Engin 103

Project 2

Good Design: Predictability of the “hill performance” of a vehicle

Predictability and reliability are certainly two necessary features of a well-designed machine. This can be achieved by eliminating or minimizing all components that may lead to unpredictable behavior. The simplest design that can perform the required tasks should always be in the short-list of candidates for a prototype. On the other hand, common machines require humans as operators, and humans as complex systems work under the influence of many factors that easily lead to unpredictable behavior. Minimizing human intervention, ideally to an intelligent ‘digital” response of yes/no, helps restore predictability. I used to drive a long distance on a regular basis, by using highways, very-low-traffic schedules, and cruise control, my total travel time could be predicted within 1% of error.

In this project, you are required to work in teams to demonstrate its predictability of the performance of a vehicle on a hill. The hill will be represented by a 1m ramp that has a variable angle. The goal is to predict how far the vehicle will get in 2s for certain ramp angle. A calibration needs to be done using data modeling to make this type of prediction. Each team should present in both days to receive full credits awarded to project completion and presentation (see credit table below).

In this project, the vehicle could be a commercial toy one or built by the team, the focus will be on predictability, and an important effort will be dedicated to the analysis and calibration of the vehicle performance in the sense described above. The team will use data modeling or curve-fitting (see CW 3 and 4) with Excel (© by Microsoft) to make a model of the car performance on the ramp and subsequent predictions. If you can do a calibration of your vehicle performance using data modeling, then it is predictable. The calibration using data modeling is device-specific, it needs to be redone if any change has been made to the vehicle or ramp.

Total materials cost should be less than $30, copies of receipts to be submitted with project reports.

Each team will do a 5 minute presention on their device in each of the two presentation days. In the first day, the teams will give an introduction (what they did, how they achieved predictability, etc.) followed by the demonstrations. In the second day,some extra factors that may affect the performance predictability such as dust or other slippery materials on the ramp. The webpage on the project, along with the project report will be due the class after the second day of the presentations (please check the e-syllabus for exact dates). A progress report on the project will be due about a week before the first of the two presentation days (please check the e-syllabus for exact date). The project report is expected to be a good written document (see Good Writing Practices), and graded under three categories: correct grammar and neat presentation; logical arguments and structure; accurate report of the team project, completeness, and no plagiarism. Project report will be submitted in hardcopies with member signatures and also in electronic form (see Computer Files: Names and Electronic Submissions). A complete report should include the following sections:

-Introduction: brief description of project objectives in your own words, background information needed for the design with emphasis on predictability of the “roulette of fortune”, work distribution among the team members, and timelines for the different parts of the project: research, design, building, analysis/calibration.

-Design and building: this section should include sketches and diagrams: how the different design elements and hardware components were selected enhance the predictability of the “roulette”, the list of components with specification and prices.

-Analysis/Calibration: should include data obtained from your device: tables of starting force and resulting rotations, insert of Excel worksheet with discussions of different types of function relating those two variables and pinpointing which function is the best (with the smallest “standard deviation”, see CW 3 and 4). It should also include results from testing the prediction made by this model and an assessment of the predictabily of your device. It should also include a brief manual of operation, troubleshouting list, and appropriate recognition of other author’s materials if used in your project.

-Conclusion: overview of the team achivement and lections learned for the future.

Grades will be computed as follows:

Items			Points
Project completed, if presented both days			50
Project performance (performed specified tasks)			10
Good design (predictability: existence of a function relating starting force to resulting rotation)			10
Project presentation and webpage			10
Written reports	Progress report		5
	Project report: will not accepted without all member’s signatures on percentage of participation	Grammar and presentation	5
		Logical arguments; structure	5
		Accurate and complete	5
Total project grade			100