Introduction:
Welcome to my portfolio. My name is Kyle T, and I’m a rising freshman at Aragon High School. Ever since I was a child, I have enjoyed the art of the engineer. Both of my parents majored in engineering, so this is a major part of my lifestyle. Last year, I took a class in Java, which started me on my path of learning. A bluestamp, I was able to enhance my skills while still having fun, leading to a great 2 weeks. For these two weeks, I created a TV-B-Gone as my starter project and the RC Tank as my main. I completed many steps in this process, and I would like to show you them.
Here is the link for my Bill of Materials:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1osD2hbln7P3ulSA5wIQTlmPw2mqDKTJseJhS3G2RUCA/edit
Here is the link for my code:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1XlK2zoKD3U7n-C0Q7HaxOgSZZrFQ2eqlJ7a4vCuYHT8/edit
Here is my Schematic:
Reflection:
After two weeks of building, planning, and coding at bluestamp, I should begin to look back at what I have accomplished. Over these few weeks, I have built a lot, learned a lot, and just had a lot of fun. I built a TV-B-Gone so I can turn of many different TVs in America. I built the RC Tank to drive around with and just figure out the basics of robotics. From this, I learned Arduino and processing. I learned about building motors, attaching the Arduino to different objects and how to use the pins. I figured out how to use servos and laser pointers. In the end of all of this building and learning, the part that makes Bluestamp such a amazing program is that I was able to have a lot of fun.
Milestone Two, Controlling the Tank With Remote:
My main project is the Remote Control Robotic tank. In my last milestone, I was able to make my Tank go forward by clicking on my mouse pad. Since then, my Robot’s power has increased greatly. Now, it doesn’t have to connected to the computer, as it is wireless. Also, I am able to make it go in many different directions such as forward, backward, to all the sides, and it can spin in circles. It begins to work when I press a button on the remote. When this happens, it sends a signal to the wireless dongle, which then goes into the motor shield which then goes into the Arduino. The Arduino decides which way the wheels will go based on the buttons, and then it sends a signal to the motor shield which goes to the motor. The motor begins to spin, sending the tank of on its way. I learned a lot from this experience. I learned which pins do what, such as the clock or data. I learned how different things are powered and why power is so important. This was a huge learning experience for me, increasing my confidence and skills in many ways.
Milestone One, Controlling the motors:
For my main project, my main event at Bluestamp, I am creating the RC Tank that will be controlled by a PS2 controller. I am currently working on my project, and this milestone marks a point of success in my battle. I am now able to controller my tank with the click of a button! When I click down on my mouse pad, the tank makes its way forward. I did this using a combination of processing and Arduino. The way it works is that when I click on a box on my computer screen, processing sends an one to the Arduino. If I don’t click in the box, processing send an zero to arduino. If it is an one, the Arduino turns on both motors causing the tank to waddle its way forward. If it is a zero, the Arduino turns the motor off. I found this milestone important because it is a point where I have learned the most in a certain amount of time. In just a few days, I learned how to use processing, how to control motors with Arduino, and how to combine the two skills. I also learned the basics of hardware, because I had to put together the plate, motor, and wheels. I used many tools in the process, such as the screw driver and side cutter.
Starter Project, TV-B-Gone:
For my starter project, I did the TV-B-Gone. The TV-B-Gone’s main function is to turn of all TV’s in the range of its four LED. The machine begins to work when I press the button. This causes the micro controller to be reset, which makes it shoot out all of the code in its library. This goes into the transistors which amplify the signal, which goes to the LED. Each LED sends out a signal, the White LED send out a wide, short signal while the Blue LED send out a Narrow, long signal. If a TV is caught in this signal, it will be turned off. This works on 90% of American TVs. From this project, I learned how to solder, how to use the different tools from Bluestamp, and what the different parts do, such as resistors or micro controllers. This project was very important because it helped me get used to the atmosphere of Bluestamp and what I will doing there for the 2 weeks.