Week 9 - Visual Development, Prototype troubleshooting, and Case Studies

Week 9 - Visual Development, Prototype troubleshooting, and Case Studies

Visual Development

Based on the feedback of the concept tests from the following weeks, I have sketched out multiple sketches. I've also managed to create a very simple 3D model of the prototype's design.

I aim to create a simple wooden exterior that has a hollow interior to hide and shield the components of the prototype. This design for the visuals is not final as it is only for the prototype design.

Prototype Troubleshooting

After testing the power supply repeatedly for the prototype, I've come to the conclusion that the L298N Motor Shield was undersupplying power throughout the entire prototype. Therefore after testing 9 separate other Motor Shields of the same model I found that 3/9 of the Motor Shields are not defective so i decided to use those.

Hooking up the Motor Shield to the prototype provided the perfect amount of power to supply the components of the prototype. This means that every part of the prototype works and runs well now. So far the latest appearance and outcome of the prototype skeleton looks like the images below.

The prototype is currently missing its power supply and I'm finding a solution on how to attach the large battery picture below into the shape.

Currently, I'm using a power supply to directly supply 12V's of power to the prototype, the optimal and perfect output for the prototype's components.

Therefore I will need to spend additional time to research, model and print out a 3D battery holder for the battery that allows it to be easily remove and refit into the prototype whenever necessary.

Additional Case Studies

Throughout the week I have spend considerable amount of time looking into how other fabricated physical artefacts worked. I have done 2 Case Studies of 2 different projects with different features that I will list down and elaborate more below.

Ollie

Ollie is a robot just like Buggy that is mean't to spread positivity and joy around the workplace. The only different is Ollie flies and therefore must be accounted for weight and the lack of any proper motors beyond motor-servos.

What I find interesting about Ollie is the fact that its very simple and is in a way quite similar to my prototype, I plan to use the Electret Microphone to add an additional feature just like Ollie to give it an extra feature if possible.

Self Reflection - Visual Development

Being that the design of the visuals is at its early stages, I'm inclined to say that the 3D modelled design is a bit lacking in refinement. Therefore I have decided that after sketching and modelling to reference more designs online in my free time to improve on the design.

Self Reflection - Prototype

Finally after weeks of testing the power supply I've found out it was the issue with the motor shield. The issue with the Motor Shield was that it was a cheap product and was made in large batches with not much quality to it. In the end I just swapped the old Motor Shield with a new one and the entire prototype finally works as intended.

There is another problem however, and that is the question of power supply, at the moment of testing the Motor Shield I was using a power supply plug directly connected to a wall socket instead of using a portable power supply like a battery. I've secured a new battery and is currently 3D modelling a dedicated battery holder with a spring for the new battery.

I managed to short circuit the Motor Shield that I was using by accidentally swapping the negative and positive wires while testing, I will need to replace it with a new Motor Shield.

Beyond that I think I should reference additional robot designs and codes to better improve the behaviour and appearance of Buggy.

Self Reflection - Additional Case Studies

Finally after weeks of testing the power supply I've found out it was the issue with the motor shield. The issue with the Motor Shield was that it was a cheap product and was made in large batches with not much quality to it. In the end I just swapped the old Motor Shield with a new one and the entire prototype finally works as intended.