Week 4: Team discussion and problems on design approach

In this week, the team was working on the project. the part of modelling out the system was emphasised. There were few thing that we need to be aware of such:

- The exact mechanism and prototype
- What would happen to the device when there is a black out.

What our idea was is the have a series of boxes lining into two rolls rotate into a rectangular round. Selected box will be stop at curtain position and move down to the user.

The primary design of the device is consisted of a few boxes that would be connected to a track. The problem of the design that we discussed were :

-The transition of the boxes involves up and down, sideward. What would be the force to move the box?
- If use the track, the box will not be able to transform from one trek to another with this position.
- What is going to hold the box onto the track?

At this stage we needed to do some more research of how would the mechanic for the device would work to satisfy the purpose of the use.

In the discussion we mention about the mechanic system in the vending machine and claw crane. This could be and alternative way to translate the box from one position to another.

I found this video on youtube that work similar to the vending machine, super-fast mini load.



(video from www.youtube.com, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdVet_UOx30)

Another video of the same idea. this video show the 'arm' that move to a curtain position and grab the box then bring it down for the user.


(video from www.youtube.com, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Y1_QjYkQw4)

The problem of this design, it is not really a space restricted as the whole system would requite a big frame for the arm to be able to move a grab a box at particular position. It will requite a lot of space for installation of the system.

Research on idea for electronic shelf

The idea of the device is the make a moveable box on the self. The following research is on the conveyor belt that would be the driver to move the box left and right and the electronic lift for up and down.

Conveyor blet Research

Conveyor belt is a mechanical machine consisting of a continuous moving belt that transports objects from one place to another using primarily of two or more drums with a continuous of material, the conveyor bet that rotates around them.



(Image by Georgina Prodhan, London, September 2011, http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/09/13/us-dell-idUSTRE78C5AW20110913) 

It can be divided into two main industrial classes of belt conveyors:- One that generate using the conveyor belt to move objects and boxing from one location to another, this is usually and indoor system.- Those used to transport industrial bulk material handling, such as clay, grain, coal, ores, rice, etc. in indoors or outdoor locations.The material which is used for the belt is made out of rubber belt which is used around the conveyor and it is to save time and money to conveying goods in many factory, like in steel factory, cement factory and mines.



( Image From http://ncfp.wordpress.com/2010/12/15/gao-report-on-fs-rd-the-conveyor-belt-model/)

This is the animation of the conveyor belt. Showing the the belt rotate around the drums which will be controlled by several motors.




(Video from www.youtube.com, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVToWuG2QIA)

I found this video the automated shelf used motor for the self rotation. This is the primary idea to create an automated shelf for the purpose of area restriction and convenience for the user.




(Video from www.youtube.com,  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwg191oy1pk)

Reference:Conveyor belt, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conveyor_beltWhat is conveyor belt?, http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_conveyor_beltHow a conveyor belt works?, http://www.ehow.com/facts_7301468_conveyor-belt-works.html

Week 3: Feedback on Back brief presentation and group progress

This week we had a presentation on our Group back brief. We received feedback and there were few things that we need to fix:

- Clarify the idea approach
- Need a specific roles and timeline to each members
- Specific plan on the timeline

At this state we have the final idea of creating the electronic storage in the small bath room. The basic purpose is the design a storage with fit in the restricted area and for the safety of an elderly who would not need to reach for stuff at the high shelf, the device will be designed to automatic bring down the box at high position down to the safe reachable area. This idea can be both assign for elderly and children. The system will be controlled with facial recognition to recognise the user, and gesture control to manaully control the position of the box.

After talking to the tutor there were few more point that we need to think about:
- The mechanism
- The material used for the device
- Safety standard
- Maximum weight on the device

For mechanism we will need further research to work out how the box and shelf would work to bring the box up and down and the person who would responsible on this would be me and designer to look for possible way to relate the appropriate design to work with Arduino.

Week 2: Group allocation and roles

In this second week of the course, we were allocated into a group of 5 students. Our group is on the kinect and arduino project. We will be working with Kinect sensor and Arduino set and connecting to CryEngine 3 environment. In this week we discussed and brainstorm on our ideas towards project. Many ideas came up and we still have not yet decided which approach we are going to.

The ideas that we had at the end of the class was automated garbage disposal system, automated alarm and locking system, automated bed heater/cooler and electronic storage.

The use of sensor in out ideas are the facial recognition and hand gesture control from kinect to Arduino.

For the role and responsibility. We discussed and allocate each role to fit to individual skill. My roles are as followed:

- Ensures that there are clear communication paths within the project team and the organisation
- Development and operation of technical programmes
- The updates of progress onto wiki

All of the group members will together responsible on Updating Wiki of their progress and approach on the Wiki page.

As me and Janu are the two programmers of the group we then will be working together in term of conducting code to the project. I will be focusing on coding Kinect gesture control to Arduino and Janu will focus on facial recognition coding. We both have Arduino set to take home and start working on the project. The idea is research on Arduino capability and possible coding system and we can discuss what we can do for our project later on.

Curriculum Vitae

Here is the link to my CV.

http://www.mediafire.com/view/?5hintpv9r0ytf9h