Final Design Proposal

Red Team

Team Leader / Director of Electrical and Computer Engineering:

Tyler Maydew: ________________________________

Director of Mechanical Engineering:

Alicia Everitt: ________________________________

Director of Manufacturing:

Robert Lewis: ________________________________

RED TEAM

Introduction:

Since the advent of modern warfare, bombs and improvised explosive devices have been killing and injuring countless soldiers during battle. Bombs are an effective war method utilized frequently during warfare, but there are limited methods of disarming such devices. Autonomous robots are an effective way to disarm enemy bombs without endangering civilians or soldiers. The safety of people is a top priority and through the use of autonomous vehicles humans will no longer have to put their life in danger to disarm a bomb.

A bomb can be disabled through the cutting of a wire, or removing the device from the area of impact (approximately 100 ft). The autonomous vehicle designed in this project will cut the wire to diffuse the explosion. Global positioning service and autonomous programming will help the robot navigate the variable terrain and accomplish its mission. The terrain may contain important information regarding the situation, so the vehicle will be equipped with both a soil and air sampler. To increase portability the vehicle will not weight more than 20lbs, and to prioritize affordability for the customer the overall cost of the autonomous vehicle will not be more than $200. This will also help with ease of replacement shall the vehicle get harmed by the device. A human life is irreplaceable, in comparison. The device encompassing all of these traits has been aptly named the Massive Autonomous Robotic Tank for Hostile Areas (MARTHA).

The engineering design process was extensively utilized to design, manufacture, and program the robot. The vehicle will already have been tested through various tasks directed to perfect necessary functions needed to disarm the bomb. There will be instant visual access during the disabling of the bomb using a front camera. This will allow another means of acquiring information regarding the hostile environment. The autonomous vehicle created in this project is not only effective, but entirely critical to protect human lives. Start disarming bombs the smart way – with Team RED and MARTHA.

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RED TEAM

Engineering Design Specifications

Purpose:

The purpose of this project is to design and build an autonomous vehicle that will perform a specific list of tasks by given deadlines. In the final demonstration the vehicle will be able to locate a specific object based off of waypoint GPS coordinates, drive to that object, cut a wire connected to the object and then drive back to the starting position. During this process the vehicle must also collect soil and air samples, and traverse variable terrain.

Assumptions:

Relatively flat terrain (no significant gradient). Stocked GPS device, microcontroller, and remote control system in proper working

condition. GPS to be accurate to approximately a 10ft diameter. No overall time limit.* Vehicle container is released and not thrown during drop test. Ideal weather is assumed.

Necessary Requirements:

1. The vehicle must weigh less than 20 pounds. Lightweight aluminum frame. Avoid steel.

2. The complete vehicle must be able to be assembled and prepared for operation in less than 5 minutes from the shipping container.

3. Vehicle must withstand an 8-foot drop onto a concrete surface. Shock absorbent storage container. Secure hardware supporting software components.

4. The vehicle, when packed, must fit into a 2’ x 2’ x 2’ container.5. System must be powered by electric or stored mechanical sources.

Use battery power. 6. All electrical components must be able to be removed from & reinstalled into the vehicle

within 2 minutes. No pre-built integrated circuit boards.

7. Vehicle must contain a wire cutter. Extendable arm with retractable blade.

8. Vehicle must have autonomous & remote capabilities.9. GPS capabilities.10. Tank treads to climb over a variety of surfaces (grass, gravel, etc)11. An alert system for signaling when the object is found.

LED Indications12. Microcontroller & Drive motor in order to make the vehicle move.

LabVIEW to program the microcontroller & drive motor.13. A device to collect soil & air samples.

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RED TEAM

A servomotor to control a spoon/shovel that will collect the soil samples as well as a vial to collect air samples with a self-sealing top.

14. Overall Budget cannot exceed $200.

Optional Requirements:

1. Should have camera for positioning.2. Should have Lightweight material for the chassis.3. Should have ultrasonic Sensors able to avoid obstacles in its path.4. Should have train to vary the gears in order to change speed of vehicle.5. Vehicle should go between 0.5 & 3 mph.6. The vehicle should make a 90-degree stationary turn.7. Vehicle should have a stopping distance of no greater than 6 centimeters.8. Should have a joystick controller for controlling the vehicles movement and extendable

arm for cutting the wire.9. Should have spring top seal to vial for air samples triggered by the servomotor.10. Should have a budget not exceeding $150.11. Should finish in 15 minutes.12. Should operate under variable weather conditions.

*Subsystem Test #2 must be completed within a minute.

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