Project :: ECE 445 - Senior Design Laboratory

Project

#	Title	Team Members	TA	Documents	Sponsor
2	Midi Sequencer with Linear Motorized Potentiometers	Devin Alexander Martin Lamping Nathan Zychal	Christopher Horn	other4.pdf other5.pdf other6.pdf presentation1.pdf proposal1.pdf
	Nathan Zychal (nzycha2) Devin Alexander (dbalexa2) Martin Lamping (mdl3) Skot Wiedmann offered to mentor us. General Description: A sequencer that provides musicians with a new, fast way to prototype melodies and chords. User inputs will be used to control sixteen potentiometers position. The potentiometer position and voltage (read by an ADC) correspond to frequencies (output in MIDI data). Discrete positions will be encoded so that the potentiometers physically move to a position of the nearest frequency corresponding to a note. Another quantization parameter could allow for the selection of notes in a certain key (e.x. C Major, F Minor, Chromatic, etc.). These quantization parameters give additional user feedback to compose the melody. Project Uniqueness: Our project is an innovation to a pre-existing idea. We will add motorized potentiometers to control sequences of notes that can be played either sequentially or together as chords. Currently the market does not offer a similarly configured device. Technical Overview: The project will include but is not limited to 16 motorized linear potentiometers. Rotary encoders and push buttons, will set initial pitches, set root notes of a key, and set the scale. Relevant setting information will be shown on an LCD display. Each motor will be paired with a motor controller (dual H-bridge design). The sequencer will need to have a specific voltage (depending on the logic), additionally each motor will need to be supplied 12-15 Volts. Sound will output when the MIDI output of the sequencer is input to either a hardware synthesizer MIDI Input or a software synthesizer in a DAW (Digital Audio Workstation). The clock frequency of the sequencer could be set locally or by an external device. When not generating its own clock signal, it would have to be synced with any external devices or DAWs via a MIDI input on the sequencer to maintain the same tempo to avoid synchronization issues.

Title

Team Members

Documents

Sponsor

Midi Sequencer with Linear Motorized Potentiometers

Devin Alexander
Martin Lamping
Nathan Zychal

Christopher Horn

other4.pdf
other5.pdf
other6.pdf
presentation1.pdf
proposal1.pdf

Nathan Zychal (nzycha2)
Devin Alexander (dbalexa2)
Martin Lamping (mdl3)

Skot Wiedmann offered to mentor us.

General Description:
A sequencer that provides musicians with a new, fast way to prototype melodies and chords. User inputs will be used to control sixteen potentiometers position. The potentiometer position and voltage (read by an ADC) correspond to frequencies (output in MIDI data). Discrete positions will be encoded so that the potentiometers physically move to a position of the nearest frequency corresponding to a note. Another quantization parameter could allow for the selection of notes in a certain key (e.x. C Major, F Minor, Chromatic, etc.). These quantization parameters give additional user feedback to compose the melody.

Project Uniqueness:
Our project is an innovation to a pre-existing idea. We will add motorized potentiometers to control sequences of notes that can be played either sequentially or together as chords. Currently the market does not offer a similarly configured device.
Technical Overview:

The project will include but is not limited to 16 motorized linear potentiometers. Rotary encoders and push buttons, will set initial pitches, set root notes of a key, and set the scale. Relevant setting information will be shown on an LCD display. Each motor will be paired with a motor controller (dual H-bridge design). The sequencer will need to have a specific voltage (depending on the logic), additionally each motor will need to be supplied 12-15 Volts.

Sound will output when the MIDI output of the sequencer is input to either a hardware synthesizer MIDI Input or a software synthesizer in a DAW (Digital Audio Workstation). The clock frequency of the sequencer could be set locally or by an external device. When not generating its own clock signal, it would have to be synced with any external devices or DAWs via a MIDI input on the sequencer to maintain the same tempo to avoid synchronization issues.

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# Autonomous Sailboat

Team Members:

- Riley Baker (rileymb3)

- Lorenzo Pérez (lr12)

- Arthur Liang (chianl2)

# Problem

WRSC (World Robotic Sailing Championship) is an autonomous sailing competition that aims at stimulating the development of autonomous marine robotics. In order to make autonomous sailing more accessible, some scholars have created a generic educational design. However, these models utilize expensive and scarce autopilot systems such as the Pixhawk Flight controller.

# Solution

The goal of this project is to make an affordable, user- friendly RC sailboat that can be used as a means of learning autonomous sailing on a smaller scale. The Autonomous Sailboat will have dual mode capability, allowing the operator to switch from manual to autonomous mode where the boat will maintain its current compass heading. The boat will transmit its sensor data back to base where the operator can use it to better the autonomous mode capability and keep track of the boat’s position in the water. Amateur sailors will benefit from the “return to base” functionality provided by the autonomous system.

# Solution Components

## On-board

### Sensors

Pixhawk - Connect GPS and compass sensors to microcontroller that allows for a stable state system within the autonomous mode. A shaft decoder that serves as a wind vane sensor that we plan to attach to the head of the mast to detect wind direction and speed. A compass/accelerometer sensor and GPS to detect the position of the boat and direction of travel.

### Actuators

2 servos - one winch servo that controls the orientation of the mainsail and one that controls that orientation of the rudder

### Communication devices

5 channel 2.4 GHz receiver - A receiver that will be used to select autonomous or manual mode and will trigger orders when in manual mode.

5 channel 2.4 GHz transmitter - A transmitter that will have the ability to switch between autonomous and manual mode. It will also transfer servos movements when in manual mode.

### Power

LiPo battery

## Ground control

Microcontroller - A microcontroller that records sensor output and servo settings for radio control and autonomous modes. Software on microcontroller processes the sensor input and determines the optimum rudder and sail winch servo settings needed to maintain a prescribed course for the given wind direction.

# Criterion For Success

1. Implement dual mode capability

2. Boat can maintain a given compass heading after being switched to autonomous mode and incorporates a “return to base” feature that returns the sailboat back to its starting position

3. Boat can record and transmit servo, sensor, and position data back to base

Project

Autonomous Sailboat

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