objective: provide information necessary to relate ...edge.rit.edu/edge/p14226/public/planning &...

Project Readiness Package Rev 7/22/11

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ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION:

Project Name (tentative): RC Camera Car

Project Number, if known: R13904

Preferred Start/End Quarter in Senior Design:

Faculty Champion:

Name Dept. Email Phone

Dr. Becker-Gomez (Possible) CE [email protected] (585) 475-5292

Dr. Hopkins (Possible) EE [email protected] (585) 475-6640

Other Support, if known:

Name Dept. Email Phone

Dr. Melton CE [email protected] (585) 475-7698

Dr. Pow CIS [email protected] (585) 475-7323

Dr. Walter ME [email protected] (585) 475-2925

Mr. Slack EE [email protected] (585) 475-5105

Dr. Hopkins EE [email protected] (585) 475-6640

Project “Guide” if known:

Primary Customer, if known (name, phone, email):

o Andy Mastronardi; (512) 895-6447; [email protected]

Sponsor(s):

Name/Organization Contact Info. Type & Amount of Support

Committed

Mr. Smith [email protected]. Student Initiated MSD; $500-1000

Freescale Semiconductor [email protected] Publicity; Electronic Components

Fall/Winter Fall/Spring Winter/Spring


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PROJECT OVERVIEW:

The world of consumer DIY electronics has

recently experienced an astounding growth as

affordable electronics and internet guides have

allowed interested people to build amazing creations.

This sort of opportunity is what pulls new people into

disciplines like engineering, which is becoming a very

important issue in our economy. This presents a

unique challenge to both academic organizations and

businesses to take on projects that showcase the sort

of ingenuity and potential that can be produced using

technology and talent. These need to be projects that

can draw public interest.

The project initiated here focuses on utilizing

the multidisciplinary aspect of senior design to make a high visibility project that can be displayed at

multiple events, including Imagine RIT and the Freescale Cup. The idea is to create a RC car that can be

driven remotely from a first person perspective around a course of unspecified shape. The car is to be

outfitted with a microcontroller that transmits driving data wirelessly from a remote console, along with a

wireless camera system that transmits visuals from

the car. The driving setup is to mimic a realistic

driving experience (i.e. pedals, steering wheel,

levers) in which a participant can drive the vehicle

without looking directly at the car at all. This

project involves a variety of electronic controls,

data transmission, and fabrication challenges that

should allow one driven senior design group to

make a working pilot model. The project could

then be extended to produce a family of future

projects in which different courses, cars, and

design competitions could be made to further the

goal of showcasing the innovation at RIT.

Similar driving setups have been accomplished as models for what can be achieved, but little

exists in the way of documentation as to what was done in their creation. Links to such projects can be

found below. This ambiguity allows for unrestrained creativity on the part of the design group in

accomplishing a similar objective and expanding it to new areas. Currently, there have been projects such

as that going on in the computer engineering department for autonomous vehicle control through the

Freescale Cup competition, so the know-how exists to accomplish the objective. From a component

perspective, affordable wireless cameras, microcontrollers, computer driving setups, and RC car chassis

are available that can allow for this objective to be accomplished with only the budget set aside for

student-initiated projects. On top of this, Freescale Semiconductors in interested in the project and is

willing to donate a number of components necessary for its implementation in exchange for

demonstrations at the 2014 Freescale Cup and Imagine RIT. Together with some dedicated engineering

students and some help from faculty, this project has the potential to exceed expectations. With additional

funding and increased interest, this project could change the game.

Links:

http://www.break.com/index/video-game-controls-rc-car-1899310/

http://www.instructables.com/id/Car-No02-Steering-Wheel-Drive-RC-Car-with-Arduin/

http://blog.makezine.com/2010/

08/07/real-rc-cars-meet-racing-

arcade-act/

http://memsblog.files.wordpress.com/

2011/04/freescale-cup-autonomous-

car-chassis.jpg

http://www.break.com/index/video-game-controls-rc-car-1899310/

http://www.instructables.com/id/Car-No02-Steering-Wheel-Drive-RC-Car-with-Arduin/


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DETAILED PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

Customer Needs and Objectives: Established by Tim Southerton based on project description and

feedback through DPM; Priority established by Dr. Gomes

RC Camera Car Design Competition

Legend

Customer Needs and Objectives

Category Objective Desig.

Priority Objective Customer Objective Description

Fun to Drive F

3 F5 driven remotely over reasonable dist.

Durable Const. D

3 D1 robust component setups / fab.

Easy to Use U

3 U1 controls intuitive for average user

Entertainment E

3 U2 driver needs to see what is going on

Scoped for MSD S

3 E1 safe to bystanders and user

Priority Value

3 E3 high visibility

High Importance 3

3 S2 includes multidisciplinary aspects

Avg. Importance 2

2 F1 fast enough to be exciting

Min. Importance 1

2 F2 authentic driving experience and feel

2 F3 lasts for a reasonable period of time

2 D2 modular, replaceable components

2 U3 drivability manageable within course

2 S1 manageable budget

1 E2 professional appearance

1 F4 can make it though course obstacles

1 F6 no manual reset required

Function Tree Diagram: Established by Tim Southerton based on feedback from DPM


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Function Structure Diagram: Established by Tim Southerton based on feedback from DPM

Potential Concepts: The project scope is reasonably constrained based on the project description, but

there are a great deal of options available for expanding the project based on staffing. Below are some

general areas that allow for concept selection, but more options are listed in "Other Information."

Co

nst

rain

ed

Function Meet Console

Power Budget Allow User Usage

Hold Car

Together Stay Within Budget Look Professional

Mea

ns

DC Power Brick

Use a Steering

Wheel /Pedal

Controller

Depends on

Chassis

Geometry

Depends on Component

Evaluation

Depends on Chassis

Geometry and

Components

Function

Involve

Multiple

Disciplines

Demonstrate

Innovation

Use DIY

Components Control Movement Transmit Visuals

Mea

ns Depends on

Final Project

Scope

Depends on

Availability

See Other

Components

Microcontroller, 900

MHz RF, Steering Wheel

/ Pedal USB

900 MHz 200mW

TX/RX Camera,

Analog Input TV

Co

nce

pt

Function Constrain Car

Travel Area

Keep Car from

Getting Stuck

Switch Car

Components Move Car Chassis

Meet Car Power

Budgets

A

Mea

ns

Tape line course Stabilization

booms

Padded

electronics

enclosure

Freescale Cup Chassis

with H-Bridge LiPo Battery

B

Indoor course

with mech.

challenges

Wheels bigger

than car chassis

Covering body

piece

Alternative Chassis with

H-Bridge Ni-MH Battery

C Indoor course

with terrain Inflatable bladder

Glue

components to

chassis


with ESC (TEU-104BK) Ni-MH Battery

D 4th floor tables

and chairs Bumper system

Components

bolted on


with H-Bridge Li-Ion Battery


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Pugh Analysis: Based on the "Potential Concepts," a Pugh Analysis was done by Tim Southerton to

ensure the project would allow for multiple designs. The concepts were compared to the

demonstrated inspiration model from the "Project Overview - Links," with relative estimates made

from the components used in the video. Future revisions could be made by the team to maximize the

score of the chosen concept, but this evaluation is strongly component driven, which will be

significantly biased toward sponsor supply.

Project #R13904 RC Camera Car

Concepts

Selection Criteria Benchmark A B C D

Robustness 0 + + - 0

Cost 0 + - 0 +

Usage Time 0 + - 0 +

Ease of Replacement 0 + 0 - +

Drivability 0 + + + +

Appearance 0 - + 0 0

Diversity of Terrain 0 - + + 0

Collision Opportunity 0 0 - - -

Bystander Safety 0 - 0 0 -

Downtime 0 + - - 0

Expandability 0 + 0 + -

Sum + 's (2 pts) 0 7 4 3 4

Sum 0's (1 pts) 11 1 3 4 4

Sum -'s (0 pts) 0 3 4 4 3

Rank 11 15 11 10 12

Engineering Metrics and Specifications: Established by Tim Southerton as estimates using available

data for Arduino components; Final specs may vary based on components provided by Freescale

Semiconductor, which are still not fully known

Function Metrics Direction Ideal Target Marginal Units

Move Car Chassis Travel Speed | | 0 to 10 - 0 to 1 ft/sec

Additional Payload ↑ 1.2 - 0.5 lb

Control Movement Control Range ↑ 200 100 10 ft

Control Delay ↓ Not Almost Not Somewhat Noticeable

Steering Ratio (I/O) | | - 12:1 to 20:1 - nd

Throttle Travel | | 2.5 - 0.5 in

Forward / Reverse Target Yes Yes Yes Yes/No

Transmit Visuals Camera Range ↑ 200 100 10 ft

Camera Delay ↓ Not Almost Not Somewhat Noticeable

Framerate ↑ 30 20 15 fps

Resolution | | VGA - CGA pixels

Meet Power Req.'s See Budgets Target Yes Yes Yes Yes/No

Car Run Time ↑ 1 - 0.25 hours

Meet Constraints See Constraints Target Yes Yes Yes Yes/No


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Constraints: Established by Tim Southerton as estimates with feedback from DPM

Function Metrics Direction Ideal Target Marginal Units

Constrain Car Travel Area User Stays on Course ↑ 100 90 80 % of Laps

Allow User Usage Learning Curve Time ↓ 60 120 300 sec

Hold Car Together Car Survives Collisions ↑ 10 8 5 Collisions

Switch Car Components Car Downtime after Damage ↓ 0 2 24 hours

Stay Within Budget Total Cost ↓ 500 750 1000 $

Look Professional Positive Visual Inspection ↑ 100 90 50 % of Users

Keep Car from Getting Stuck Manual Reset Required ↓ 0 1 2 Resets / Hour

Involve Multiple Disciplines Different Majors Involved ↑ 3 2 1 Majors

Demonstrate Innovation Event Entry ↑ 3 2 1 Events

Use DIY Components Product Expandable Target Yes Yes Yes Yes/No

Project Deliverables:

o RC Camera Car - Working prototype for Freescale Cup / Imagine RIT

o Control Console - Working prototype for Freescale Cup / Imagine RIT

o Driving Course - Testing setup for prototypes

Budget Estimate: Established by Tim Southerton using Arduino components as a reference; Total cost

will vary considerably depending on donated parts from Freescale Semiconductor and elsewhere

Estimated Major Items from Each Concept

Item Quantity Unit Price Total Price Comments

nd # $ $ nd

Microcontroller * 2 25.00 50.00 TBD Estimate

Wireless Chip * 2 50.00 100.00 TBD Estimate

Wireless Camera + TX/RX 1 55.00 55.00 900 MHz 200mW RC Camera

Motor Controller * 1 20.00 20.00 TBD Estimate

Steering / Throttle Controller 1 100.00 100.00 Logitech MOMO Setup, Probably Used

Battery w/ Connectors 2 20.00 40.00 2S 20C 5000 mAh Turnigy LiPo

Battery Charger 1 25.00 25.00 Turnigy Accucel-6

Assorted Other Components 1 50.00 50.00 Fasteners, Extra RC Parts, etc.

Console Desk * 1 30.00 30.00 Component Mounting Area

LCD TV * 1 125.00 125.00 TBD Estimate

Chair * 1 50.00 50.00 Adjustable for User

Freescale Cup Chassis * 1 80.00 80.00 Frame, Wheels, Motors, Servo, Board

Course Budget 1 100.00 100.00 TBD Estimate

Total Cost (* Possibly Donated Components) 825.00

Intellectual Property (IP) Considerations: (N/A)


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Risk Management: Established by Tim Southerton based on previous experience with robotics

projects; Accepted as reasonable with DPM feedback

Risk Cause Effect L S I Action to

Mitigate

Action to

Remediate Owner

1

Car does not

Meet Power

Budget

Multiple

Component

Draw

Does Not Run,

Short Run

Time

1 2 2 Car Power

Requirements

Purchase

Additional Batteries N/A

2 Project runs

Over Budget

Multiple

Components,

Limited Funds

Project Not

Completed,

Poor Product

1 2 2 Cost Analysis Search for

Additional Funding N/A

3

Electronics

Overlook

Functionality

Multiple

Component

Integration,

First Prototype

Missing

Functionality 1 3 3

MCU

Flowchart

Mechanical

Solution N/A

4 Car Payload

Excessive

Multiple

Components

Added to

Chassis

Poor Battery

Life, Slow

Vehicle,

Overheating

1 2 2 Weight Test

Additional Heat

Dissipation, More

Powerful Drivetrain

N/A

Feasibility Analysis: Completed by Tim Southerton based on "Risk Management" items; May need to

be extended by team depending on knowledge of specific component areas

Feasibility Analysis Summary

# Analysis Info Source(s) Type

1.) Car Power Requirements Datasheets, Instruction Manuals Rough Battery Size Estimation

2.) Cost Analysis Vendor Sites, Experience Rough Overall Cost Estimation

3.) MCU Flowchart Objective Components General Electrical Task Flow

4.) Weight Test Physical Measurement Weigh Components and Compare

# Assumptions Feasibility Solution Date

1.) Microcontroller / Wireless Chip / Wireless Camera

Setup; Full Power Draw Possible

5000 mAh Battery

Capacity 4/20

2.) Major Parts: USB Controller, Microcontrollers, Batteries,

Camera, Screen, Car, Desk, Chair, Course Possible Approx. $825 4/21

3.) Overall Approach Fixed; Camera Transmission Separate Possible Reasonable for MCU 4/27

4.) Similar Components Weight Approx.; Freescale Car can

Move Sufficiently Possible Reasonable Payload 4/24


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o Car Power Requirements Analysis: Established by Tim Southerton using similar Arduino

components; One normal RC battery sufficient for at least 1 hour of run time

Primary Power Budget Maximum Values

Quantity: Item Voltage Current Power Quantity Total

Units: nd V A W # W

Target Standard Servo 5 1 5 1 5.00

1 DC Motor 7.2 2 14.4 2 28.80

hrs Microcontroller 7.2 0.03 0.216 1 0.22

Wireless Chip 3.3 0.1 0.33 1 0.33

Target Wireless Camera 7.2 0.08 0.576 1 0.58

35.70 Wireless Camera TX 7.2 0.028 0.2016 1 0.20

W-hrs Motor Controller 7.2 0.08 0.576 1 0.58

Total 35.70

Battery Power Maximum Values

Quantity: Item Voltage Capacity Power Quantity Total

Units: nd V A-hr W-hrs # W-hrs

2S 20C LiPo 8.4 5 42 1 42

o Cost Analysis: See Budget Estimate; Within accepted bounds, depending on additional funding

o Weight Test: Completed by Tim Southerton by weighing similar components; Proposed

peripherals will be well within payload capabilities of an average RC car

Item Weight Weight Comments

nd g lb nd

Microcontroller 25 0.06 Comparison Board

Wireless Chip 55 0.12 Comparison Board

Wireless Camera 20 0.04 RC Camera and Transmitter

Wireless TX 18 0.04 RC Transmitter

Battery w/ Connectors 325 0.72 3000 mAh Ni-MH

Freescale Cup Chassis 510 1.12 Frame, Wheels, Motors, Servo, Control Board

% Rel. to Total Weight

Total Weight 953 2.10 100%

Total Payload 443 0.98 46%

Freescale Chassis Weight 1370 3.02 144%

Freescale Chassis Payload 860 1.90 90%


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o MCU Flowchart: Established by Tim Southerton based on feedback from DPM; May need to be

expanded by team depending on knowledge of specific component areas

Other Project Items: Addressed During DPM

Tim Southerton and Brian Grosso (ME) are interested in continuing this project in MSD Fall 2131

Contact Information: [email protected], [email protected], 570-470-5663

Console power should come from a 120 VAC powered PSU

No power budgets need to be done on the components involved

Specifications simplified to be open, measureable, and useful for evaluating deliverable

Console / car combination items (steering, throttle, etc.) addressed as a unit to reflect

Project estimates currently done using Arduino components

Freescale support moves project toward using donated modules

Used in Imagine RIT exhibit 2014 along with Freescale Cup car

Build relationship with Freescale Semiconductor through component usage

Dr. DeBartolo may have a racing seat for use in the project's console

Lots of additional items / concepts available to specifically aim the project:

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]


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Addition of a optical timing gate for use with multiple competitions

Keeps track of and displays vehicle lap time

Extra EE staffing

Reverse camera for when the vehicle needs to correct itself / racing

Extra EE / ME Staffing

Parking Spaces for course to Simulate Real World Driving

Extra ME Staffing

Incorporate line following to stay in bounds

Extra CE Staffing

Two cars that race on the course

Extra Staffing / Funding

Laser tag with LED counter

Extra Staffing / Funding

Project must be scaled toward available staffing:

Mechanical Engineering components:

Component mounting, course design, console design, car body design

Electrical Engineering components:

MCU selection, battery choice, optional time keeping optical gate for racing

Computer Engineering components:

Freescale component integration, software and coding

Project not adhering to Freescale Cup rules

Added project that will be run as a demo following competition

An additional group will be needed to develop a Freescale Cup car for 2014

Project metric difficulty will be strongly dependent on component availability

Will not be determined until Freescale components are provided

More Information

https://edge.rit.edu/edge/R13904/public/Tim%20S%20-

%20RC%20Camera%20Car/RC%20Camera%20Car%20Design%20Competition

Continuation Project Information: (N/A)

STUDENT STAFFING:

Skills Checklist: See Appendix A; Verified by: Dr. DeBartolo (ME), Mr. Slack (EE), and Dr. Becker-

Gomez (CE); Ranking established by Tim Southerton as an estimate

Anticipated Staffing Levels by Discipline:

Discipline How

Many? Anticipated Skills Needed (Bold Skills Most Important)

EE 2

Circuit Design, Power Systems, System Analysis, Programming,

Microcontroller Selection / Application, Wi-Fi Protocol, Component

Selection, Communication System Front End Design, Embedded

Software Design / Implementation

ME 2 3D CAD, Statics / Dynamics Analysis, Basic Machining, Specifying

Machine Elements, Robotics

CE 2

Software for Microcontrollers, Device Programming, Programming,

Signal Processing, Interfacing Transducers and Actuators to

Microcontrollers, Wireless Networks, Robotics, Embedded and Real-

Time Systems, Digital Image Processing

https://edge.rit.edu/edge/R13904/public/Tim%20S%20-%20RC%20Camera%20Car/RC%20Camera%20Car%20Design%20Competition

https://edge.rit.edu/edge/R13904/public/Tim%20S%20-%20RC%20Camera%20Car/RC%20Camera%20Car%20Design%20Competition


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OTHER RESOURCES ANTICIPATED:

Category Description Resource

Available?

Faculty

Environment 10' by 10' Indoor Test Space for Track Development (Estimated)

Equipment

Materials

Other

Prepared by: Tim Southerton Date: 05-16-2013


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Appendix A: Skills Checklist

Project Name (tentative): RC Camera Car

Checklist Completed by (name): Tim Southerton

For each discipline, indicate which skills or knowledge will be needed by students working on the associated

project, and rank the skills in order of importance (1=highest priority). You may use the same number multiple

times to indicate equal rank.

Mechanical Engineering

2 3D CAD Aerodynamics

MATLAB programming CFD

1 Machining (basic) Biomaterials

Stress analysis (2D) Vibrations

3 Statics/dynamic analysis (2D) Combustion engines

Thermodynamics GD&T (geometic dimensioning & tolerancing)

Fluid dynamics (CV) Linear controls

LabView (data acquisition, etc.) Composites

Statistics DFM

FEA 1 Robotics (motion control)

Heat transfer Other:

Modeling of electromechanical & fluid systems Other:

Fatigue & static failure criteria (DME) Other:

2 Specifying machine elements Other:

Reviewed by (ME faculty):

Electrical Engineering

2

Circuit design: AC/DC converters, regulators,

amplifier ckts, analog filter design, FPGA Logic

design, sensor bias/support circuitry

Digital filter design and implementation,

DSP

1 Power systems: selection, analysis, power budget

determination 1

Microcontroller selection/application

2

System analysis: frequency analysis (Fourier,

Laplace), stability, PID controllers, modulation

schemes, VCO’s & mixers, ADC selection

1

Wireless protocol, component selection

Circuit build, test, debug (scopes, DMM, function

generators)

Antenna selection (simple design)

Board layout 2 Communication system front end design

MATLAB Algorithm design/simulation

PSpice 2 Embedded software design/ implementation

2 Programming: C, Assembly Other:

Electromagnetics (shielding, interference) Other:

Reviewed by (EE faculty):


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Computer Engineering

Digital design (including HDL and FPGA) 1 Wireless networks

1 Software for microcontrollers (including Linux and

Windows) 1

Robotics (guidance, navigation, vision,

machine learning, and control)

1 Device programming: Assembly language, C Concurrent and embedded software

2 Programming: Java, C++ 2 Embedded and real-time systems

Analog design 3 Digital image processing

Networking and network protocols Computer vision

Scientific computing (including C and MATLAB) Network security

3 Signal processing Other:

1 Interfacing transducers and actuators to

microcontrollers

Other:

Reviewed by (CE faculty):


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Appendix B: House of Quality

Established by Tim Southerton based on feedback through DPM; Metrics found to address all needs;

Strong correlations between cost and quality of components metrics, along with possible future uses / extendibility

of product; Compared to inspiration model from "Project Overview - Links" as a relative estimate: only limitation

of current design is that the steering wheel is not projected to turn as far as that in the video, and that course design

is safer to bystanders but requires far too much dedicated space; Camera delay and payload are the priority metrics

based on this analysis, but this could change


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objective: provide information necessary to relate ...edge.rit.edu/edge/p14226/public/planning &...

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