Meeting 10/8

We met at the end of class to discuss what was left todo. This was our last official meeting. We still have to pass the gate activation test since we passed the navigation test. We are almost done with the FDR, and I am currently working on editing the PDR presentation for the FDR presentation.

Meetings from 10/11 and beyond

After 10/11 outside of class, we worked solely on the PDR, the PDR Presentation, the FDR, and the FDR presentation.
On 10/15, we started buying items. This included our main propulsion and levitation fan. We later realized that the motor for the turning fan would draw too much current. The battery that we originally got, a NiMH was not lasting long enough. Therefore we had to buy a weaker motor and stronger fan, Li-Ion.

http://cid-d96a3537009b238a.skydrive.live.com/self.aspx/.Public/hovercraftoutputcircuit.pdf
http://cid-d96a3537009b238a.skydrive.live.com/self.aspx/.Public/hovercraftinputcircuit.pdf

Those are what I have so far with the circuit diagram. Tell me if there is something i need to change.

10/6 Meeting

Though we had a meeting on Sunday, we still had a meeting on Tuesday. Since not everyone was at the meeting on Sunday, I went over assignments for the PDR and what I was expecting to be done with the overall project. Everything is being held up by the Propulsion fans because we do not know exactly how much force we need and what kind of fan we are going to use. Everyone but Ashleigh Neita was present at the meeting.

Meeting 10/6 Notes

All three members of the power and propulsion team were present today.

We discussed the different ways to approach choosing the hovercraft's fans. After collaborating with the structure and levitation group it was decided that it would be wise to pick the propulsion fans first and to use their weights to calculate the pressure required, flowrate, and pick a levitation fan. This is because we can control the speed that the propulsion fans operate at to tune movement, but the levitation fan has stricter tolerances it must meet.

We also determined that our rudder fan may need to be brushed. We will now consider a motor-propellor combination so that the direction can be reversed without having to take apart the encoder that comes with the fan or making our own.

10/4 Meeting

The meeting was short, but necessary. I felt that I needed to assign different parts of the presentation and report before the next class and meeting so that we could get started and we would be prepared for anything new.
The following people did not show up: Juan Quitero-Moreno, Amanda Barrett, and Brian Yang.

9/29 Meeting

Everyone showed up but Ashleigh and Tyler. We have decided on the exact light sensors that we are going to use and we have already ordered them. We have decided to use an ultrasonic sensor. We have also decided to set up the fans in a "reverse helicopter" set-up, where the thrust fan is in the fan, and the fan that turns the hovercraft is in the front. We have decided on the exact counter-rotating fan. We are preparing to buy the rip-stop nylon and the styrofoam. We have narrowed down the type of fans. We are currently looking for the right motor for the button pusher.