Project

# Title Team Members TA Documents Sponsor
20 PV Automatic Golf Ball Retriever
Area Award: Robotics
 Diyang Qiu
Jonathan Hall
Kevin Dluzen
 Alexander Suchko design_document0.pdf
final_paper0.pdf
presentation0.presentation
proposal0.pdf
video0.mov
We want to build a Photovoltaic Automatic Golf Ball Retrieving Robot to be used for personal or commercial use. Specifically, this project will be tailored to the uses of driving ranges seeking an economical and environmentally friendly solution to the collection of the golf balls. In many driving ranges around the nation, time and money is wasted on retrieving balls especially during off hours. This robotic unit will eliminate the need for an attendant to be hired directly to retrieve the balls. Also, this unit will run off solar power which will be collected while in use and throughout the day. The Robotic unit will be able to sense the white golf balls (contrasted to the green surrounding) and pick them using a novel mechanism. We will use optical detection to guide the robot directly toward the uncollected golf balls thus improving efficiency of current robotic collection systems. The unit will be able to detect it has reached max capacity and will return the balls to the user. This unit is powered by a battery which is recharged using the solar array.

Prosthetic Control Board

Caleb Albers, Daniel Lee

Prosthetic Control Board

Featured Project

Psyonic is a local start-up that has been working on a prosthetic arm with an impressive set of features as well as being affordable. The current iteration of the main hand board is functional, but has limitations in computational power as well as scalability. In lieu of this, Psyonic wishes to switch to a production-ready chip that is an improvement on the current micro controller by utilizing a more modern architecture. During this change a few new features would be added that would improve safety, allow for easier debugging, and fix some issues present in the current implementation. The board is also slated to communicate with several other boards found in the hand. Additionally we are looking at the possibility of improving the longevity of the product with methods such as conformal coating and potting.

Core Functionality:

Replace microcontroller, change connectors, and code software to send control signals to the motor drivers

Tier 1 functions:

Add additional communication interfaces (I2C), and add temperature sensor.

Tier 2 functions:

Setup framework for communication between other boards, and improve board longevity.

Overview of proposed changes by affected area:

Microcontroller/Architecture Change:

Teensy -> Production-ready chip (most likely ARM based, i.e. STM32 family of processors)

Board:

support new microcontroller, adding additional communication interfaces (I2C), change to more robust connector. (will need to design pcb for both main control as well as finger sensors)

Sensor:

Addition of a temperature sensor to provide temperature feedback to the microcontroller.

Software:

change from Arduino IDE to new toolchain. (ARM has various base libraries such as mbed and can be configured for use with eclipse to act as IDE) Lay out framework to allow communication from other boards found in other parts of the arm.