1. Team Alpha Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 2010 Southeastern Conference (SECON) Hardware Competition

2. Team Alpha Dr. Reese (Advisor)Jacob BowenJacob MorganGary WeaselRyan Wood Solar Cell Analysis X Power Monitoring X Navigation X Motor Control XX Capacitor Analysis XX

3. Outline Competition Overview Problem Specifications Constraints Tradeoffs Timeline Progress Summary

4. Competition Overview March 18-21, 2010 Charlotte, NC SECON Hardware Competition – Solar panel analysis and power harvesting – Very-low power computing – Efficient electrical to mechanical conversion and propulsion – Problem solving, algorithm development, and course strategy

5. Competition Overview

6. Outline Competition Overview Problem Specifications Constraints Tradeoffs Timeline Progress Summary

7. Problem Specifications No batteries Start with no energy stored Three minute time limit Shorter than 16”

8. Outline Competition Overview Problem Specifications Constraints Tradeoffs Timeline Progress Summary

9. Manufacturability Modular construction Simplistic part replacement Easy inspection

10. Competition Rules Consistently following competition rules and constantly watching for rule changes. Avoid a situation where a rule violation jeopardizes the competition (such as last year’s SECON Team)

11. Approach Ultra-capacitors Efficient motors Less than 8” wide and 8” tall Solar Cell Selection (Racer - 2V in series)

12. Outline Competition Overview Problem Specifications Constraints Tradeoffs Timeline Progress Summary

13. Voltage Boost Charge PumpConfiguration w/ Voltage Boost IC ProConsProCon More efficientMore ComplexSimpler DesignEfficiency loss Cannot charge while consuming Charging… Discharging… MCU Solar Panel MCU Solar Panel MCU Voltage Boost IC Solar Panel

14. Servo vs. Differential Drive for Steering ServoDifferential Drive ProConProCon More ReliableConstantly draws power Better turn radiusRequires encoders

15. OS vs. Non-OS Firmware OS FirmwareNon-OS Firmware ProsConProCon Multitasking environment Learning CurveFull team familiarityNot inherently modular Resource management

16. Power Monitoring PIC ADC MonitoringPower Monitoring IC ProConProsCon Higher voltages can be measured I/O pin limitationConvenient measurements Cannot monitor capacitor bank voltage Consumes negligible power

17. Outline Competition Overview Problem Specifications Constraints Tradeoffs Timeline Progress Summary

18. Timeline AugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember Energy collection research and testing System Configuration Sensing and Navigation Test/Debug Optimization

19. Outline Competition Overview Problem Specifications Constraints Tradeoffs Timeline Progress Summary

20. Progress Running vehicle with capacitor powering all components

21. Progress Running vehicle with capacitor powering all components

22. Outline Competition Overview Problem Specifications Constraints Tradeoffs Timeline Progress Summary

23. Energy Collection2” X 4” solar racer cells Voltage BoostVoltage boost IC SteeringDifferential drive FirmwareNon-OS

24. References [1] “SoutheastCon 2010 Student Hardware Competition Rules,” IEEE SoutheastCon 2010: Energizing Our Future, Sep. 11, 2009. [Online]. Available: http://southeastcon2010.org/index.php?option=com_ content &view=article&id=70&Itemid=83. [Accessed: Sept. 15, 2009].

25. Questions?