sensor
provided extremely linear graph. Sensor is ideal for any application for measuring
distances since it provides consistent and stable results at any certain distance.
Sonar sensor results
Results from these tests greatly influenced which sensors to use for elevator project
We decided to use Because sonar sensor had such linear and stable results, it as primary sensor for elevator
Rangefinder had varied results and felt it would be unreliable for use in project
Didn’t use light sensor either because it had little use in our design
Sensor lab conclusion:
Unique design: using only one sensor, which is sonar sensor
Elevator call buttons were start and stop buttons on Handyboard
Group felt we would have a simpler code by using only one sensor
While somewhat true, the code became more complicated to write than initially anticipated
Trials:- rewrote code several times until got it working properly. - had to fine tune timing of the elevator car.
Elevator Project
Design:- simple and easy to construct
and was reliable in its operation- streamlined stopping to simply
turning off motor- enough friction was built into
raising/lowering mechanism to ensure elevator stayed in place whenever motor was off
Elevator Project (cotd)
Work on elevator: mostly Daniel Kattan Work on elevator code: mostly Stephen Joo We did a lot of work together to ensure that
physical elevator would work properly with the code
Elevator Project (cotd)
Instrumentation lab exposed us to different instruments used by computer engineers
Oscilloscope used for measuring voltage changing with time and displays it in graphical format
Voltage displayed as sine wave (if AC current) Used to display most EM waves Dials on control panel are manipulated to produce unique
graph shown on display monitor Input channels allow cables of two distinct functions via two
channels Oscilloscope includes function generator which can easily
change amplitude, frequency, shape of the graph, and more Allows one to see how things should look before testing his/her
circuits
Instrumentation and Circuit Labs
DC power supply source:- gives varying amounts of power to circuits- used to supply constant voltage to circuit; this voltage can be changed to see how circuit reacts to different voltages- many of these changes are measured using oscilloscope
Instrumentation Lab (cotd)
In another lab, we used breadboard to build physical circuit and connect it to DC power supply source for power
We measured voltage, current, and resistance at different points around circuit
Lab allowed us to actually see what we learned in class; by actually building and measuring the circuits, we understand better what is going on
Circuit Lab
Simulation Program with Integrated Circuit Emphasis: used for analog and digital circuit design and educational
purposes we designed circuit blueprints via this program by adding
various resistors, capacitors, voltage sources, ground, and link them all together into uniform circuit
program allows you to test various circuits to ensure working design before actually building them
by building/testing circuit in PSPICE before physically building it, engineers can try out different designs and save time and money
The following two images are circuit designs of various homework problems.
PSPICE Lab
PSPICE pictures
Learned how to make own AM radio by soldering and connecting parts from AM radio kit
Learned how to solder correctly
Split up work of soldering parts evenly between two of us so both got practice soldering joints
Once radio was complete, we could use oscilloscope to test frequency of incoming signal.
AM Radio Lab:
Problem:- trouble with larger solder joints because soldering iron didn’t get hot enough to melt solder quickly
Solution:- soon figured out that if we held soldering iron against joint and wire for minute or two it heats up enough to allow solder to flow evenly over joint
- Would have been helpful to have different tips for soldering iron to have greater precision for our work
AM Radio Lab (cotd)
Overall, the projects have helped us become better engineers and better team players
We encountered many problems faced by engineers like coordinating the simultaneous development of hardware and software.
We became better team players through our need to finish projects outside of classtime
Conclusion
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