The Rat Pack Kirk Acklin Scott Carpenter Douglas Johnson Mike Li The motorized, super-cool lab rat

Overview ► The Project/Objectives ► Component Layout ► Cost ► Marketability ► Play by Play progress ► Division of Labor ► Risk/Contingency Plans ► Wrap up

Project/Objectives Essentials Description: The Lab Rat is a micro-controller motorized maze navigating machine. The rat will be able to traverse a maze either using an built-in algorithm or following IR checkpoints within the maze. The Lab Rat will also follow a user. ► Lab rat will traverse mazes using the following methods  “Left hand” algorithm  Infrared Tracking of checkpoints within maze ► Lab rat will store its path within onboard memory ► Lab rat will follow a user wearing IR Transmitter

Project/Objectives Upgrades ► Possible “upgrades”  Audio Tracking  Return path stored in memory via RF Transmitter  Some sort of cool “gun-like” attachment for shooting things  Rat could return through maze and reactivate checkpoints

Project/Objectives Applicaitons As is: ► Educational Applications Future Generations: ► Civilian Applications  Surveying / Exploration ► Military Applications  Scouting / Reconnaissance  Unmanned Operations

Vehicle/Sensor Control

Retrieving Maze Layout

Overall System Diagram

Cost ► ► Board Development ► ► Prototype ► ► Transmitters ► ► Presentation/Expo NOTE: total cost determined from low-end and high-end estimates. *Indicates possible costs contribute to high-end cost.

Cost Board Development($22/$72):  Circuit Board = $22  Circuit Components – chips, socket and wires ~ free from Capstone within reason (*contigent $50)

Cost Prototype($98/$278):  Manufactured Board – must buy in quantity 4 = ~$40 = ~$160  Sensors / Transimitters & Receivers($2/$53) o Collision / Object Detection Sensors ~ $1 - $52 o Collision / Object Detection Sensors ~ $1 - $52 Bumper sensor $1 Bumper sensor $1 *IR rangefinder $23 - $26 *IR rangefinder $23 - $26 *Flex - $18 *Flex - $18 *Ultrasonic rangefinder $30 - $52 *Ultrasonic rangefinder $30 - $ o IR receivers ~ $1 o IR receivers ~ $1 IR receivers and transmitters are both $1 IR receivers and transmitters are both $ o Serial RF Link ~ free from Capstone (*contingent $30) o Serial RF Link ~ free from Capstone (*contingent $30)

Cost Prototype($98/$278) contd.:  Materials($68/$78) o Lexan Sheet - (1/8”-1/4”) stock dependent on thickness ~$5 - $10 o Lexan Sheet - (1/8”-1/4”) stock dependent on thickness ~$5 - $10 o Stepper Motors ~ $50 o Stepper Motors ~ $50 Motor ~ ??, Controller implemented in logic Motor ~ ??, Controller implemented in logic o Wheel – 2 simple, 1 universal ~ + = ~$13 model o Wheel – 2 simple, 1 universal ~ + = ~$13 model wheels 1 3/8 ” to 2 3/4 $3.95 to $4.95 internet wheels 1 3/8 ” to 2 3/4 $3.95 to $4.95 internet casters vary greatly small simple caster $2.10 on internet casters vary greatly small simple caster $2.10 on internet

Cost Prototype($98/$278) contd.:  Power($8/$50) o Solar Panels ~ $20 o Solar Panels ~ $20 *3 flexible panels *3 flexible panels -AND/OR- o Batteries ~ $8 - $30 o Batteries ~ $8 - $30 battery packs starting at $7.99 to ~$30, phone battery $19.99 battery packs starting at $7.99 to ~$30, phone battery $  Fasteners / Hardware ~ $20  *Specialty Tools ~ $20  Googley Eyes ~ $1

Cost Transmitters ($48):  Belt/Beacons ~ ~ $48 o IR transmitters ~ $1 o Power source ~ $2 o Hardware – wiring, fasteners, etc. $5 Presentation/Expo ($55):  Maze – foamboard ~ $15  User Manuel / Technical Data – printing and binding ~ $40

Cost Wrap-up

Marketability Current Generation ► Educational  High School  College Future Generations ► Civilian Uses ► Military Uses

► Price per unit -- $ ► Expect to sell ► Selling price -- $ ► Net Profit -- $250, ► Money would be made with future generations Return on Investment

Play by Play ► CDR  Thursday, 9 October ► Milestone 1  Thursday, 30 October  Each subsystem running independently  Processor fully running code beyond NOP ► Milestone 2  Thursday, 20 November  Layout finished  Build maze  Test final code ► Expo  Thursday, 4 December  All done

Play by Play (cont)

Division of Labor ► Kirk Acklin  Sensor Design and Floating Construction ► Scott Carpenter  Tech Writer and Programmer ► Douglas Johnson  Locomotion System and Floating Construction ► Mike Li  Processor Implementation

Risk/Contingency Plans ► ► Fall behind on schedule   Descope non-critical project functions   Keep all designs at simplest level and add difficulty only upon completion ► ► Much of the technology is unfamiliar   If we fall behind on one, keep pushing the rest ahead   If we’re unable to figure it out one way, try other methods ► ► Issues with RF link   Permanent tether ► ► Issues with recording the path   Send data over RF link to store on laptop ► ► Unable to achieve battery power source   Use tethered power source ► ► Fail PDR   Staple a nice bribe to the user’s manual

Wrap Up ► The Project/Objectives ► Component Layout ► Cost ► Marketability ► Play by Play progress ► Division of Labor ► Risk/Contingency Plans

QUESTIONS???