Networking Cars Log

Weekly Log for Networking Modules

By Curtis Hoffman and Deep Jyoti
Project Page

Week 1: 9/4/17 - 9/10/17

• Created wiki page and log.
  
• Changed project from building a quadcopter to focusing on creating an effective docking mechanism between two vehicles.
  
• Came up with some potential objectives and challenges.
  

Week 2: 9/11/17 - 9/17/17

• Researched controlling electromagnets with Arduinos, I2C communication protocols, creating an Arduino controlled battery charger, and bootlegging store bought remote controlled cars to be run using an Arduino. (Deep, 4 Hours)
  
• Contacted Prof. Zhang about using Pi Cars for this project. (Deep)
  
• Research latching methods and weatherproof methods for data transfer. (Curtis, 2 Hrs)
  
• Research methods for two vehicles to communicate relative location with each other. Also investigated existing implementations of this idea. (Curtis, 2 Hrs)
  
• Discussed ideas for designing the latch and whether or not to use actual motorized cars.

Week 3: 9/18/17 - 9/24/17

• Research Vehicle to Vehicle Communication (V2V), Serial Commuication Interface, Self-driving truck platooning. (Curtis, 3 Hrs)(Deep, 2 Hours)
  
• Met with Professor Zhang for an introduction of Pi Car. (Both, .5 Hrs)
  
• Research Pi Car and Rasberry Pi.
  
• Researched IR communication (Deep 3 Hours)
  

Week 4: 9/24/17 - 10/01/17

• Finalized Gantt Chart (Both 2 hour)
  
• Began working on budget (Curtis 2 hours)

Week 5: 10/01/17 - 10/08/17

• Completed Arduino and Rasberry Pi pre-reqs: Creating a simple circuit to light a LED for Arduino and accessing the web on the pi (Deep 15 mins)
  
• Created design for IR sensor placement on car (Deep 1 hour)
  
• Built simple circuit with ultrasonic sensor and push button to begin testing code (Deep 1 hour)
  
• Created detailed circuit schematic for two Arduinos with ultrasonic sensors communicating with each other and found to code online to operate them (Deep 1 hour)
  
• Submitted first items list for purchase (Both 1 hour)
• Uploaded Gantt chart

Week 6: 10/08/17 - 10/15/17

• Ordered IR receiver-transmitter kit and other parts (Curtis)
  
• Acquired signatures for Prof. Zhang's lab (Curtis)

Week 7: 10/15/17 - 10/22/17

• IR receiver-transmitter kit arrived
  
• Assembling the kit (Both 2 hours)
  
• Research Required Specs and Operational Recommendations (Curtis)

Week 8: 10/22/17 - 10/29/17

• Work on killswitch for Pi Car
  
• Test how Pi Car speed controller communicates data
• Began working on using the Arduino as an intermediary between the remote and the car. Essentially, the Arduino takes in the remote control data from the receiver, transforms it into data that can be accepted by the speed controller, and outputs that new signal. (Both 5 hours)
  
• Made plans for multiple "kill switches": 1. Stop the car when someone throttles the remote outside a range. 2. An additional IR sensor on board that stops the car when it is about 3 inches away from any obstacles in front (the car will be set to move very slowly and allow the car to back up). 3. Turning off the remote (The only true kill switch that shuts down the car). (Both 1 hour)

Week 9: 10/29/17 - 11/05/17

• Worked on the two tasks described above. Circuit for the interface is complete. Wrapping up the code for both direction and the motor signals. (Both 2 hour)
  
• Need to set up a mount for the Arduino and the breadboard and get batteries for the Arduino battery pack.
  
• Once that is done, set up the second "kill switch" with the IR sensor.
  
• After all the preliminaries are set, we can connect our IR sensor/transmitter on board and test it with a stationary IR led.

Week 10: 11/05/17 - 11/12/17

• Break Week

Week 11: 11/12/17 - 11/19/17

• Finished testing IR sensor/transmitter (Both 3 hours)
  
• Wrote code to send data from IR sensor to car (Curtis 3 hours)
  
• Began working on writing algorithm to automate car to find the right angle to return on the stationary base (Deep 2 hours)
  
• Will set up time to have TA 3d print mount for car by end of this week
• Will fully set up and begin testing car with everything mounted by the end of this week

Current Plan, End of October

Circuit Schematic

File:Networking Pi Car.pptx