2015:Electrical Controls Subteam

Design

To provide for narrower controls for transport, driver #1's side of controls (i.e. 2 joysticks) will slide to the right and cover the laptop. These will automatically lock.

The intent is to have a simple release mechanism. When released a gas strut will automatically open the controls.

• 2 joysticks for main driver
• 1 joystick for aux driver
• 1 3-way toggle for autonomous
  • up: a pre-picked auto-mode
  • center: no auto
  • down: use auto-mode that is selected on SmartDashboard
• 8 broken switches
• Laptop for Dashboard

This is the controls closed. (The colors are not yet set in stone). 

This is a picture of the controls open. (The colors are not yet set in stone).

To do

Not yet started

• Find data sheets and parts: Handles
• Lights?

Started but Needs Work

• Sheet metal drawings for boxes
• Sheet metal drawing for right top
  • Need to finish lightning bolt, add 1/32" allowance around the bolt
  • Update broken switches with square cutouts per the new switches
  • Update three-way switch hole as required per the selected part
  • Add cutout for Ethernet port on the upper left corner of this part? It's the round part in the box of parts.

  Research latching mechanism

  • Use something similar to a gate latch
    • http://www.homedepot.com/p/Stanley-National-Hardware-Zinc-Plated-Outswinging-Gate-Latch-CD1261-1-2-Gate-Latch-2C/203591026?ds_e_ad_type=pla&cm_mmc=Shopping%7CBase&gclid=CjwKEAiA28ilBRCy5cXrgtfTxTISJABgX7E2dVh_2c0KxLVal1dg6Fl1nUaeNEKBNmqDRJEnTZeTpxoCRLnw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds
    • http://gatelatchusa.com/101400-gate_latch.html
    • Latch_example.jpg ‎
    • Pin/bolt attached to movable part/left section
    • create a latch similar to: http://penfieldrobotics.com/wiki/images/5/53/Lock_and_Pin_%28paint%29.png
    • one latch mounted to front of fixed section and one latch at the back
    • run a u-shpaed bar from latch to latch (under the secondary controls)
    • have access to bar via a hole through the secondary controls lid
    • gas shock is TBD

    Ethernet port location

    • The option below needs to pulled from both sides, but we want to be able to pull from one side only
      • http://www.cables4computer.com/Ziplinq/Networking_Networking_Retractable_CAT6_Gigabit_Network_Cable.html

      Power cable

      • The options below need to pulled from both sides, but we want to be able to pull from one side only.
        • http://www.cables4computer.com/Power_Products/USA_Cables_Retractable_PC_Power_Cable_(Bulk_Only).html
        • http://www.cables4computer.com/Ziplinq/Cables_Ziplinqs_Retractable_AC_Power_Extension_Cord_5_Ft.html
        • http://www.parts4pc.com/Computer_Accessories/Cables_Power-products-and-Cables_Retractable_PC_Power_Cable.html
        • Our only remaining idea is to use the retractable cord mechanism from the iron and insert our own cords (ethernet, power). 
          • http://www.amazon.com/HAMILTON-14210R-Non-Stick-Clothes-Retractable/dp/B004FRX6ZU
        • If we were to proceed with the iron idea we would need:
          • 2 irons (one for ethernet, one for power)
          • a power cord
          • a flat ethernet cable
          • a way to release the cord and allow it to retract

        Completed 

        Determine which board to use for the joystick interface

        • Cypress is mostly a USB-Serial and PSoC test board, it doesn't really have what we need.
        • LaunchPad has digital and analog inputs. There are built-in pull down resistors, so wiring switches will be easy. There are sample programs including joysticks already setup to use with the Dashboard; the source code is available so it can be modified. Also, form factor is much better for using the contorls.
        • http://processors.wiki.ti.com/index.php/MSP430_LaunchPad_Operator_Interface_for_FIRST_Robotics_Competition?DCMP=univ-en&HQS=robotics-FRClaunchpad

        Meeting Minutes

        1/6

        (Chris, Mr. Byers)

        • discussed preliminary options

        1/7

        (Chris, Mr. Byers)

        • discussed preliminary options

        1/8

        (Chris, Mr. Byers, Eric, David M.)

        • selected overall concept (sliding controls)

        1/10

          (Gunnar, Alyssa, Andrew, Eric, Mr. Byers, David M.)

        • inventoried parts we have
        • determined controls we thought were needed
        • went over desires from strategy team
        • Home Depot shopping run
        • met with Elliot to select secondary controls
        • created wiki page
        • created todo list 

        1/11

        (Alyssa, Andrew, Mr. Byers)

        • investigated latch options
        • investigated retractable cords
        • selected board for controls

        1/13

        (Chris, Eric, Mr. Byers, Gunnar, Andrew, Alyssa, Dave, Frank)

        • Chris worked on the main base and assembly 
        • Gunner worked on the very complicated drawer slides
        • Alyssa and Andrew worked on the Aux panel
        • Eric found a gas shock that will fit our needs 
        • Attended integration meeting rom 6:30 to 7:00

        1/14

        (Chris, Mr. Byers)

        • Chris updated assembly
        • changed laptop mount so we have more space between it and the sliding lip

        1/15

        (Chris, Eric, Alyssa, Dave, Frank)

        • Chris worked on the main base and assembly 
        • Alyssa worked on the lightning bolt cutout
        • Eric found three way and broken switches and got them along with the gas shock on the shopping list. Datasheets are located in a datasheet folder with the rest of the controls stuff.
        • Attended integration meeting rom 6:30 to 7:00

        1/17

        (Chris, Andrew, Gunnar, Alyssa, Dave, Eric, Mr. Byers)

        • Chris worked on finishing the final assembly and the latching mechanism
        • Gunnar worked on cadding up some of the electrical components, looking up some possible latches, and cadding other random parts.
        • Andrew worked on the final drawings with Chris, finalizing the aux panel, placement of words, figuring out the hinge situation, and looking up other important information
        • Alyssa worked with Andrew with his tasks as well as finalizing the lightning bolt cut out
        • Eric and Mr. Byers assisted the students with their tasks, and kept them on task and at work. 
        • Attended integration 6:30 - 7:00
        • Met the deadline for the design

        1/18

        (Andrew, Chris, Alyssa, Eric, Mr. Byers) 

        • Finalized all of the parts
        • Made all of the drawings for the parts
        • Sent the parts out
        • Secured a extension cable for the inside of the controls

        1/20

        (Andrew, Chris, Alyssa, Mr. Byers, Eric)

        • Fixed incorrect drawings and resent them to Harris
        • Completed one of the drawings to be made in our shop

        1/21

        (Andrew, Chris, Mr. Byers)

        • Andrew worked with the development board and downloaded the software to the laptop that will be used in this years controls
        • Chris worked with Mr. Byers and updated the io map for the joysticks; talked with Elliot too, to make sure we mapped the buttons the way he wanted.