Project: Autonomous vehicle simulation

This was done in Microsoft Robotics Developer Studio using the SPL (simple programming language).

The sensor were already coded for us. We just had to initialize it correctly to link it to the correct device for the device to be able to use the sensor information.

During the execution of the program, we found out that there were race-conditions among the sensors since it was often the case when > 2 sensor would be inserting their data into their respective variables. But, since there only exist 1 communication channel between the simulated entity and the computer, which resulted in all information being lost and none of the variables being updated. Hence, we used a mutex (token) between the various sensors to ensure that the communication channel was not overloaded

Above video shows how overtaking was simulated after taking into account an on-going vehicle. Initially, when the car is overtaking, the on-going was too near for the entire overtaking procedure to be complete. Hence, the car retreated back to its lane to retry the overtaking after a certain duration

Above video shows an up-close on how overtaking was executed

Above video shows the entire overtaking procedure without the concern of an on-going vehicle

Above video shows the most simplistic approach to overtaking which inspired all the above mentioned ways of overtaking

Project: Compartmental piano

Motive

Motivation: 

To learn to play the piano is a daunting task due to the required skill needed even before a simple nursery rhyme can be played. These skills include music theory, finger positioning, identifying notes and many more. We wanted to remove this barrier so that the joy of playing a piano could reach to more people regardless of whether they are masters at the craft or just want to impress their peers and family members. Let’s make piano learning enjoyable and easy.

Novelty:
Currently, in the market it is very rare and close to impossible to find a piano that enable the user to swap octaves so that they don’t find move their fingers too much to play a decent song they hear on the radio. Our product is able to fill this void by providing the user the ability to swap, add or remove octaves from their piano so as to customize it to be able to play their songs with ease. Beginners can choose to learn simple songs over just an octave. Only when the user is ready to move on to the next level, he/she can obtain the next set of octaves to begin advanced piano skills. User can configure octaves placement and focuses on desired octaves.

Impact:
Flexibility of learning the piano on the go. User can choose to play certain octaves. Because of the flexibility, this electronic piano becomes portable and compartmental.

Circuit diagrams

Figure 1: Tone generator subsystem

Figure 2: Volume control sub-system

Figure 3: Small portion of the whole system being integrated

















Design Outline
This has two systems, which means we need two power sources for the systems to work simultaneously. The tone generator needs a 3.0 V for power supply, and the Volume control needs a 13.0 V for power supply.

The Tone generator subsystem consists of
          1. 2 Resistors to cut down the 3 volt source by ½ to supply voltage for the above mentioned resistors [This is the connection found between R3 and R4]
          2. 1 Operational amplifier (Opamp) is used as a frequency generator, which in turn will produce different tones, depending on button being pressed.
          3. Various resistors for the various tones
          4. 1 capacitor for the generation of square war
          5. Push-buttons
                    a. 5 Red
                    b. 5 Blue
                    c. 5 Yellow
                    d. Rest are greens

The volume control subsystem consist of
          1. 2 Resistors that define the middle level from which the high and low logic level can be defined [They are denoted as R13 and R14 in Figure 2]
          2. 2 Resistors to cut down the 13 volt source by ½ to supply voltage for the above mentioned resistors [This is the connection found between R11 and R12]
          3. 1 Operational amplifier (Opamp) is used as a comparator to determine the output level with respect to the input
          4. 1 trimmer to change the level of loudness [R14 in Figure 2]
          5. 13 volt source to ensure that the variation made by the trimmer is noticeable by the human ear.

Photographs of your prototype
Stage 1

Stage 2

Stage 3

Digital art: N-sided peg structure

 

This structure of the selected yellow piece shown in the image above is repeated through-out the length to form a chain. Each yellow structure is made up of many sub-structures which which include

• N-sided shape of form the top and bottom
• Side walls to join the top and bottom to form a solid
• Protruding cylinder from the bottom to form the peg
• Attaching a sphere at the end of the protruding cylinder to form the ball of the ball-socket joint

The component directly below the yellow structure thus need to have a sphere caved-out form the top plane to form the socket to form the ball-socket joint

Digital art: The journey of articulation

Digital art: Triangular tessellation

I had learn that tessellation can only be done on shapes that have the sum of exterior angles to be multiples of 180