Project

# Title Team Members TA Documents Sponsor
4 Educational Stick Shift Assistant
Aadhar Patel
Ian Kidder
Maulin Patel
Alexander Sirakides design_document1.pdf
final_paper1.pdf
other1.pdf
presentation1.pptx
proposal1.pdf
# Problem:

Buying used cars in the era of COVID-19 is quite challenging as the demand for used cars has drastically increased during the pandemic. Being able to drive a manual transmission vehicle increases the number of cars available to consumers, especially since most manual cars are cheaper than their automatic counterparts. However, many people do not know how to drive stick-shift and learning alone can be difficult.

# Solution:

The educational stick shift assistant functions similarly to existing shift-lights in rally / race cars, except that it would be aimed at teaching beginners how to drive stick shift with audio cues indicating what to do instead of just a light turning on. Current speed, gear, and engine RPMs are easily accessible through the OBD-2 port present in all cars. The educational stick shift assistant would convey this data to a microcontroller via an OBD-2 to UART adapter. We would then process the data to figure out the most appropriate gear to be in, and tell the driver what they need to know to drive a manual transmission vehicle.

# Solution Components:

## OBD-II Vehicle Interface (first module)
We are thinking about using an OBD-II to UART interfacing board. A board such as this one would allow for us to interface with vehicle’s from various manufacturers. This first module would simply take the data from the OBD-2 port and transmit it wirelessly to the Data and Audio Processing Unit (second module) placed on the dashboard. The power for the first module will be supplied from the 12V pin on the OBD-2 connector. To enable wireless connectivity we would add a programmable bluetooth module.

## Data and Audio Processing Unit (second module)
This second module would then take the relevant data wirelessly streamed from the OBD-II interface (RPMs, current speed, current gear) and do some quick processing to determine the appropriate gear for the car to be in. Once these calculations are done, this module will play audio to the driver instructing them on what to do. The audio would either come through an on-board speaker wired to the second module or be streamed through the car’s speakers using a similar bluetooth module utilized in the first module. The power for this second module would come from the cigarette lighter or a battery management system.

## Battery Management System (Time permitting)
To add complexity if necessary, we are thinking of adding a battery management system to power the second module. This system would power the board using rechargeable batteries as an alternative to the cigarette lighter.

# Criterion for Success:
Interfacing with the vehicle ECU

Bi-directional communication between the first and second module

Processing data and selecting correct instructions

Playback of instructional audio

Enable a novice to navigate around the block in a vehicle with a manual transmission

Autonomous Sailboat

Riley Baker, Arthur Liang, Lorenzo Rodriguez Perez

Autonomous Sailboat

Featured Project

# 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

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